The morning call., 1890-08-20
A BRAVE WOMAN.
She Captures a Negro Burglar
After a Terrific Struggle.

Mrs j. S. Hendrckson, of 4S9 Wabash
avenue, had a terrific encounter with a
colored burglar. She is tall, slightly built.
about fifty years old, but is full of pluck
and endurance. Her struggle with the bur
glar in the dining-TOom, her desperate chase
and ultimate capture of the thief form a
thrilling chapter, such rs falls TO the lot
of few women or men. AT 2: 20 o'clock
Tuesday morning Mrs. HendricksOn was
awakened by noise in the parlor. With
out thinking of danger. the brave woman,
clad only in her nght-dresS and without a
weapon of any sort, rushed into the dark
ened room. By the dim light cast by
bul's-eye lantern she saw standing in the
middle of the room a burly negro, whose
repulsiVe face and glitteriug eyes were
family outlined by the lanterns light.
Mrs. HendrlcksOn threw herself at the
burglar with all her strength, fastening her
arms around his waist. Let goD yelled the
thief, dropping his lantern. But the woman
only frightened her hold. Then a desperate
struggle for the mastery followed. Around
the room went the burglar and the plucky
woman. Chairs were overturned, tables up
set, bTic-a-b rac on the mantel thrown down
and crushed under foot. over chairs and
under the table rolled and struggled the I'M
equally matched pair. In their wrestling
the window, which was open, was reached.
Here the burglar made supreme effort and
broke away from the grasp Of the deter
mined woman. Out Of the window he
jumped, striking unframed on the earth
eight feet below.
Mrs. HendrickSon's blood was up. She
had noticed that the negro was in his stock
ing feet and wisely surmiSed that he had
LETT his shoes outside, and would stop Tor
them ere continuing his flight. She dashed
through the hall and out of the front door.
As she was running down the steps the
burglar jumped over the fence. Then be-
gan a chase the like of which is not often
seen. Mrs. Heudricks0n's screams for help
aroused the neighborhood. Windows flew
up and heads popped out. whats the
matterY yelled dozen voices. Out in the
street were seen two flying figures. One
was that Of a man baTeheaded and sprint
ing like all possessed. Right on his heels,
her long hair wildly streaming in the cool
night air, was slender, white-robed figure
She too was running at the top Of her speed.
The burglar ran north, toward Eidredge
court. The painting woman reached for
ward and grabbed his cOat-tail There was
a mUmenLary halt; then the scOundrel
turned and struck his relentless pursuer
singing blow in the face. Mrs. Hendrick-
son released her hold and the negro then
ran toward Michigan avenue, his intention
evidently being to run across the lake front
and conceal himself in the maze OF cars
standing In the Illinois Central yard.
Without thinking of danger, the fearless
Michigan avenue ran pursuer and pursued.
Neither thought of the wire fence that sur
rounds the park, and the negro dashed
headlong into it. Mrs. Hendrickson fell,
but she did not lose her presence of mind.
Again her arms encirced the big negroS
waist, but this time he made futile efforts
to break her grasp, which seemed OF steel.
While she was screaming and holding him,
Charles BilliDger, messenger, came along.
Get an officer, auick!' screamed Mrs.
Hendrickson. The messenger scampered
away and soon returned with an officer,
who relieved the now utterly exhausted
woman of her dusky charge.
Mrs HendTicksOn is the wife of the Clerk
at the Armory Police Court. Last Sunday
Mrs. E. &. Shermer of New York, wife of
wealthy importer and publisher of music,
arrived in the city on her way to San Fran
cisco. She carried $1,000 worth Of diamonds
and large amount Of money. Mrs. Sher-
mer paid brief visit TO her sister, Mrs.
HendricksOn, and departed for the Pacific
Slope at o'clock in the evening. A few
hours after, Mrs. Hendrickson had her
struggle with the brawny burglar. 1t is
supposed that Mrs. Shermer was folio wed
from New York by men who were aware of
the valuables she was carrying.-Chicago
Herald