Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-01
Bold Robbery Last Night on the
River Front.
mE FERRY COMPANY'S Loss
Watchman Gagged and Bound
and Office Looted.
LICE ARE AT WORK

were successfully attacked by masked
cracksmen at an early hour this morning.
The watchman, James Fonschell, was
bound and gagged and threatened with
death at the muzzle of a cooked six
shooter. The combination to one safe was
worked and the other safe was blown up
with dynamite cartridges. The ticket
drawer was cut out, presumably with a
chisel. Eight hundred dollars in booty was
secured and number Of checks and other
valuable papers. The robbery was execut-
ed with great daring and considerable
skill. Watchmen and policemen for many
squares around heard the explosion, but
1t could not be located The payment of
the stolen checks was ordered stopped. and
the case turned over to the detective bu-
reau.
The Washington Steamboat Company
Qfmited Is popularity known as the Ferry
Company. but in addition to operating the
ferries Columbia and Belle Haven, also
runs the steamers Wakefield and T. v.
Arrowsmith. The dock is at the foot of
9TH street off NJ street. 1t is completely
closed and rooted in on the shore side the
street entrance being through heavy
wooden gates. which are bolted at night.
Inc onces OF the company occupy a SUBJ
structure In the southeast corner of the
dock. 1t was here that the Waterman stood
guard. The record of station No. shows
that Officers Muller and Neale, who are
on the wharf beat, reported from the box
at NJ and Ith, obliquely opposite the ferry
house at l2:o5. that all was well. The eyes
OF the safe blowers were probably on the
ofncers and followed them as they moved
eastward along NJ street and away from
the scene of depreciation. The watchman.
according to his own story, was sitting
peacefully In the rear office. He was well
armed with Colt revolver of heavy cali
Der and improved model No unusual
sounds had been heard during the night
Very few unusual sounds ever are heard
n Tha
or the office clock pointed to the hour of /
and two bells rang out from several of
tne cTart In the harbor. The street gate
rattIed and Its bolts grated. This was
ed hard.
The shaking was repeated, not with very
mucn force. but considerably more than
had at first been used 1t then occurred To
the watchman that some of the officers or
men OF the Wakefield. which had come in
ho1ntasa hhuLns tne preceding evening, had been
DeIated IN the city and were returning to
tneir ship. Acting on this theory, he
tnought 1t best to sally from the office and
@ unDar tne gate. The suggestion of robbery
crossed his mind. but the theory of belated
hoatmen seemed the more plausible. The
shaking and grating of the gate was re-
peated This determined him. He crossed
the oflce floor and threw open the door
leacing to the dock, which at this time
was very dark. AS he stepped over the
Sill he was grasped from behind on either
side, rough hand was clasped over his
mouth. his arms pnioned and a heavy re-
VolVer pressed against his face.
Bound and Gagged.
Ore OF the thieves Kissed, Make no
noise, or We'll kill you," and the pressure
OF the cold steel of the ugly weapon as
sured the watchman that resistance would
be futile and an outcry fatal. Two of the
masked strangers forced the watchman
back into the Office which he had Just left,
and threw him back on a pile of soiled
hrn h41@
third robber paced up and down the dock
to Keep watch. The two inside drew a
towel from the laundry heap, stuffed it in
their victims mouth and bound in the gag
with a piece of sheeting. Then they PIN
Toned his arms and legs so tightly that the
flesh was cut in places. They turned him
face down and threw sheet over him.
Leaving him. they proceeded into the mid
Ole onice. occupied during the day by
Agent johnson and Ticket Seller Cooksey,
and the big safe, which stands against the
north side. was tackled The men worked
away at the combination for several min
utes. turning the knob first this way and
then that, and carefully noting the clicks
OF the dog. In this way they found the
combination, and the doors came open
Such of the contents as were desired were
bagged The front office occupied by Cen
erai Manager z; w. Ridley, was next in
vaded This office faces directly on the
street, but the window glass is coated with
paint, and the tight shutters were fastened.
Blew the Safe.
The safe against the east wall was drilled
and the cartridge inserted. The explosion
followed, the iron front fell back with a
crash, and the whole building shook. It is
thought that the robbers had retired to the
rear office till this shock had passed. Off
GERS Muller and Neale, who had said "Au
well' at 1855 from 7th and NJ, were stand
ing at the corner of 9th and L when the re-
port sounded. They thought that 1t came
from southwest direction, but of this be-
cause of echo, they could not be certain.
Officers Bruce and FerkeS, who were on M
street east of 1-2 heard the shot but
could not locate it. Watchmen on the va
rfouS steamers at the river front heard it,
too. They thought of it for a moment and
then dismissed it from their minds. Quick
work was then done by the cracksmen On
the way out they ripped out the drawer
and scattered the tickets broadcast. Then
then passed out of the door through which
they had entered. and were lost Watch
man Fonschell after the lapse of consider
able time. managed to turn himself over,
and by placing his back against the wall
gained his feet Although tightly bound
he edged along till he reached the dock.
After about an hour of hard work of this
nature he crossed the gangplank of the
Wakefield and reused one of the deck
hands. This man at once cut the binding
that tethered the legs, but on looking up
noticed the great white sheet wound round
the face and neck, and, taking fright, DASH
ed below.
Fonschell, having his feet released, made
his way to the quarters Of the assistant
engineer, who after being roused released
the man.
The Front Excited.
This was about O'Clock. An alarm was
given, and soon all the river front was
awake. The police and the company
officers were notified. and the usual scenes
of excitement and discussion were enacted.
Detectives Weldon and Hall arrived a little
after o'clock and put Fonschell through
a severe examination. They took him to
police headquarters for further questioning
The Wakefield left schedule time this
morning, and none of the people of that
craft have been seen by the authorities.
Yesterday was an especially busy day with
the ferry company, troops of women and
children making the trip. and the receipts
had of course not. been banked. The popu-
lar theory at the river front is that the
thieves came along the wharf in small
beat an1 made their escape in the same
way.
The ferry is running, the trucks are COM
ing and going, the dock laborers are hus-
ting. and everything around there has re-
sumed the normal tenor OF its way.