New-York tribune., 1922-10-16
Crowd Swarrns Through
Times Square as Officer
Halts Blond Young Cap
tain's Outdoor Meeting
'Obstructing Traffic
Charge at Station
Reserves Rush Throng
With Clubs Swinging;
Martyr" Freed ON Bail

S"PS1iA RueUa CTdWIQru, OF the Sal
vation Army, pretty young woman
from Atlanta, Ga, who has been at
tracing audiences Of 1000 or more
at her Sunday night meetings at
Forty-sixth Street and Broadway, out
side the Gaiety Theater building, was
arrested, last night. though a mob Of
4,000 fervid admirers sought to pre-
vent 1t.
1t took all the reserves in the West
Forty-seventh Street police station to
clear the street of the threatening,
hooting throng who packed it solidly
from Eighth Avenue to Ninth Avenue,
and at times seemed to be on the
point Of bursting into the. police sta
tion, where desk lieutenant was
striving vainly to hear Captain Craw-
ford's replies to his questions.
Captain Crawford is twenty-four
years old, vivid blonde, who speaks
with dramatic intensity, and has not
the slightest objection to martyrdom.
She was born and brought up in the
Salvation Army, as she puts it, both
her. parents being officers Of the Or
ganization. At present she is in charge
OF the Salvation Army branch on West
Forty eighth Street.
For two years she has been conduct
ing outdoor meetings at the Gaiety
IEeater Sunday evenings. For months
her audiences have filled Forty-sixth
Street from curb to curb.
Constructing Traffic"
Last night she was proceeding as
usual, with d band of fifteen or twenty
pieces, when Patrolman Emerson Tay-
lor thrust his way through the crowd
and touched her elbow Patrolman
Taylor, both then and thereafter, kept
the motive Of the Police Department
a. dark secret, as a. good patrolman
should, but his first words left no
doubt Of his purpose.
Do you know he demanded, Chat
you're ohstructiRg traffic? Even II
you have permit for the meeting, it
does not entitle you to block the
aI'm sorry I'm obssfuctins traffic, .
said Captain Crawford sweetly but
briefly and then went on with her
soul-savine exhortation to which
Broadway is accustomed to listen in
lie T.
Patrolman Taylor touched her ell
bow again. Is
you'll have to move on" he said
in the tone which means business.
Captain Crawford postponed the saw
ing Of several souls from the Flanders
Hotel and other of the homelike hos
telries Of the neighborhood long
enough to give prompt and courteous
reply to the patrolman.
"I'm afraid won't move on" she
said, and her tone also meant business.
"I've been here two years and never
have been molested"
Patrolman Taylor retired. His re-
treat was purely strategic, however.
He merely crossed the street to drug
store and telephoned to the West For
ty-seventh Street police station for in
structions. Lieutenant Sheehy, who
was on the desk, told him to serve a
summons on the fair captain.
Taylor unlimbcred his summons book
and returned to the fray. He informed
Captain Crawford that he was under
orders to serve summons on her for
conduct in obstructing
traffic.
Dares Him, to Arrest Her
n will not take summons" replied
Captain Crawford, and this time she
spoke In no confidential tones and the
crowd began to mutter at the police
man. IF am breaking the law, arr
rest me-"
II guess I'll have TO-" returned Tay-
lo- with what cheerfulness he could
muster in the face of the growing men
ace from saved and unsaved souls.
You may arrest me-" continued Cap
tain Crawford, as if he had not spoken,
sbut you shall not arrest the progress
Of this meeting. You may arrest US
alone after the other-and throw us
Into Jail, but our work will go on!"
She stepped down from her platform
TO accompany the patrolman and
crowd fell in at their heels. Through
Times Square to Forty seventh. Street
and westward on that thoroughfare to-
ward the police station the crowd fol-
lowed, growing larger and more daring
at every step.
Cars and automobiles in Times Square
had to stop while the riotous process
sion passed. Two other patrolmen came
10 Taylor's assistance. Captain Craw-
ford, her dark cape floating behind her
and her hatiess blonde curls q beacon
For the throng that pressed at the heels
Of the policemen, strode beside her
captors, looking neither to the right
nor to the left.
BY the time they reached Eighth
Avenue the street behind them was
& - (Ceutinued on sage twefvs,