The Midnight Prowler of Eighteenth Street
A bold burglar is caught in the act at a private residence, turning an ordinary night into a frantic, weapon-drawn standoff.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
About 2 o'clock yesterday morning a burglar attempted to gain entrance to the residence of T. W. Petro on Eighteenth street, near Yesler avenue, by crawling through a window. Mr. Petro awoke and fired two shots at the burglar, who dropped to the ground and fired one shot in return. None of the shots took effect. The burglar had already paid a visit to the pantry, taking everything he could find of value there, and was attempting to reach the main body of the house when discovered by Mr. Petro. The residence of John McMaster, in the same row of houses occupied by Mr. Petro, was also visited by the burglar, who secured $14 in money, two silver watches, and a pair of gold bracelets.
“Mr. Petro awoke and fired two shots at the burglar, who dropped to the ground and fired one shot in return.”
This 1889 account of a home invasion in the Central District echoes the persistent, high-anxiety urban safety concerns that continue to dominate Seattle's civic discourse. Just as in 1889, property crime remains a flashpoint for resident frustration and the public's perception of neighborhood security.
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