Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-19
High TIME Al ODESSA.


The Story OF a Rambling Cow, of burglar
Seeking Mon and a IsuIi's-cyc Lantern.
"If you don't come out, I'll blow
your brains out.
Couched id these or similar words,
an alternative invitation was given to
an intrudar in the cellar of the Odessa
Hotel about O'Clock Thursday
morning. The intruder did not come
out, and cold lead from revolver and
shot from agun poured into the cellar.
The unwonted racket and the unusual
hour reused many residents Of the town
of Odessa, so THAT % or more gathered
round the hotel. When the reader
learns that all this trouble was due to
the rambling instinct of an inoffensive
COW, he will understand why it is that
William johnson, The town officer, who
proposed to capture the supposed burg
lar at the point of a revolver, under the
light of bulls eye lantern, and to
restrain him with pair of handouts.
has contributed so largely to the good
humor of the town Of Odessa. AS
assistants to MIR. johnson In bringing
Oh the laughing era In Odessa may be
mentioned Warner Rrookson, proprietor
of the hotel, and William Heller, his
next door neighbor.
And this is how 1t happened. Brock
son lately came into the ownership oil
| the hotel and was making some i'm
provements. He was building a-foor
over driveway between bis hotel and
an adjoining house. This floor was
about four feet above the ground. The
COW wandered upon the woodwork,
while Brockson was wraEt 10 sumher,
and In some way fell through the ioists
and fell into the hotel cellar. Visions
of burglars were created in the mind
| of Brockson when he heard a racket
| downstairs, and no shouted out lustJ
invitation to the intruder to get out
Moreover, he leaned out the window OF
his room and fred down into the cellar.
This had no apparent effect except thai
it awoke William Heller, the next dool
neighbor, who took the shot as cal
to arms, and came upon the scent
armed with double barrelled gun.
Thus reinforced, .Broclsson did no
care to go into the cellar, and the TIVE
men peered through the ioists into the
dark to catch glimpse of the intruder
They saw something move and though
the burglar was trying to escape, 81
they ordered him to come out ,nde
penalty Of losing his brains.
He did not come out, and both fred
No groHns ms of a wounded man wer
heard, and they still hesitated to ente
the cellar. A bright Idea struck them
They would secure the aid of Tow
Officer William johnson. Fully ahv
to the gravity of the situation, h
armed himself with a revolver an,
brought pair of handouts and bull
eye lantern along.
MIR. johnson Is brave man. Wit
the others standing on guard outside
he went intothe cellar following the pat
of light made by the bull's-eye Lantern
1t must have been the lantern wbic
. did it, for with sudden below, tn
COW which had got to the distant en-
/ Of the cellar, came dashiag towards tn
I doughty officer. Then Mr.. johnson g
out of the way, and the secret of til
a trouble was out. Meanwhile, numeror
residents of the town had assembled
' see the capture Of the burglar. The
& did not see ", but they were we'll r.
paid for their trouble.
. With the assistance of derrick, tt
COW was removed from thecellar. I'll
], bombardment had been about as 9
i, fective as that uf Spanish gunners
q the late war, for the COW WAS unhurt.
"