The Washington herald., 1911-01-04

gaurdsmen and the police shattered the
woodwork and pitted the sill and brick
work by hundreds. still the defenders re-
manned unhurt.
Destroyed by Fire.
At o'clock smoke began to creep out
of the windows of the tenement. The be-
sieged had preferred death to surrender
Showers of charred paper blew through
a window. suggesting the destruction Of
documents. The smoke grew denser and
flames appeared. Fire engines in plenty
were ready. but the fire the, besieged had
created was left to accomplish what the
soldiers and police had failed to do. The
soldiers continued to pour a rapid fire
into the blazing house. but there was
no reply. For fifty minutes this. con-
tinued. 1Len two shots were heard within
This was the last sign from the two des-
perate defenders. A few minutes later
the roof and copings were falling and the
ground floor windows were belching
flames.
1t was now past . o'clock. For more
than nine hours the battle had ragged.
The interior Of the house and everything
within were completely destroyed. Then
a fire engine hurried up and detectives.
with revolvers pointed. sprang to the
front door, which was still standing.
They smashed 1t in, but the heat was too
great for them to enter. A hose ladder
was brought up, and water was applied
to the crumbling interior and fallen floors.
and when the fire and heat were subdued
the charred bodies at last rewarded the
days long efforts Of the police and SOL
diery.
The days casualties were numerous. but
titus far the only deaths resulting have
been those of Peter the Painter" and
Fritz" as the two bcsieSed men We're
known.
The most seriously injured are Sergt.
Lesson and Fire Brigade Officer Pearson.
The former is doing well. The latter is
hardly likely to i've. He and other fire
men were struck by falling masonry when
part of the house collapsed after the
fight was over. Pearson sustained terDi-
ble injuries to his spine. His four COM
rades We're severely injured. Two or three
others were slightly hurt.
Three Policemen Wounded.
Three policemen were wounded more or
less severely by bullets. Others were
slightly injured. A soldier was hurt. A
sergeant of the Scots Guards received a
flesh wound in the leg. but resumed duty
after it was dressed.
Three onlookers were struck by bullets
and taken to hospital but their condi-
ton is not serious. A number of other
spectators were treated in drug stores.
Most of them had been graZed by richo-
chetting bullets. There were some mar
row escapes.
Never before in all their record of long
centuries of service have the Royal Horse
Artillery been warned for duty in Lon
don, with instruction to fill their limbers
with case shot and shrapnel, but London
was spared a bombardment by the self.
lighted funeral pyre.
The authorities deliberately chose this
method of securing their prey. but when
the press and public fully realized the
nature of this whole episode, which no
could have conceived as pos
sible in the capital of a civilized state 1t
will be strange II a feeling of strong in
dignaton will not be manifested.
The Scots Guards in action, a Maxim
and two other guns ready for battle.
bullet-swept streets. men wounded in an
assault, house allowed to blaze and
burn to the ground; a government minis
ter. regimental commander, and the |
highest police officials in charge Of pro- |
all to capture two desper- |
ate burglars. |