The Ostrich Under the Workbench

Chief Butterfield made another gambling raid last night. This time the gaming resort over and supposed to be connected with the 'Grotto' saloon, on Yesler Avenue, at the foot of Front Street, was the object of his visitation. Early in the evening, a special officer dressed in citizens' clothes was sent to the gaming house to take observations and to remain there until 9:20 p.m., when the chief and his assistants were to make the raid. Promptly at 9:20 o'clock, Chief Butterfield and Captain Kinley mounted the stairway and knocked at the barred door for admittance. The doorkeeper peeked through the lookout hole and saw two rows of brass buttons. He gave the alarm, and the gamesters at once commenced folding up their layouts and hiding the evidences of gambling. Then the special officer showed his star, drew his revolver, and kept the men quiet. Chief Butterfield was in the meantime foaming and fretting outside the heavy door, which would not yield to the pressure of his shoulders, while Captain Kinley had gone to police headquarters for a sledge-hammer. Before the sledge could be brought, however, the door was opened from the inside and Chief Butterfield entered. Fully twenty men were in the room, and one was dragged from under a carpenter's bench where he had hidden his head, like an ostrich, leaving his nether extremities protruding. One of the dealers attempted to take the money from his bank, but the chief caught him in the act and made him hand over the $1,000 it contained. All were allowed to go except A. Strungen and S. W. Smith, the dealers, who were taken to Police Judge Miller's court, where they paid $65 each as fines.