The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-24

Police Sergeant Peer Is one of the larg-
est heaviest and at the same time most
digniEled members Of the police force.
When he arrests a man he does not pull
out his handouts and gun" but says in
a fatherly way that he would like TO have
the other mans company. All his past
record did not prevent him from being the
victim Of a strange string OF accidents
yesterday afternoon, and II is a wonder
that he escaped with his life.
Just 10 show that the sergeant vas a
victim il may be said that he had nothing
10 do with the arrest OF Mary Bottger on
the charge of insanity. Patrolman Wells
did that several nights ago. He met the
woman wandering around on the street,
and inquired what was the trouble. She
said that she could not find her home.
Where do you liver asked Wells.
Down on South Tenth" she replied.
Come along" said Wells, who is In
variably gallant Il viii see you home"
The woman started down South Tenth
and walked Wells away out TO the Grant
street bridge. Hold on said Wells. my
good woman. where are you going?" She
was doubtful.
II know what Is the trouble with you."
said Wells
What Is it?'' replied the woman.
You are crazy" said Wells
mo. I'm not" replied the woman
Well, we will argue the question" said
Wells. and argue they did. The more they
talked the more Wells became satisfied
that she was insane II know where you
are going" remarked Wells Where"
said the woman. TO the jail" said
Wells. And there she went. although she
did not like IL. At the jail she became
possessed with the idea that she was be-
ing smothered and that her property was
being taken away from her. Police Ma
iron Taylor took an interest in the poor
woman. who was well along in years and
yesterday afternoon asked her IL she
would like TO 90 TO her house and have a
bath. This pleased Mary Bottger, and
she said she was very grateful TO Mrs.
Taylor. Then Mrs. Taylor went to Capt
Hogle and asked If she could take the wo-
man TO her home. The captain said that
he had no objection II Mrs. Taylor
thought she could handle the woman. Mrs.
Bottger promised Mrs. Taylor that she
would be good girl" and not run
away So up Yesler way went Mrs Tay-
Tor and Mrs. Bottger. They reached the
matron's house. near the ccrner of Sixth
avenue south and Yesler. and Mrs. Tay-
lor was just unlocking the door when Mrs
Bottger made a Wild dash and was flying
down the street before the astonished ma
iron knew what had happened.
The matron is a woman OF resource and
she took in the situation at a glance She
must turn Splinter. even though II was
the Sabbath. She threw a way her bundle
and went flying down the street, bent on
making a regular Eddie Dickson finish.
The small boys looked on in wonder and
were In doubt as TO which woman they
should cheer. but the matron proved her
ability 10 make hot finish. and she ran
Mrs. Bottger into fruit stand
Here Mrs. Bottger turned on her pur-
suer and. forgetting all her promises about
being good. tried TO do up the matron in
regular marquis Of QueensoGry style.
Things were so hot that, according TO all
accounts the matrcn did not get time to
show her sign Of authority to the pro-
prietor Of the fruit stand who did not
render the female arm Of the law any as
slStance. Out on the sidewalk the matron
thought she had her prisoner ali right,
hut in the twinkling Of an eye Mrs. Bott-
ger made a duck a stde-step, and. with
regular Mr.. -Cox-of- Virginia dive. disap-
peared before the very eyes cs the ma
iron in a neighboring saloon.
The matr0n thought she had Mrs. Bott-
ger tn a hole at last. and stood guard at
the front door while she hurried mes
senger 10 police headquarters for help. IN
the meantime Mrs. Bottger slid out the
back door and ran down Fourth avenue
toward Jefferson street. Some one gave
the tip TO the mstron. and she went sail
ing down the street % the police station.
Capt. Hogle nearly feli of hts chair when
he heard that Mrs. Bottger was making
n rush down jefferson street, having
turned from Fourth avenue.
Then Sergt Peer went 20 the rescue in
heroic stvie He saw Mrs Rotigsr az she
tore across Third avenue and pitched down
over the short incline 20 YesIer way
Sergf Peer put his best foot front. jam
med his cap down over his ears and few
after Mrs Rottger Detective Williams
cheerei him on and waited as a second
relay In case Of accident The sergeant
was running In great form. his coat tails
floating IN the breezes. his eye glasses
dangling from his pocket and his feet
kicking up great clouds OF dust He vas
gaining ne vas almost in reach Of the
pris0ner-alas he slipped and went down.
with a badly wrpuchea ankle dust-cov-
cred bar still In the ring. Mrs. Bottger
nan on ard now the heroic qualities OF
Detective Williams were brougha before
the admirine throng Of small boys and
stray dogs that had gathered 20 see the
thing 20 4 nulsh The police mstron was
a. Headquarters waiting for reports Will
ians knew the situation. and was equal
20 il He started after Mrs BottEtr AZ
II II we're 10 or die" and he kicked ID
more dust ard scared more stray dogs as
he few down the street than Sergf Peer
ever thought OF doing. Just as the second
relay was getting interesting The brave de-
fe,tive's pistol few our Of his pocket ard
the small boys few in all directions. IL
Ola not 20 of ans Williams kept on run
ming So sure % foot was he that he did
not fan down. and as he closed the gap
~ reached forth one windmill arm and
drew Mrs Bottger 70 him She was in the
grasp of a hand thar - huilt Ike bears
foot Her Sight was al an end. Many
were the congratulations showered On De-
fe4-ffvA Williams.
Se-xt Peer was being consoie1 for bis
rutsfortune@ when a call came for the
wagon Driver Johnson vas ~ lunch. so
the sergeant said he would take tbs run
For years hs handled horses. ard can talk
de boss With tFe best q an OF course
4 was his OF day ard a. ne went out %
IRE stable ore Of the wheels struck fne
xlse q tire door The pole broke and the
horS@< commenced 20 10. ard things look
Ell serious TAsy ran Gown Tesler way.