The record-union., 1894-12-24
DOUGLAS HAT SAVED His LIFE.
A Prisoner Cracks Him on the Head
With Heavy Iron.
How William Goldspring Endeavored
to Create Vacancy on the
Police Force.

Officer Douglas got crack on the head
last night that would have killed some
men, even with their hats on. but an
hour afterward he was on duty again.
The man who administered the blow
was William Goldspring, an itinerant
tinker, and the weapon he used was
soldering iron about a foot and half
long. The assault WAS unexpected, or he
would not have landed the blow.
Goldspring was arrested by officers
Bagley and Fisher on X street, between
Seventh and Eighth, for being drunk and
disorderly. Fisher took charge of the
prisoner and telephoned for the 5atrol
wagon. While he and his prisoner were
waiting for the wagon to arrive Douglas
came along. he spoke to Goldspring in
a kindly way, saying he was sorry to see
him again misbehaving himself, and that
he had hoped that when he (Ooldspring)
got out Of his last scrape he would so
conduct himself as to keep out of trouble.
The kInd-hearted officer haQ no sooner
delivered himself of these remarks than
wnacl came d blow on his head.
W bile lie hau been talking ,ioidspring
had quietly drawn soldering iron from
beneath his coat, and as it was quite dark
the act was not noticed by tie officers,
though they were standing close by him.
With almcst the rapidity of lightning he
threw up his arm and brought the iron
down on Douglas head with all his
strength, and he Is very pow 3rful man.
Douglas was daZed for ii moment al
though he did not fall. AS quickly as he
could he got out his club and met the
second onslaught OF Goldspring. whom
Officer Fisher had in the meantime
yNnG Il 81,
ensued, in which the prisoner lost his
weapon, but this did not deter him from
continuing the fight.
Quick As flash he drew forth another
SOlderlng-IrOn, as big as the first one
from the waistband OF his trousers and
renewed the battle with all the vigor OF a
powerful and active man BY this time.
however, the oilicers-realizins the kind
of creature they had TO deal with-were
playing double tattoo on his head and
body with their clubs, and III about a
minute they had the vicious and desper-
ate fellow conquered by the aid of people
who had been attracted to the scene
Goldspring kept up his efforts at fight
ing, however, and 1t was with difficulty
that he was handcutfed and lifted into
the patrol wagon. on the way TO the
police station he smeared the blood from
his wounds all over his face. Just as Chi
nanen do when they want TO make it
appear lney Dau been terribly abused,
and refused TO have il washed off.
He was pretty well used up, no doubt.
but deserved much more punishment
than he got, fer his assault on Douglas
was most murderous one, and had the
officers head not been partially pro-
tected by stiff hat he would have had a
broken skull. Officer Fisher also re-
celyed numerous bruises and scratches.
Some four months ago Goldspring was
arrested on a charge OF throwing acid on
a man named Wiley, in the Golddust
saloon. He was held to answer therefor.
but escaped conviction. Only a few
nights since he was again in Jail for
drunk enness and disorderly conduct.
Theofficers, believing that the man
was innocent of any intention to throw
acid on Wiley, had treated the fellow
with more consideration than he de-
served, and now he repays their kind
ness by assaulting one of them with
deadly weapon. He is evidently dan
gerous person to be at large, and it looks
very much as if be will not trouble any
one very soon again.
The wound on officer Douglas head,
while severe and painful, is not serious.