The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-09
DARING ROBBERS.
A Trio of Burglars Crack the
Wigwam Safe.
The Night Waterman Gagged and Bound
While They Take Money and Jewels
From the safe-They Escape.

Three daring burglars cracked the safe of
the Wigv am Theater Sunday night and
robbed it Of its contents, which consisted of
$500 in coin and some stage jeweiry of con-
siderable value. They escaped. and now
the police and detectives are engaged in
hunting after them without clew Of any
value.
II is supposed they attended the perform
ance and hid under seats OF benches in the
gallery when The show was over. AT l
O'Clock they emerged on tiptoe from their
hiding-place, and made their way to the
main floor. There they surrounded the
Waterman, who first became aware of their
presence by seeing revolver pointed at his
head. They seized him on either side,
placed gag in his mouth and led him TO
post in the middle of the building. where he
was securely tied and bound hand and foot.
He was given his instructions.
'lf you value your life, keep quiet" said
one of the cracksmen with an ominous
frown.
The terrified Waterman offered no re-
sistance, and of c, urse obeyed the injunc-
ton TO the letter. His eyes followed the
three burglars to the office, but, much as he
would like to interfere, lie was absolutely
pOwerless. He looked on meekly and in
no trouble III pcrpetrailng their crime.
HOW THEY OPERATED.
A large quantity of clothes were wrapped
about the handle Of the safe. and then the
men hammered the knob off with sledge-
hammer without making perceptibe noise.
Only muttled sound escaped from the
Office while they operated. The spindle be-
hind this knob was driven inside by means
OF punches and hammeTing. Into the space
left by the removal Of the knob picks were
inserted, aud by this means the cOmbinu-
ton was worked in II very short time. But
few minutes had elapsed since the be
ginning OF their operations when the door
was vide open and the mOney-drawer eX-
posed.
The money and jewels were quickly re-
moved, alter which the three robbers left by
the stage door.
When everything was quiet again in the
theater tie Waterman strove hard TO extri-
cate himself from his disagreeaole position.
but it was 6 O'Clock in the morning before
he succeeded When the last cord was torn
from where it had bound him he FASTENED
to inform the police of the robbery. Later
in the morning tile matter was reported to
CAPTAIN Lees, who detailed detective to
hunt up The burglars. Little or no infor-
NATION could be given the detective, and
until something else turns up to give good
clew to the robbers it Is thought they can
not be traced.
EASTERN EXPERTS.
The Waterman was SO completely stag
gered with fright by the men surrounding
him without a moments warning that he
could not recall distinctly what their gen.
oral appearance was One of them, he
said, was rather tall and apparently weighed
about 100 pounds, The others were slightly
below medium height, while one of these
was very stout and stocky.
Evidently the cracksmen knew what they
were about in selecting Sunday night, as
there are two performances in the place on
Sundays. with big houses, and, consequent
ly. big receipts, Which were always IN the
safe until next day. The detectives look
upon them as expert and bright crooks, i'll
all probability from the East Who would not
60 into any danger without having carefully
considered their risk and also the best points
in that undertaking. Their work upon the
safe showed beyond doubt that they are IA
miiar with the construction of safes and
combination locks. No quicker nor easier
way Of breaking into a safe could be thought
of unless a great noise lie made. 1t is be-
lleved they will be heard from in another To-
c&liiy at an early date and police precau-
tons will be doubled for q time to try aud
catch them.