The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-26
SLASHED WITH A RAZOR.
THOMAS ANDERsoN's DESPERATE
FIGHT WITH TWO BURGLARS.
Finds Them RansnclSing His Room
in the First Avenue Hotel-Nar-
rowIy Escapes Being Dangerously
wounded i'm Ensuing Encounter.

Thomas Anderson. who says he is a trav-
cling salesman for an Eastern drug house,
was taking a promenade on Second ave-
nue. last evening when he happened to look
over toward the First Avenue hotel, on
First avenue, where he occupies rooms 81
and 81. fronting on the street. He saw
a light in the rooms. He had left no
light burning and went over to investt-
gate.
When he opened the door the scene as
tonished him. Two burglars were busily
engaged pulling open the bureau drawers
and dumping their contents on the floor,
going through HIS valise and trunk and
ransacking the room thoroughly for money
and yauables. Anderson's surprise was
only momentary. Undaunted Mt the odds
against him, he grappled with the thieves.
A desperate fight ensued, in which Ander-
son had narrow escape from death.
One OF the burglars attacked him with
a razor and nearly cut the coat of his
back One cut was over the heart and
fully eighteen inches long. The steel went
through his overcoat, the coat beneath X,
the vest and the shirt. Had 1t gone lit
tie deeper Anderson would have received
frightful, II not fatal. wound.
While struggling with the thieves Ander
son shouted for help, but the burglars es-
capped from the room, ran down the stairs
into the street and disappeared before as
sistance came.
When the dust settled Anderson found
nothing of va,ue missing. He picked up
a light colored soft hat, black and white
striped cuff with black link cuff button
and piece OF the heel OF n shoe, which had
been lost by the burglars In the scufhe
These articles he took to police headquar-
tiers later when he reported the affair.
At 1890 o'clock this morning John Nc
Gowan, who gave his age as 2s and his
occupation as barber, was arrested In the
Tenderloin district by officer Adams on
suspicion of being one of the burglars
found in 4.nderson's room. Capt. Sullivan
suspected MCGOWAN, and the latter was
found within twenty minutes by Officer
Adams. The police noticed he had on a
light coored hat about week ago. When
asked by Capt Sullivan where that hat
was MCGOWAN replied that II was in his
room. officer Adams went to the room
in the Third Avenue house, taking Meow
an along. The hat was not there and Nc
Gowan said someone must have taken It.
The mate to the black-striped cuff. with
q black link button. was also found in
the room
Anderson was sent for, the soft hat was
put on McGowan's head and Anderson
Identified him as one OF the burglars and
the man who slashed him with the razor
McGowans photograph is in the rogue's
gallery at police headquarters He was
accused Of burglary but was not convicted
in the superior court and was released
from Jail about a week ago.
When Ole Erickson, who resides at 23i7
East Union street, returned home from
church last evening he found that the
house had been entered and thoroughly
ransacked by burglars. Clothing was
strewn over the floors and the contents
OF the bureau drawers were in confusion
He reported to the police as missing: One
revolver, a pocketbook containing s. ~
gold, gold ring marked c, to o. E.. ana
n gold chain with a Knights OF Pythias
charm
Another hoiise that was ransacked by
burglars last evening while the family was
absent was that of Charles Ackerman. of
2iN Judgins street. A diamond breastpin
with large solitaire set Ia a plain gold bar
purse containing s34 and a 32-caliber Win
chester rifle were stolen