The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-01
Negro Hides in Dark Cellar Where
Police Are Unable to
Carry Torch.
SQUADRON BESIEGEs PLACE.
Crowd Is Attracted to Factory,
Where Officers Shoot Into Base
ment in Vain Attempt
to Dislodge Culprit.

Trabie to light torch on account Of the
danger Of an explosion. a squadron of po-
lice yesterday besieged the plant of the
Goodwin Manufacturing Company in an un-
successful attempt to catch a negro who
had burrowed like muskrat in a dark
cellar among thousands of barrels OF oil and
other highly combustible liquids.
The police emptied several revolvers fir
ing into the cellar in a vain attempt to dis
lodge the fugitive, Ulysses Brandon, who is
wanted for burglary.
Special electric lamps were brought into
play, but the carbons burned out before the
searchers finished tour Of the 500 barrels
in the basement, underlying the greater
part Of block.
A large crowd was attracted by the
shots, and many of the spectators waited
until last night, when the police decided
to change their campaign methods. Siren
uous efforts gave place to system Of
starvation.
The entrance to the cellar will be guard
ed by policemen in relays until the negro
Is forced. by hunger or thirst, to come
out and surrender.
Brandon. for whom a warrant has been
issued. was seen early In the afternoon
by Patrolnnan Sidney A. Phillips of the
EIghth InEtrlCt, IN inc Vicinity ol EsWluS
avenue and Papin street.
Drawing his revolver, Phillips started
after Brandon. Over Ewing to Rutger they
fled. scaling fences. lodging through gang
ways, the negro doing his best to outwit
his pursuer.
ATTRACTS A BIG CROWD.
Several times Phillips fired in the air to
attract the attention of other policemen.
m a dirac-
tons. accompanied by thousands of small
boys, who also Joined in the chase. increas-
ing in numbers as the chase heightened out.
Finally. seeing that he would be captured.
Brandon ran toward the Goodwin plant. He
went to the rear Of that portion used as a
warehouse for the crude products. Crawl
ing through window, he dropped into the
cellar.
There the police were stumped Sergeant
Dowd and Policemen Coates. Liedke. Gro
min, Davidson and Morton, were upon
the scene, and held a council Of war.
There were plenty Of candles about the
Goodwin plant. but who was to carry
the light? No one volunteered. Each officer
shuddered. recalling an explosion at that
plant several months ago.
Some one suggested that they send to the
station and get the latest improved electric
search lights. as they were safer. This was
done. and after considerable delay the
search was continued.
Phillips and Coates were selected to enter
and do the Sherlock Holmes work, and try
to scare the negro from his woodpils.
Together they descended. Grease covered
the floor to the depth of q foot. It arose
over the shoetops of the officers and seeped
inside. Everywhere they touched they came
in contact with nothing resembling per-
fume.
They finally sighted the negro. A shot
reverberated through the grimy depths. but
the quarry escaped. He ''ducked" about
the greasy barrels with the stealth and agil-
fty Of a snake.
A workman who followed the officers out
Of curiosity later discovered the negro in a
fer corner.
Here he is" he exclaimed The patrol
men rushed to the point with their lights,
stumbling over stray barrels on their way.
which. in all probability, will necessitate
their having an entire change of apparel in
the near future. and probably will require
the purchase Of new uniforms
The 'spook'' had disappeared again. how
ever. upon their arrival, and as the storage
batteries In the pocket electric lights were
giving out at this stage Of the hunt the
searchers were compelled to desert the
cellar and leave he negro to grewsome soil.
tude.