The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-29
OUTDOOR WEATHER
HARD ON POLICE
Many Officers OH Sick List, and
Condition of Several Is
Desperate.
COLD WINTER is RESPONSIBLE
Surgeon Brooks Record Already
Filled With Names Of
Those at Home.

Advantages of outdoor life. SO much
talked of and preached for in the med
zeal magazines and Journals. would
seem to receive a little setback when
one considers the amount OF illness now
rife among the members of the Rich
mond police force. The blank used TO
record the names of those reported i'll
by Surgeon c. w r. Brock day by day
Is said to be full and If any more
shoulu be reported on the sick list, an
other blank will have 20 be prepared.
lhere are now nine men on the sick
list, one of whom, Bicycle Policeman
w. III. Palmer, is so critically i'll that
there arc practically no hopes for his
recovery. He became suddenly III on
the street several days ago. and rup-
turcd blood vessel In n III of violent
coughing. lie was taken nome and
MS condition has become steadily worse
Tuberculosis bacilii were discovered TO
be existing at an advanced stage. lie
suffered violent hcmorrhas cs again
yesterday. and ii Is said to be but a
matter OF Il few days Al the best that
he can live.
Others on Sick List.
CAPTAIN w. y. Barfoot. OF the First
District, Is seriously Ill Il, his home
on Fine Street, but will recover. II.
suffered bad full when chasing n re
or" few days ago. and has been laid
up since. Policeman Tignor OF the
second District, is Just recovering from
severe attack of appendicitis. LII
cycle Policeman q. p Smith. of :hc
First District. Is dangerously i'll with
pneunonia, and others who are more
or less Ill are Eicyclc Policeman Bry-
ant and Policemen Ilackctt. Dugan,
Jennings and Tinsley. All Of .icsc men
spend most of their time out OF doors
enduring CHANGING ,,udo,
going excess of heat and cold The
members of the traffic squad arc par
hcuidriy exposed to chilling blasts, and
nave but little space in which TO cNcr-
ciSe themselves III effort TO keep
warm. It is their duty 10 stand in one
position eight hours continuously,
though they may be relieved on call
or in case Of emergency by the bcats-
men nearest TO them. The bicycle men
must report through IN" signal boxes
every half-hour. ana have a wide range
Of territory to cover, 80 that they
nave but little opportunity TO warm
themselves in some doorway or other
secluded spot. The mounted men are
also exposed 10 all the variablences of
the weather, drenching rains and cut
tinS' winds. The patrolmcn have, per-
maps, the easiest duty, though il Is
declared to be hard enough.
TT just goes to show" said an ON
Ger Yesterday, that the public is much
mistaken in thinking that the lot OF
the policeman Is easy Most people
spcals of us In ignorance, not through
malice. Ana let me tell you. bright
smile and a lA:lc sympathy to the no
lfcemnn ratroi';ng his lonely beat in
the dead hour OF night go a long way
In comforting him. The Finance Com
mittec Of the City Council has been
Kind enough 10 recommend a ) per
cent. raise in our salaries, and | think.
If the public understood us more pco-
pie would believe that we arc entitled
to it'
The recent bitter wca Their has hern
particularly hard ON the force. AIS Is
SHOWN by the number of casa of ill
ness. Yet there is practically no com
paint after fcw months of service
TIT policeman learns to take his lot,
TO discount excessive praise and 10 for
give those who talk without under
standing. The majority Of them per-
form their duty in comparative OBJ
SECURITY few come out into the lime
light and are known
But" said one Of them yesterday,
that man who faithfully guards his
beat and prevents crime by his pres
cnce is as deserving of prai.a as he
who captures Il noted cracksman and
becomes known"
Sergeant Drinks, the retired police
dog. now living life of comfort and
case, who had heard the quiet CONVEX
sutBOn WaEged his rail In anprnyaI