The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-04
The TERRIBLE Apache.

The desperate encounter between an
arm Unprotected hooligan ana the Po-
lice of Paris has brought into noto-
riety the apaches.
This man had vowed vengeance on
the police, and had protected his arms
with spiked guards. made OF !eatneL
and nails, and rendered invisible Dy
a short cape he was wearing. He mao
armed himself with a loaded revolver
and a knife as sharp as razor. he
killed one policeman and Wounoeo
three others. The policemen Vainly
sought to clutch him. but shrlekeo
with pain when their handS were torA
by the spikes.
There is no criminal so dreaded in
Paris as the one who belongs TO the
apaches. These men have but one aim
in life. and that is to Kill Wantonly. II
is nothing to them who the victim may
be. or however innocent. They are
infinitely worse than the worst red
Indian of the past. and they are as
proud of the number OF lives they nave
taken as the actual Apaches were OF
the scalps.
These men usually do their bastard
ly work at nighttime, and they nave
no fixed haunts. but are to be founo
everywhere in Paris. The result is
that it is unsafe for any individual to
stroll through the streets OF Paris at
night as the apaches kill simply TO
boast of the crime to their fellows
They place no value upon any Ire,
openly of the murders committed.
Woe to the Englishment or American
who happens to stroll out alone at
night, for these men will track him to
the death. s--...
Every month their crimes become of
a more horrible type. They will not face
a man openly. if possible, but prefer
to creep on him from behind They
never ask for money, as their motto Is
s'Kill first and then rob-.
The name "leS apaCheS was first
given to these vile street criminals by
a French journalist. This descriptive
cognomen was eagerly seized upon by
the French people, who are voracious
reader of Indian stories. The word. by
the way, is pronounced "apash." The
criminals themselves are proud of the
description, and have ever since tried
to live I'D to it, although each man
is known by a particular name
1t is to a great extent due to the
notoriety they have gained that the
apaches have become so active recent
ly. Their crimes are now of almost
daily occurrence. so that the police
have had to call in to their aid special
dogs, which are more dreaded than
the uniformed men.
1t is quite common scene In Paris
now to notice number of policemen
q dead man. man who
has been done to death by these loath-
some assassins. 1t is very rare. how
ever, to see an arrest. so We'll are al
fairs managed DV the murQeTeFS
The result of these crimes is that
the policemen always walk their beats
in pairs, but even then both men may
fall victims together. This is where
the value Of the trained dogs comes in.
The apaches have a somewhat dis
tinctive dress. They are low-looking
characters, with SLOUGH hats on their
heads, and knotted handkerchiefs
round their uecks. Their baggy trou-
sers are held up by wide belts. Should
a wayfarer in Paris see a couple of
these men crawling along in his direc-
ton, he knows there is only one thing
to save his life, and that is to take to
his heels. Possibly, however, he may
find himself ambushed. and then. I'M
less armed with some serviceable wea-
pom, his chance of life will be slight.
It is fortunate that there is no real
among the apaches,
otherwise their power would be almost
Usually they operate in
small bands. 1t is also frequently the
case that rival bands come into con-
tact. when set battles take place. the
victors glorying in the wounds they
have received and the number they
have killed.-Answers.