The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-01-04


Now at one window. now at another. a
smoke blackened hand holding a Mauser
pistol was seen and half a dozen shots
would be poured at the assauters In "A
couple Of seconds the bullets of the guards
men and the police shattered the wood
work and pitted the sill and brickwork
by hundreds Still the defenders remained
unhurt and still they replied with shot
after shot
But the end came AT last At o'clock
smoke began to creep out of the windows
of the tenement The besieged had pre-
ferred death to surrender Showers of
charred paper blew through a window
suggesting the destruction of documents
Tho smoke grew denser and flames ap-
peared. 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 rapid
fire into the blazing house, but now there
was no reply For fifty minute, this con-
tnued. Then two shots were heard
within. This was the last sign from the
two desperate defenders A few minutes
later the roof and copngs were falling
and the ground floor windows were belch-
ing flames
IL was now past o'clock. For more
than nine hours the battle had ragged
The interior of the house and every one
within IL were completely destroyed
Not until then did a fire engine hurry up.
and detectives. with revolvers pointed
sprang to the front door. which was still
standing. They smashed it in. but the
heat was too great for them to enter
hose ladder was brought up and water
was applied To the crumbling interior
and fallen floors. and when the fire and
heat were subdued two charr.d bodies
at last rewarded the daylong efforts Of
the police and soldiery. but there is still
one touch to add To the picture When
all was over two guns. with wagons in
full martial array, drove up Never be-
fore in all their record of long centuries
of service have the ROYAL Horse Artillery
been wanted for duty in London with
instructions To fill their hmbers with cash
shot and shrapnel. hut London was spared
a bombardment by the self lighted funeral
pyre of two of the boldest and most de-
termined characters in IN. annals of
crime
There can be little doubt that the au-
thorities deliberately chose this method
OF securing their prey, but when the press
and public fully rea we the nature of the
whole episode, whi III no imagination
could have conceived - possible in the
capital of a civilized State. it will be
strange if a feeling of strong ndignation
be not 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, Government Minister a
regimental commander and the highest
police officials in charge of the proceed
ings-and all to capture two desperate
burglars.
According TO the information on which
the police raid was undertaken the two
desperadoes were known as Fritz and
Peter the Painter The police theory
in regard to the burning Of the house is
that the desperadoes had practically
exhausted their ammunition. and realia-
ing that the end was near set fire 10 the
building and then committed suicide.
The commander of the Scots Guard.
who was posted near by. 8 avs he heard
two distinct isolated shots after the house
burst into flames and then there was
silence. Nobody attempted to escape |
from the building. The police have
little doubt that the two dead men were |
those wanted in connection with the !
aFray.
Home Secretary Churchill arrived on |
the scene very shortly before the fire |
ua .h
about giving orders and max ing |
Including the firemen the besieging
force must have included at least 100
men, There We're 800 police and 100
soldiers in action.
The days casualties We're numerous,
but thus far the only deaths resulting
have been those of Peter the Painter"
and Fritz. The most seriously injured
are Sergt. Leeson and Fire Brigade Officer
Pearson. The former is doing we'll The
latter is hardly likely TO live. He and
other fremen were struck by falling
when part of the house col
iapsed after the fight was over.
Pearson sustained terrible injuries To
his spine. His four comrades were s.-
verely injured. Two or three others We're
slightly hurt. Three policemen were
more or less severely by bullets.
Others were very slightly injured. A
soldier was hurt. A sergeant of the Scots
Guards received a flesh wound in the leg,
but resumed duty after il was dressed.
Three onlookers were struck by bullets
and taken TO hospital. but their condi-
ton is not serious, number of other
spectators were treated in drug stores.
Most of them had been grazed by ricochet-
ing bullets. There We're some mar
veuously narrow escapes.
Early on Sunday morning the body of
, man was found partly concealed in a
bush in secluded spot on Clapham Com
rcc. There were two knife wounds
through the heart and the head had been
IL. The body was identified
as that of French jew named Boron,
who lived in the East End, where he wned
property.
1t IS now believed that Boron was the
landlord OF some of the men arrested in
connection with the Houndsditch police
murders He had given information to
the police which led to the arrest OF the
murderers. 1T is thought that
le was lured by some means TO Clapham
common and there murdered in revenge
LONDON. Jan. THE morning paper