The San Francisco call., 1896-07-03
THOUGH CLUBBEO
He FOUGHT BACK.
An Old Artilleryman Stood
Up by a Masked
Robber.
HE SOUNDED AN ALARM.
The Guard Was Called Out, but
the Highwayman Made
His Escape.
MASK AND PISTOL SECURED
Alphons Zehnder. the Watchman, Had
Very Narrow Escape for
His Life.
MASK AND PISTOL SECURED

The army post at the Presidio was in
state of general excitement last Wednes-
day night. A burglar attempted to break
into the watchman's S house in the National
Cemetery, and the guardian being an old
army man at once showed fight. The
burglar pulled gun, but instead of firing,
he used it as a club. The watchman was
badly cut up with the butt of the weapo
but he finally aroused the guard and when
they came along on the double-quick the
burglar broke and ran, leaving his pistol
and cap behind him.
When the attempted hold-up was made
Captain Mcclellan was on duty, and he
makes the following concise report of the
disturbance:
"On the night of July 1, about II clock,
man went to the cabin occupied by
Alphons Zehnder, who is employed at
the National Cemetery at the Presidio,
and called him out saying that the super
intendent of the cemetery wanted to see
him.
'Zehnder responded, and when he came
out the unknown man presented a pistol
and ordered him TO hold up his hands.
Zehnder was not that sort, and, instead of
holding up his hands, he sailed into the
burglar, and called out Justify for help.
"The robber hit Zehnder on the head
W
his face badly, but the watchman fought
him off and finally got possession of his
pistol. The sergeant and another man of
the cemetery guard coming up the robber
broke away from Zehnder and disappeared
in the woods surrounding the place, and
could not be found though searched for
by detachment from the main guard
also.
The robber left his hat and pistol He
wore mask over his face. and cannot be
identified by Zehnder.
Just what the man was after cannot be
ascertained. Zehnder is an old man and
was formerly a memb ber of the Light Ar
tillery. He has saved considerable money,
and the supposition has always been that
since the savings bank scare he has kept
his savings somewhere in the cemetery
When told that burglars were abroad he
has always laughed and said it would take
an adept to secure his wealth."
The adept has evidently made the at
tempt and failed, but it is doubtful
whether or not Zehnder would not be
better off if he had lost the money. His
face is badly cut and his body is one mass
OF bruises. He has pistol and mask to
show that he was in the fight, but then
he is lying in the hospital at the Presidio
and no one knows when he will be out and
about again. In the meantime the police
have been put on the trial and they are
now busily at work hunting for clew.
AT late hour last night Captain Rob-
erts, the officer of the day at the Presidio,
and one of the chief of detectives men
were out inspecting the ground. Zehnder
was interviewed in the hospital. but he
had no clew to give, save that the man
was desperate and bold fighter. Had the
old man held up mis- hands when ordered
the robber would have had all the chances
he wanted. He could have bound and
gagged Zehnder and then gone about his
work in q methOdical manner The old
man fought back, however, and raised the
guard.
As soon as the soldiers appeared the
robber broke away, and, leaving his pistol
and mask behind him, made his escape
In the meantime army officials are much