The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1910-09-08
THE PARIS APAcHEs.
How They Deal with Their On
lucky victims.


The floods in Paris Afforded golden
opportunities to the thieves and hooli-
gans-the dreaded "Apaches"-of the
French capital. A Paris correspond
emit sends an interesting account OF
these reckless men and t-eir methods
and weapons.
THE desperate criminals who make
. speciality Of night attacks are
bloodthirsty, cowardly set OF rufhans.
and as they are always armed to the
teeth and hold human life cheap.
solitary citizen going home late. or
policeman on lonely beat has very
little chance against them.
when they have once made up their
minds to rob q passerby-which one
does not matter much-it is more than
likely they will decide to begin opera
tions at once. That means that three
Apaches will take up position on the
pavement and pretend to be engaged
In innocent gossip. The street Is de-
serted. A solitary pedestrian comes
into sight. In moment he Is meas
ured up by the three scoundrels on
the lookout for their prey. There Is
not a policeman in sight. The moment
is favorable.
"'He has a gold chain says one
Hell do says the chief OF the
criminal trio. Get ready
They continue to converse until the
stranger reaches them. Involuntarily
he glances at them as he passes. That
Is sufficient.
what do you mean by looking at
US like that?' asks the chief In an In
solent tone. Then. turning to his com
panlons, he remarks. Hasn't he got an
ugly mug?
THE pedestrian, however little he
may be inclined to quarrel with the
evil-looking ruffians who have accosted
him, is unlikely to take their insults
In silence. But at his first word Of
protest one OF the group advances on
him with menacing air.
What he exclaims. I'll show you
who you've got to deal with
THE stranger stands on his guard
but Immediately another member o.
the trio bounds upon him from behind
seizes him around the neck with hii
arm and lifts him of the ground. His
cries for help are stified in his throat
and II he succeeds in making a sounC
the arm which presses against hi
throat is frightened and he loses con
seriousness.
while this is going on another o
the accomplices goes through the vic
TINS pockets, while the third keep
watch for the police. Then, wheI
everything worth taking has been ap
propriated, the wretch who has al
most strangled the victim releases hi
arm, gives him violent push an,
sends him headlong to the pavement
where he will lie senseless for half al
hour at least.
But things do not always pass 81
easily. Sometimes the victim show
more resistance than was expected
and then the Apaches have to modif
with a blow from a mutton-bone o
given stab with a knife or dagger
The mutton-bone used by the Pari
Apache is a terrible weapon. In al
pearance 1t resembles small hatche
without handle. is about six inche
long, and comes from the shoulder {
the sheep. This and the knife and tn
knuckle-iron are the favorite weapon
OF the Paris hooligan. They are g
fective and noiseless. whereas the ut
OF the revolver Is likely to attract tn
police.
Among the more recent methods Fl
vented by the Paris Apache for rel
dering the passing citizen incapab
OF resistance is the lasso. At the 4
vorable moment cord from 10 to
feet in length and ending In a rul
. ming knot is thrown by an expe
hand. AS It falls over the victim
heal 1t Is jerked tight. and. half stral
gled. he is thrown to the ground. tt
rest is easy"