The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-10-22

lIlt 1871 Va lltANN'N"'+"i
The quarters Of the "assosn"'.
were situated about six feet Drio" ','
level Of an avenue running along 'ne
water front one side Of the den was
formed by heavy retaining wall
which prevented the waters OIL the ia,
Dor from undermining the street "'''s
the others were made from drift W"ou
and planks stolen from conNen.'"'
lumber yards. The roof was the moor
Of a small shed occupied by an ltaiia',
fruit dealer located at the stree, e,'u
OF the wharf, which was one oil .ne
largest in the city. where clipper sn'pS
10 and from the East Indies ana A"S-
tralia were wont to load and discharge
cargoes. The den was fitted Win
few kegs and boxes for seats, ana was
stored with relics Of past raids.
To the difficulty in entering the uen
was due principally its immunity trom
discovery The boys, after getting vi
the wharf property through a mole III
the high fence, where they had relho'-
ed a board. has to go 10 one side Of inc
pier and climb down the retaining wal
Of the street. swinging underneath lne
wooden flooring as they descended. 10
go straight down would result III lih-
mersion in the dock where the water
was deep enough to allow the big shlps
to be tOwed almost to the street wall,
but the channel did not extend beneath
the wharf. and about ten feet from
the water the oozy mud was encoun-
tered. Climbing down these stones
and cllnging like flies to wall, was
not without an element Of danger, bur
the lads became accustomed TO II. and
the fact that il required practice to ac-
complish the feat successfully gave an
added sense Of security to the retreat.
Once in the mud, the boys had TO walk
a distance Of about $50 feet before
reaching the shack.
II happened on the 18th day after the
kidnapping Of Millionaire Ainsley's lit
tie girl, that grand raid. which had
been planned several days before, was
to occur. The object was the looting
of a small confectionery and tobacco
store situated on one Of the main streets
of the district of the poor. at the cor
ner OF a small alley. lined with tene-
ment houses. The building in which
the store was located was an old one,
and there was a window looking into
the alley about ten feet back from the
street. The frame Of this window was
very weak. and one Of the boys hap
pened to discover that but little force
was required to push II in. He com
municated this fact to the associates"
and the raid was arranged. a commit
tee of eight being appointed by the
president to secure the goods contained
In the establishment which were most
desired by the lads.
There was nothing for the eight raid
ers to fear except for the presence Of
strolling policeman, so three Of them
were selected to stand guard at the en-
trance of the alley and see that none
came near and surprised the others at
their work. BY IL o'clock that night
the arrangements were completed and
a Few minutes after that hour the eight
met at the opening to the narrow way
md five proceeded to the window.
which gave way easily to their com
bined efforts. Two Of the number
were then hoisted over the sill and
commenced handing the goods OF to
their companions.
How ii was | cannot tell. but from
some cause the keen eyes of the three
'entinels failed to detect the form of a
policeman slowly approaching the alley
in the shadow of the build.
ngs, until he was almost on them
Perhaps the officer was suspicious; per
laps not. At any rate, when the wild
'ry, Cheese it, de cop" rang ont on
ne night air he surmised that there
must be trouble in the alley. and has
ened to 1t. Ten seconds later five
nadly running boys rushed out inst
mead OF him, the two inside the store
having been gotten out In safety. with
he assistance of their three comnan-
ons. Wildly the five scampered To-
ward the wharf and their shelter. and
'wiftly the policeman followed them
Dinny," who had been in the STORE
IND who was the speediest runner
vas well in the lead, and the other fonr
we're punched together. As the bovs
cached the water front avenue an
timer officer heard his colleagues call
or assistance, and he. too. Joined In
he chase. Down by the wharf tha
and pursuers swept. until the
lole in the fence which gave entrance
o the wharf was reached. and there
he young thieves jumped through. the
Ulcers close at hand as they arrived
nd narrowly missing the last bov.s
iothing when a speculative grab was
made. The policemen We're baked
lnn they could pull another plclse,
rom the fence. that there might no
space for them to get through
fter the scared party of "assoshotas 50
Five lively wharf rats" however
roved to be more than two officers
ould handle, especially as three ~
hem had crawled to the ton Of Tho
claiming wall. SO the blue-coats do.
ided to take four Of them 10 tba
'reet' and, after calling the patrol
wagon, return for the NTH. who han,
ened to be "Dinny." An effort was
ccordingly made to carry out this pro
ram. P'o-