The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-02
THE DISCARDED NIGHT STICK.
1t Was Less Deadly Than the Billy and
Could Be Put to Many Uses.

Probably the most popular order which
Superintendent Byrnes ever issued was
the one sbolishing the night stick. No
citizen was ever known to call night
stick anything but club, term which
is never used by the police to designate
any weapon they ever carried. Club wasa
hard, harsh name that most citizens were
unable TO disassoCiatG from clubbing and
led many to believe that they might some
day have the misfortune TO be unjustly
dubbed 1t will surprise such people to
learn that if they ever should be dubbed
they will fare worse under the weight of
the short, hard batons now carried than
under the blows of the old time night
sticks The explanation is simple.
The night sticks were made of the best
seasoned locust. Well seasoned locust be-
comes comparatively light and is springy.
The batuns, or billies, which replaced them
are made Of the heaviest wood available
rosewood lignum vitae and the like-and
are short and absolutely devoid of pliabil-
ity; consequently Il blow On the head,
which, dealt with night stick, would re-
suit only in a scalp wound, if dealt with the
polceman's present weapon might result
in fracture of the skull.
So true is this that many Of the older
policemen who have carried night stick
for years will draw a revolver ON u refrac-
tory prisoner, hoping to uintimidate him by
the exhibition of il, rather than to risk
drawing the billy, which would have lit
tie or no terrifying effect ON the prisoner
and might result in his death if the officer
was forced to use it.
The night stick had many uses with
which the general public had little chance
to grow familiar The regulation length
was23 inches, but they often exceeded this
by two or four inches The leather thong
which the user wrapped about his hand to
re-curorce his grip ON the weapon was
nearly as long and was strong enough to
sustain the weight of most men. 1t gave
its possessOr 4 reach of at least five feet,
and time aud again the night stick has
been used as a support until other assist
anco could cone for some unfortunate
who had fallen or jumped overheard, and
in cases Of great emergency where the
drowning man or woman was losing
strength or growing benumbc1 with cold
awaiting the arrival Of boats or ropes the
night stick and strap have been used to
drag them up to the pier. Again, it has been
found invaluable as life saver when lit
ters were too far away and the ambulance
was tardy in responding to a call -Four
men with two night sticks, one Of the
sticks slipped under the knees, the other
under the arms of the patient, could carry
him easily and rapidly to the hospital or
station.
Another and probably the least thought
of use to which the handy night stick has
been put was in cXtinguishiug fire. Fires
started, no one knows how, in rubbish in
cellars or in bedding or clothing in rooms
and closets are among the most common
that give the iremen a run. Many such a
fire that would have resulted in a damag
ing conaagration if left to await the ar
rival of the fire department has been beat
en- out with night stick. Last, but not
least the fear Of it has Quelled many an
incipient riot, while the judicious use Of it
has kept many dangerous corners FREQ of
| tlfeacorner lOafers which made them dan
| gcrous and has done more than the fear
of arrest and imprisonment to break up
| the gangs which used to iufest many por-
tions of the city.-New York Sun.