The times., 1897-09-12

Mrs. Ella Harris is brave little woman,
and IT was cnly her GOODNESS and pres
the dasts rdly assault of an unknown negro
fien1. Mrs. Harris is a widow of twenty
eight years, her husband having died about
two years ago, lea wing her with two small
children and pretty little home on Albany
street. near Sixth street extended, Eek
ington.
Yesterday forenoon about 1880 O'Clock,
after finishing her mornings work, she
sent her two babies out into the yard to
play, and, being left alone in the house,
drew the shades to the windows 50 that
it was quite dark, and lay down on sofa
in the dininr-room to take q brief nap.
few noments later she Was startled by
hearing a peculiar sound in the kitchen.
She arose and looked through the door,
but as the room was quite dark she saw
nothing, anu thinking the noise was merely
that OF cat, she again lay down, sus-
pecting nothing wrong. second time
she was awakened by hearing similar
sound. She lay with her face toward the
wall, and as she turned and partly arose
she saw creeping along on the floor but
a few feet frcm her, bnrly negro. The
brute had stealthily entered the back door
and had crawled on his hands and knees
until he was almost upon the defenseless
woman before she was aware of his
presence.
With single bound she leaped from
the sofa and fortified herself behind the
diniug-rOom table. A S she did so the
negro made a spring at her and attempted
to grasp her in his arms. Mis- Harris
was too quick for him, however, and he
succeeded only in striking her across the
breast.
Mrs Harris was alone In the house, and
the negro, from his actions, was deter
mined in his purpose TO assault her 1t
was useless for her to cry out, as there
are few houses in the vicinity, aud no
nearby neighbors. When the negro started
at her again she stood firm ard resolute
and told MIN If he advanced another step
toward her she would shoot him 1t was
| evident frcm tie tone OF her voice that
said
All the time she was making toward the
| steirs to reach her bedchanber where she
had loaded revolver. Mrs. Harris darted
| up the stairs, nd the brute realizing that
| he had been baffIed rushed out OF the
house and ran up the street. When Mrs
| Harris, revolver In hand, reached the door
! he was a good distance from the house.
In a cornfield not far away Mr. Irwin
and lis son were at work, and Mrs. Har-
ris' cries directed their attention to the
negro, bCt too late to intercept him. Pc
llceIhan Stroman was standing near tht
lexington Power House at the time, an6
In response tc the cries of Catch him.
started In pursuit but the negro vas 9
swift runner and WAS already several hun
dred yards in advance. For more than n
mile the officer chased the fugitive, until
be finally lost trace of him in the thick
woods back of Kendall Green.
The policeman then Immediately tele-
phOned word to police headquarters, anc
from there TO No and No. 9 stations
for aid. Lieut.. Kenney, of the Eighth
at once mounted his horse aud, with Sergt
HARRISON and Il squad Of reserves, started
out TO scour the woods for the culprit
They were joined by Lieut.. McCathran ant
squad Of mounted policemen from No. 6
precinct. and every inch inch of grounC
from the river to the District line, bach
to Florida avenue was traversed in searcf
Of the negro, but no trace of him coulC
be found.
Lieut.. Kenney formed his men in line at j
distance OF several rods apart, and went
through the woods until met by the police
| men of the Ninth precinct, but without
sucCtss. The search was kept up unit
dark last night.
Mrs. darris is an exceptionally hand
some woman and intelligent, and it was
only her nerve which saved her from being
| outraged by the brute, as that was unques
| tionably bis purpose. The negro is de
SERTED al about eighteen years old, weigh.
about 140 pounds and is very black. Hc
was well dressed, wearing black coat
| and trousers, a white linen shirt, tar
shoes and bicycle cap, with visor ant
a large button In top. He had been seer
hanging around under a shade tree neal
Mrs. Harris home for two hours before ht
attempted the assault, ana had evidentl,
known Mrs. Harris was alone and waitet
for an opportunity to attack her.
Itwas not tramp negro. and the police
relieve that he belongs in Ivy City, OF
that peighborhood, and was sheltered b.
some of lis friends. as without THAT n
could no5 have escaped the searching
party. The citizens of lexington anC
Brookland are greatly excited over tht
ma tier and the opinion is everywhere ex
pressed that there sh0uld be more noun et
policemen IN that section. Had Policeman
I l.. 1,
have captured the brute. A search Will p
kept up for the negro, and If captured b,
citizens he Will not be handled with care