Telegram-herald., 1891-02-13
In MIDNIGHT PERILS
WITH A GRAND RAPIDS POLICEMAN.
The .s.es Herald walks the worst
fa1Fol Beat tR the stts al sn n
saaas Near aaa >srre~ty
Escapes Disaster

II was little past midnight, black as
pitch and a sloR, ori4Siing rain aastsll-
ing. A big policeman stood for mo-
ment AZ lhe corner OF the alley IN TIE
rear Of the TffEsKAn-HKRAap offlce,
and thea turned with weary slgh into
the mky gloom.
''What do you expect TO find down
there, asked a representative Of the
TrLEsR sN- lIERAlp, "a mldnIgnt assas-
sin OF an open saloon
Tins IS nay regular heat, and If you
knew what measly places have TO 70
through back here, YOU wouldn't won
der at my hanging back" SAID the big
fellow, = little gfuitly.
"Do you mean 10 say that you have
10 patrol lhat place AT night, ana With
ont a light Of any knd.'
That's What mean 10 say; the
whole length OF Monroe-st. fycu viii
think Of all the ouirageously dark and
teetolally ornery places you ever saw, ],
aud then come along With ne, ] VIII
show YOU something that will beat your
mag nation out OF sight"
The offer was accepted with pleasure,
bat before a hundred feet were passed
the patrelman's companion found him
self stranded high bat not dry
upon a mammoth ash heap with
both legs hopelessly entangled IN n
cOnglomeraton of barrel hoops. The
A. NJ
man ont of hls troubles and suggested
that he had better stick pretty close 10
him II ne had any regard for life and
limb. The way trended under an arch
way extending unde- Spring a Co.'S and
Foster. stevens a Co.'S stores. The
darkness of this place might have been
felt; il might have been tar or lamp
black In solid mass but II could not
have been more intense or impenetrable
TO vision. Dozens of burglars, foot
pads and other night prowlers might
be lurking IN this place and yet man
without a hight might pass through
without suspecting their presence If he
should be fortunate enough 10 escape
personal injury. A coterie of cats who
had evidently been holding a Quaker
meeting, made sudden rush through
the srchway and so startled the patrol
mans companion that be had 10 swal-
low two or three times 10 get his heart
back into the old familiar place.
A turn 10 the right brought the
prowlers In the rear of the Eagle Hotel,
but progress was barred IN that direc-
ton toy two large gates.
1--WE used to get out OF this place by
gong through here TO Iouls-st.. but
Landlord Johnson objected 10 the hotel
girls gong out The back way 10 attend
dances, SO he put up gate. Then the
girls used to sneak out through the
alley and We had to escort them back
through the arch under the buildings
The old man got onto this racket after
while and put up the other gate, and
| YOU bet he's got the deadwood Oh EN-
now"
The route then turned up another
branch OF the alley and the patrolman
went up the steps 10 each back door
and tired the fastenings. Up one dark
stairway he went sprawling over a pile
| of boxes and rubbish. There was a
ripping sound, first like the tearing OF
cloth, and then something more like
profanity.
"Wish had the fellow by the neck
| that put them boxes on the stairs,
growled the irate patrolman. Just
| look AT them breeches;" said he light
| ing match 90 disclose the ruin thai
| had been wrought. Every hour we
| have to examine all these doors and
the man who will thoughtIessly pni
such traps IN our way ought 10 be
| kicked"
Back again close TO the building and
| through another dark hole and ther
the two return 10 Campau-st. As they
| pass close 10 the high buildings a win
dow Is softly raised somewhere IN the
| darkness.
"Look out" calls the patrolman and
both make rush to get away from
the walls. They are just in time, for 9
| quantity of water falls with q great
| splash just where they were standing Z
| moment before, and as a htde of ths
spray SITS over them they wish they had
been farther away.
Great Scott' said the TELEGRAM.
HERALD man, "Do you get such bou
quets very often"
They come pretty regular, and w'
| don't always escape as easily as VIC Dc
1ust nov. ] remember one night wheI
| was new on the force. ! was swelling
| along IN my new uniform feeling quite
| like n fly COP. Part Of my beat took il
| Canal-st. alley. and as ] was stumbling
| through for the first time, someboo,
| showered ne before ] could dodge
| When go4 ont into the street lookeS
| as If bad been fished out Of swIl
barrel, and the worst of it was had 4
tramp my beat for several hours soakes
| TO the skin. | won't kick or say wore
against the work, for We MI know It's
bad Job when We tackle 4 but If eltbe
| the city or these men WHO own thI
dark corner IN here would give us JUS
| one httle light 80 that We can see on
way. they would earn my everisstlnI
gratitude and that Of al the boys vhI