The morning call., 1893-06-02
UNCLE SANS SAFE
Daring Burglars at the
Marine Hospital.
BANG! WENT THE BULLETS.
Money Was Stolen From a Drawer
and the Thief Escaped Amid
Leaden Missiles.

The Marine Hospital out in Richmond
has been mark for thieves and burglars
for some months past, and it is only a
week since one surreptitious midnight Wis
itor escaped amid flying bullets.
1t would have been tragedy had the
night been less kindly with its veil of dark
ness to the burglar or the marksman's aim
not disconnected by his excitement. To the
residents of the immediate vicinity of the
hospital who were aroused by the early
morning fusilade it is all a strange mys-
terry. Try as they would next day there
was no explanation Forthcoming. because
the affair was kept strictly secret by the
United States Hospital attaches.
Whether the burglar was hit by leaden
messenger from his pursuer is the only
real mystery in which the occurrence is
shrouded - excepting, perhaps, where
money in various sums Enclosed in en-
velopes has gone.
Certain grave suspicious exist in the
minds of the hospital officers that some
one connected with the institution is
either an accom- plice in the robberies or
was the burglar himself, as every move
ment of the thief indicates familiarity
with the routine duty and habits of the
officers as we'll as an intimate knowledge
of the buildings.
The first burglary in the Marine Hospi-
tai was committed about two or three
months ago. AS the officers believed ii too
late TO lock the stable door when the
steed was stolen they made no noise over
the affair.
It had been customary to take money
from patients and place the various sums
in envelopes with owners names written
on them. These envelopes were laid away
in the managers desk in the office. to
which nobody except doctors, chief
stewards and a night Waterman had ac-
cess. At night the desk was locked, but
its contents were not put away in the
safe, as the officials never doubted its
security.
But one morning the desk was found
broken open and empty. As much as $40
was stolen. The strangest feature of the
theft was that Charles A. Hess, the night
Waterman, never saw the burglar. He was
the most astonished man in the institution
next day.
Hess is an ex-soldier, who served his
time out at various posts and in active
service on the plains. He holds an hon
orable discharge. and at the hospital be is
regarded as a watchful sentry more than a
special policeman. The burglary and loss
of $40 sharpened his sight for second
visit of a thief.
About week ago he went to supper at
midnight. He returned at 1890 o'clock
and was surprised TO find the office door
locked and the blinds drawn down. A
candlelight fiickered through the chinks
and window panes, and Hess could hear
noise which sounded like scratching or
saving iron. Occasionally he detected the
combination tumblers clicking. The door
would not open and he went for key.
Returning little latter he saw the
burglar In the hall, or rather on the
veranda. The fellow was evidently ter
rified for he made mad dash into the
gardens.
"Haltw cried Hess, but the burglar only
ran the faster.
Bang! went bullet. The report echoed
loudly through the buildings, for Hess fired
from one end of the hall just as the fugitive
rushed out of the front door.
The ball passed within few inches of
the fugitive's head and crashed through
half open door.
Halt" again rang out on the disturbed
air. and again the bullets flew. this time in
Quick succession of spiteful bangs.
The whole establishment and many
houses in the vicinity were aroused by the
startling sounds, but all that could be seen
were the fiery splasnes from Hess pistol
and two men running madly over the billy
ground. 1t was ended just as suddenly as
1t began. because the fleeing burglar was
faster than his puTsuer and there were 10
more bullets in the noisy pistol.
The thief was disappointed in not find
ing any money in the cash-drawer, and
made an objectionable mistake for
gentleman of his profession in not dis
covering that the com bination-ock was
open. All that stood between him and a
goodly sum of money was paddock hang
ing from bar that extends across the old
iron safe. To have sawed off this brass
lock would have been but a few minutes
Work, and then the burglar could have
walked away with his booty unobseryed
and smiling AT his sunnasc