Year: 1878

THE THUG OF THE PERIOD.


In India the Thugs are by no meani


as plentiful or as offensive as they wer,


a century ago. The strong hand O


the British Government made life sucf


burden TO them that excep. in the un


frequented by-ways and lonely mount


ain passes they are now almost un


known. These disagreeable persons


lived on wealthy and unwary travellers


They were nc common tramps, to fal


by chance on any passing wayfarer


but were bound together by the most


solemnly compacted organization, ex.
tending throughout the country. In
their manners they were civil and even
polite. They so far combined religion
and business that they never would
engage in robbery or murder without
first going through their stated course
of devotions. Had they omitted this
devotional feature of their work, they
would have had no encouragement to
proceed, for according to their system
of theology, it was this that brought a
blessing on their endeavors. The
Thugs knew whom they attacked
Their victims were generally persons
who carried diamonds or coin. Careful
as these victims might be to keep to
themselves the knowledge Of their in.
tended movements, the cunning of the
Thugs was to much for them. Before
traveller had suspicion that Thugs
were after him he was politely stran-
gled and his remains buried in a grave
dug by the roadside. The Thugs were
always neat about funerals, and would
invariably bury with appropriate de-
votional exercises the body OF one vic
tim, or set Of victims, before proceed
ing in quest of more.


With all our boosted civilization and
Christianity We are not free from
Thugs. Ours are of a different pattern
from those which infested India. The
devotional element is lacking, and
they go directly TO business without
spending time in saying their prayers
They generally mark for their prey
the man who on pay day draws from
bank the cash to pay off the hands OF
some large factory. Such man is
watched for weeks or months. Our
Thugs know to what bank he goes,
how much money he draws, and how
he carries it to the place of business.
While he in fancied security has his
valuable package under his arm, or
firmly grasped in his hand, or tightly
buttoned inside his coat, the Thugs
who watch and follow him are inspect.
ing his every movement and every ex-
preston. Whether in street car, or in
wagon, or on foot, they arc after him,
and he knows it not. At last, after
having followed him fifty times, they
suddenly pounce upon him and steal
his money. Ifthey have to kill him in
order to get it they have no particular
objection, All they want is the long
coveted plunder. If he makes resis-
tance there are generally enough of
them to overpower him. The most
recent act of Thugism was perpetrated
in New York only two or three days
ago. The clerk Of large piano con
cern was the victim and the deed was
done IN broad daylight Seizing an
opportunity TO throw q package of
money to a messenger boy the victim
told the boy to run with it. The Thugs
caught the boy and madc him give il
up. Then the victim jumped into
butchers cart and tried his best to
overtake the fleeing Thugs. When
they found that he was gaining on
them they knocked the butchers horse
in the head. This took place in wide
street, where police are supposed to
patrol. The question is naturally ask.
cd, Where are the policeH Echo an.
swers, Around the corner. They, of
course, were not looking for anything
of the kind, and were probably much
surprised when the transaction was
brought to their official cognisance.


Recently we have had too many Of
these Thuggish thievcries. The simi.
lar robbery OF the cashier Of the Planet
Mills, in Brooklyn, is fresh in the pub
lie mind. Thugs took about $4,000
from him in broad daylight. The
treasurer of the Abba Mills, in Troy,
was robbed in street car. The Thugs
of New York robbed and nearly muir
dered Lafctra, one of the clerks Of tho
Third Avenue Railroad IN o car, at
about ten o'clock in the evening. With
in day or two Thug seized a valua-
bic satchcl from the seat of a New
York car and ran. He jumped into
tho river to hide, and was fisbed out.
A lady sitting in palace car, which
stopped lew moments at station
near Saratoga, felt a sudden jerk on
her ear A Thug had made off with a
costly diamond earring. She will no
moro wear her diamonds in such public
places.


Tho police are evidently no protee.
ton against Thugs. Law has been
able to do but little in the way OF max
ing an example Of them. Pistols avail
nothing, for the Thugs generally know
better how to use them than their vic.
Tins do. There is one remedy. Pep.
per. Let everybody who carries a
package Of money, which Thugs might
want, also carry handful OF ground
pepper in such convenient manner that
he can in a moment dash IL in the
Thugs face. One grain in each eye Of
the Thug will make him powerless for
evil, and good dose oi it in his nose
will keep him so busy sneezing that he
cannot lay hands on his intended vic.
tim.-Philadelphid Times.


"0h yes" she said, "l'm very fond
of little boys" and as she tripped on
q string stretched across the pave.
ment she added: "I feel as though |
- =. Al -.