Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-26
FIGHTING WITH BURGLARS.
Two Victorious Encounters With
hIignight Merauders.
ADVENTURE NO. L


freeze my Young blood, f" and turned my hair
as gray as q rats before my fortieth BIRTH
day.
Ihad been hired. when a small lad, as an
under-clerk or apprentice in wholesale
hardware store in New York After sew
eral years service, during which gained
good practical knowledge Of the business
end gradual promotion, became the, head
salesman and enjoyed the fullest confidence
of my employers.
was nearly twenty years OF age When
the adventure which I am about to relate oc-
CURED. The work of my early apprentice
shfp had enlarged and strengthened my
knIscuiar system, my health was atlts best,
and as had never been exposed TO perm
knew but little of the sen SatiOn OF fear.
For many years ] had slept alone In the
store Every evening the doors and WIN
dows In the rear were protected with
heavy iron shutters, swung from outside
aud strongly barred and bolted inside; the
satchways leading TO the cellar and second
Efoor were securely covered and fastened;
one Of the massive wooden front doors was
bolted at the top and bottom, Whine the
other was only carefully locked, and the
hey was seldom removed.
NV bed occupied corner OF the counting
room, midway between the front and rear
of the store Upon retiring always turned
off ali the gas, for, if necessary, L couId,
from long familiarity with the store and It's
contents, make my way safely about all
parts of it in the most profound darkness.
In all my mercantile hfe the premises
had never been beset by burglars, and, IN
deed, the store was so carefully closed
and guarded against intrUders that it was
deened mvulnerable-
One night was suddenly awakeneS by
some noise that seemed to come from out
side of the store AS / raised myself In
bed to listen l heard a neighboring city
clock strike two. When its vibrations
ceased. / felt sure that something was
wrong at che front door. There seemed to
be saw and other sharp implements IN
operation. Thus impressed, l quietly rose,
dressed, and made my way ID the dark TO
the front
Listening for few seconds, could hear
faint whispers, and then the sound OF
q small saw. Then l knew that burglars
were cutting hole in the door, In order
that the key might be reached and turned.
From marks discovered on the key, during
subsequent examination, 1t was evident
that they had tried to turn 1t with nlppers,
but it was too cumbrous, and the effort had
been abandoned
/ could have frightened away the IN
truders by making a noise and lighting
the gas, but wished, if possible, to thwart
thsr purpose in another manner, and
capture one of the rna4Huders. With this
intention l cautiously crept to package
of stout bed-cords, one OF which seized,
and returned to the door. In the end of
ba L
strongly fastened the blight to the leg of
neighboring counter that supported heavy
boxes Of tin-pl3te.
Then carefully held the moose around the,
place where the burglars were cutting the
hole. After waiting few minutes, heard
them remove the piece of wood which they
had sawed out. The light of a bulls-eye
lantern flashed for an instant at the aper-
ture, Efficiently to reveal its outline and
email me TO adjust the moose. Then mans
arm was thrust through the hole.
This was the opportunity for which had
waited. quick and vigorous movement
drew the moose tightly around the fellows
wrist, and then l hauled on the cord with
all my strength until had pulled the arm
through the hole as far as could, notwith-
standing the opposition manifested by its
owner.
There was no noise, although the fellow
was undoubtedly in great pain and whenI
had firmly secured tne cord to the counterl
felt along it until l touched the arm, and
found that it had been forced through the
opening almostto the shoulder
was not in the least frightened. L had
one of the burglars prisoner, and 1 knew
that the others would not long remain with
him. On the whole, was rather pleasant
ly excited, and quite exultanr over my sue
cess.
Slipping on my shoes, lighted three or
four gas jets, unfastened back door and
shouted down the alley for a policeman. As
soon as he came l let him inside of the store,
and then we began to reconnolter and as
certain the status of affairs at the front.
The arm was still there, of course-l should
have been exceedingly astonished If it had
disappeared. The cord was tightly drawn
around the wrist, aud the hand was black,
owing to the stoppage of the circulation OF
the blood.
The policeman then returned TO the alley
and made his way to the front, picking up
another officer on the street TO assist him.
Presently heard them shouting to me that
the burglar was dead; that his companions,
finding it impossible TO release him, and
fearful that he wonld expose them 10 the
had cut his throat from ear to
ear.
was young and unused to dreadful acts
like this, and the unexpected denouement
not only astonished me, but so shocked nv
nerves that | nearly tainted. The return Of
the policemen TO aid me in loosening the
arm and open the front door partially re-
stored me; but after the dead burglar had
been removed and the doors were securely
could DO nothing but walk the
floor in great nervous distress until Ii was
time to open the store for business IN the
mo ing.
= en-, when the clerks arrived, and had
related my adventure to them, l was fam
10 go home and avoid the excitement that 1
knew would distract me If remained to
answer the thousand questions that would
De asked of me-
l had only one satisfaction, butt was one
tnat LAD OF my age could thoroughly en-
JOY; was hero. The police, the press
Aho the phbic freely expressed their ad-
Hiif aeloh Tor the oooIness and bravery had
manifested Ia capturing the burglar. and
tne sympathy and hearty congratulations
or personal friends soon restored me tn
comparative quietude.
But the best Of all was the kind consider
alton which received from nv ernulovers.
They were very profuse in the exnres siopa
- their astesnl- Thar bad can. Co. 80.