The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-29
He WENT DAFT.
AND TT TOOK. POLICE AND FIRE
DEPARTMENTS TO BRING
HIM OFF THE ROOF.

Ground-Wouldn' Sur
render till They Turn :
ed Hose on
Him.
Bridgeport, Conn, April r.
Joseph Kratunus fought the police
department all last night and gave
the police and firemen hard bat!
tie this morning before they could
dielodge him from his perch 48 feet
above the ground. He is big, era
zy Russian.
The priests of St. Patrick's Ro-
man Catholic church were going to
bed at 1O:3U o'clock last night when
they heard a cracking sound on
the tin roof. One of them looked
through the scuttle and saw Kra-
tunus. Word was telephoned to
police headquarters, and Lieuten-
ant Anderson cent five men in a pa
troll wagon to capture what every
body thought was burglar.
The policemen found theman's bat
and shoes neatly put away at the foot
lof the lightning rod at the back of
the house. Evidently he had climb
ed to the roof, thirty-two feet above,
with nothing but the lightning rod
for support. The policem en- went
to the roof and found nothing. The
priests were sure the man had not
come down, so the officers sent for
a ladder. This they placed against
the cupola, which rears its height
16 feet above the middle of the
roof.
The flash of dark-lantern re-
yealed the hatless, shoeless man on
5he top of the cupola. He had as
|cended through the scnttle. Po-
liceman Haux briskly ran up the
ladder and was about to swing bis
leg over the cornice when he receiv-
ed a tremendous smash on the
head. The blow crushed his he'll
met, dazed Haux and sent him
slithering, half unconscious, down
the ladder. The other policemen
drew their revolvers and night
sticks and began to swarm up the
ladder. 49,. d.
"No, mol" cried the Rev. Father
Nihel, rector Of the parish. "Let
us have no killing"
The policemen telephoned to
Lieutenant Anderson and he sent
for Chief Eugene. Birmingham, who
was at home and asleep.
"Send more men, SO that the fell
low can't possibly get away, and
guard him till morning." was the
chiefs order. Then he went to St.
Patrick's house and took charge Of
the besieging army of ten bluecoats
en- the roof.
Kratunus was marching up and
down the cupola roof to keep warm,
and brandishing fve-foot section
of lightning rod he had torn off az
easily as a boy breaks twig.
"Away, you murderers!' he yell
ed, in tones that could be heard
half mile away. "Let me alone.
I am Russian subject. If you try
to get me I will kill you. I am an
Anarchist
Seven hundred citizens, aroused
by the mans yells, stood on the
sidewalks all night, watching and
waiting for what they felt must
soon be a struggle to the death. But
the man was overawed by the great
number of police and did not at
tempt any more violence. At day
light Chief Birmingham telephoned
to Chief Coffin, Of the fire depart
ment, who sent Engine No. 4 and
Hook and Ladder Truck No. 5 to
the rescue. The combined forces
put up four ladders, one on each.
side of the cupola. Kratunus yelled
louder than ever and swung his
lightning. rod club. In the midst
of his howlings and threats three
streams of water, each two inches
in diameter, hit him at the same
time. They knocked the wind and
the fight all out of him. He waved
his lightning rod for the last time.
"Let me down." he cried. 'Please
let me come down. I no kill no.
body"
Like all Anarchists the man was
easily conquered by water. He
told the police he is tailor and
that he has been kept in insane
asylums in Russia. He is 5 feet 8
inches tall, weighs 172 pounds and
is of powerful build.
Harry Withycombe is expected
home In q few gdays. He was Grad.