New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

Smithson had always declared that every man
should have system of self-defence that would
come to his rescue in any emergency that might
arise in the simple life it is lived by Man
hattanites In consequence. for several years he
had the services of a professional boxer, who
called every morning, winter and summer
dragged Smthson out of a warm bed an hour
before his usual time. took him TO the attic and
beat him up some AS result of this consci-
entious training smithson actually learned
something about boxing and the art Of self-pro-
lection with his fists.
When jiu jitsu became the rage few months
ago Smithson decided that he might as we'll
have a Japanese arrow in his sef-defence
culver, and on the mornings when the boxing
instructor did not come to his quarters wiry
little japanese came to teach him twists and
twirIs which he alleged were invincible. The
Jap" could work them on Smithson without any
difficulty but Snithson never seemed able 10
throw the Jap" The latter explained this
quite satisfactorily by saying that he knew an
other line Of resistance which fought OH the llu
jitsu.
In consequence of all this it came about that
Smithson went around the streets at night with
a chip on his shoulder. He did not resort TO the
expedients of other men, such as carrying a cane
or keeping his hands in his coat pockets, as
though lingering a revolver Not Smithson!
When he haw a hard looking character ap-
preaching he would swagger up to him and past
him.
Eventually longing came over SIiilthsoLi d
great desire that some one attempt 10 hoId MN
I'D He expressed this longing at the cruz anu
told what he would do to him-the sort Oh pup
ba,d hammer him into He pictured the head
lines In the papers. "Smithson Captures hoiu-
I'D Man" and had vision Of standing up II
court and showing some austere judge how he
put the toughs out of business
One night last week he found a group at MS
club talking of the epidemic Of hold-ups which
seemed TO prevail all over the city one re- re,
counted the robbery OF an oIcne : p. a n
29th-st while waiting for crosstown car. An
other told of a stick up IN broad DAY LIShl Oh
6th-ave Still a third who LVes on WasILIiIs tolt
Heights described the reign OF terror eAIs'tiIs
IN Harlem and the seeming heIp-essnesS OF the
police. -. 80 .b+ ,o-,+
L,ovy Of an instance where the police have capt
ured the hoId-uD men sometimes they come
along in time 70 prevent ehe ,1 ~ U1 me
buIance to be treated for a fractured Skull
broken Jaw and other delightful things but
never do they make arrests
Then Smithson staggered H.
"Tn bet there'd be arrests made II they tried
to hold me up" he said. IN bet there d be no
ia like TO see them try to hold me up
Smithson's club is on a street IN the +Vs
ana II Is between two avenues that are busy day
90 night There are several apartment hotels
a.iu a;tbar side of the street which never close
Snitbson left the club never thinking OF hold
UP. , ., -, -.
He noticed two men coming toward MIN, but
thought nothing of it.
"Ssv boss give us a dollar TO buy drinks with,
,,on't ver?" one Of the pair demanded grufily.
"Co away" said Smithson. I've no money for
you" e.
Something whizzed through the air and came
down on Smithson's derby hat. It did not stop
there but went through and landed against
his scalp in the very place where he Is bald, with
the weight OF ton OF bricks. SInithsOn felt like