The Wild Streets of 1891 Tacoma

Last night and this morning footpads and robbers reaped a harvest in the quarters of the city. This afternoon, however, at least one of the highwaymen came to grief. H. F. Bailey was held up by three men and relieved of a gold watch and $17 in money at the corner of Ninth and I streets. This afternoon James Fay, aged 21, was arrested while trying to sell a gold watch. At the police station Mr. Bailey identified the timepiece as the one stolen from him. Fay says the watch was bought by him of a stranger. William C. Bardsley's residence was entered by burglars early this morning and worth of clothing, including a sea skin sacque, were stolen. The thief left his hat, which is now in the possession of the police. While going home at midnight, Mr. Ormand was commanded to throw up his hands at the corner of Tacoma Avenue and Eleventh Street. Ormand, instead, took to his heels, and the highwayman began emptying his revolver at the fleeing man, who escaped uninjured. While walking on Tacoma Avenue, near his store, Friday night, A. H. Sanford was attacked by a sandbagger, but before the footpad could knock Mr. Sanford down, he was knocked senseless by a blow from a loaded billy which Mr. Sanford carries for just such fellows. Instead of waiting for his prisoner, Mr. Sanford ran for the police, and in the meantime the sandbagger, regaining consciousness, got up and ran away.