The Fiendish 'Joke' at the Seattle Waterfront

One of the most inhuman pieces of work that has ever been known in Seattle came to the knowledge of the police about 8 o'clock last evening. Thursday evening, a worthless fellow named Pat Whalen, who has served the city as a member of the chain gang at various times, went into the 'saloon' at the foot of Main Street, where he became very drunk and fell asleep on a chair. His head fell backward, and his coat being wide open, a fiendish idea struck the mind of Thomas Armstrong, the proprietor. He tore a newspaper into strips and stuffed them into the mouth of the sleeping drunkard. He then invited the loafers about the place to 'see the alcohol in Pat's system burn,' and touched a match to the paper. The victim of this inhuman joke was so thoroughly drunk that he did not feel the fire until the inside of his mouth, his lips and cheeks were burned. The crowd then interfered and put the fire out. He was taken to a room by two men who had become indignant at the inhumanity of the saloonkeeper, and he remained there until last night, when he came out and told the police. Armstrong was at once secured by Officer Sullivan and taken to police headquarters. Justice McDiarmid soon released him upon his giving a bond for a hearing today. W. D. Hunt and D. Ryan, who witnessed the cruel affair without attempting to prevent it, were locked up as witnesses, not being able to furnish bonds. Whalen's injuries are so severe that he is unable to take food of any kind.