Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
A BURGLAR DROWNED.
Being Closely Chased by officers He
Risks Treacherous Ice.
TALKS WITH HIS PURSUERS
And Then Goes Down to Be Found Later
Eead ard Frozen Stiff
A MEMBER OF A BAND OF THIEVES

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 25-There was a
tragedy enacted at the pretty suburb of
Sharon Hill early yesterday morning, and
an unknown man, supposed to be one of a
gang of burglars, was the victim. He had
been detected while forcing open door of
the railway station at Academy, and in en-
deavoring to make his escape by crossing
the ice on Darby creek he broke through
and was drowned, while the officers, who
were giving chase, stood on the bank unable
TO save him.
1t was a little before midnight when
Special Officer E H. Campbell, of Sharon
Hill, and a trackwalker noticed the man
working with the lock on the station door.
They at once ran toward him, but the burg
lar fed. His footprints in the snow re-
vealed the path he had taken, however, and
this trail soon led the officers to the edge of
the woods. As they emerged into the fields
they caught glimpse of their man. Toward
the big dam in Darby creek, just below the
hill, pursued and pursuers ran.
Risled Life for His Liberty
At the banks of the creek the man paused
a moment. Before him was what seemed to
be a clear sheet OF ice, behind him, almost
within reach of him, were the officers
Down the bank he jumped, and in second
was half way across. By this time the
officers were on the bank. Just as they
were preparing to follow there was crash,
and their intended prisoner was struggling
in the water. At this point the creek is 10
feet deep and the current rather swift. The
man sank once and then, as he arose, he
wildly clutched the edges of the ice around
the hole. BY this means he managed to
keep his head above the water.
The officers on the bank hastily searched
for something to throw to the dying man,
but nothing could be found.
I'VE can't help you and I'm afraid you
must drown" shouted one of the officers to
the man in the water.
The man uttered a despairing cry
Cant YOU climb out on the ice?" called
out the men on the bank.
"No; the water in nv boots is bearing me
down." was the hopeless answer
"Who are you and where are you from?"
asked the officers
81 am from Philadelphia, " was the reply.
Then the man lost his hold and sank, ex-
claiming: 'Goodby, pards-'
Found Upright and Frozen Stiff
At daylight the search for the body was |
begun, and u feet below the scene of the |
tragedy the corpse was found. The |
body was in an upright position and /
was frozen stiff The boots were not on the /
mans feet, and the supposition is that the
man kicked them off in his efforts to save
his life There was nothing by which the
man could be identified. He was 5 feet 6
inches in heighth, about 40 years of age,
weighed $50 pounds and had black hair and
a black mustache. He was dressed in a
neat-ftting suit of black clothes, and over
his suit black overcoat In the pockets
were small knife, a pair of shawl straps
and two siy-inch iron spikes.
There have been numerous petty robber-
les about Darby recently and it is believed
that the man was a member of the gang
who has been operating there. The body
will be kept by Coroner James for tive
days, and if it is not identified within that
time it will be turned over to the anatom-
ical board.