The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-09

TO eat his lunch. He had nearly completed
the meal, when he thought he heard
noise that resem blsd footsteps outside at
the front Of the building He sat back OF
she cash desk, which was between him
and the front door. He raised up "a little
to listen, and as he did so four men,
masked, rushed through the back door.
Before Mr. Sweet had time to regain his
feet one of the men threw handkerchief
over his head and prevented him from
making an outcry. The watohman realiz-
ing the condition OF affairs said TO them:
"Well, boys, you won't get anything here,
and one of them pressed the muzzle of a
pistol against his forehead and said with
an oath, "Shut you mouth or we will blow
your brains out " At the same time an
other one placed the muzzle OF "a pistol at
the side of his head, and by way of a
warning one of them hit him on the side
of his head with the butt of his pistol.
They then tied the watchman's hands
securely behind him and also his legs,
and carried him intos freight car that
was cn the track In the rear of the mill
and shut him in. The robbers then re-
turned to the mill and commenced opera
tions on the safe. after having taken the
preoaution to cut the telephone wire,
which was in the back part of the office,
facing the street They drilled hole in
the door about half way between the knob
and com mbination, and blew the door open.
The door was badly shattered, but was
| not blown off its hinges. The crooks
secured about s75 81 30 In postage stamps
and two checks. ana threw the books and
/ other contents about the Office in con-
| fusion.
The men appeared TO DO about three
quarters OF an hour at work for in about
! that time they returned to the car with a
basin OF water, some soap and "a towel
and bathed tho watChman's face, gave
4. - ..lg 80.
and departed. The only tools left by the
robbers was AN iron bar, IA monkey wrench
| aud q bolt OF iron about two and half
feet long all OF which bad been taken
from the machine shop of tho mill. They
! left no drills or other kind of burglars
| tools.
The watchman remained in the car
urtil o'clock this morning when his
cries were heard by some railroad men
| who were placing cars on the mill tracks.
They went TO his relief. Ho WAS taken
| from tho car i'm IN exhausted condition,
having been confined with the cord cut
ting into his flesh for nearly four hours.
| Tho cords used IN securing him were two
| sash cords and were harsh TO the flesh.
1t is supposed that powder was used in
! blowing npen tho safe as the books and
| furniture were hlackened and this morn
ing there was strong smell of powder
in tho Office.
Mr. George w. Kont tho agent Of the
| mill, speaks I'm the highest terms Of the
watobmnn, and considers him q most val
unIlo man. Whom MIR Sweet was taken
To his home on summit street this morn
ing no was suffering much from the
blow on the head. and from the shock
received, ana was attended hY-hiS phYsi-
clan. At present be Is I'm vory nervous
condition. The Narragansct mill Is
situated in an isolated location and the
report Of the blast in forcing the safe door
was not heard by anyone In the neigbbO
hood Officer Comric who patrols that
baat was 20 the Red Bridge about the
/ time the robbery occurred as he pulled
the box at that place at ~ 3:33.