FELL AMONGST THIEVES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2089, 23 August 1890, Page 3

FELL AMONGST THIEVES.

Mr Greenwood was one night, or rather morning, ieturning home to bia hotel iu New York from a dance, aod e'ected to mako a short cut through noma of the leas fashionable and frequented streets, and in doing so met with an adventure oat of which be only cime with a, whole skin owing to BtiDjr. acquainted with the art of self defeßce. Whilst walkißg along with his coat on his turn, he heard footsteps behind him, aod fearing daDger from sand bags, bobbed aside, but as be did'to was knocked off hi* feet and sat upon by several ruffians, who proceeded to p nion his arms. Having secured their victim the men carried him down n cide street and through a doorway and along a passage to a small room in the basement of a lew den, where Ihey found sevsral other ruffians. Having been deposited oo the ground, tha cerds were removed from Mr vireeowood'f arms and be was invited to Land over all his cash. Ha said he would do so, but he told them that hn only possessed a few dollars which i hey were welcome to. They then told him to take of bia coat (bs was in evening dress), which he did, but object.l to divest himself of hi* waistcoat. Oue of his captors then endeavoured to remove bis vest by violence, but ibis was more than colonial flash and blood could stand, so he let out with his left and floored the man who was trying to possess himself of his raiment. Having struck the fist blow, •' Charley " waited for the man to regain his feet, and then squared up to him, aod the two went at it hammer and tongs. The onlookers appeared to enjoy the fen, and stood around watching the ight with interest. Greenwood found hiß early Wangsnui training io the noble art of calf defence had not been thrown away, and was able to give a very good account of himself. After the fight had Usted for about three or four minutes Charlie fult that unless he made an effut to escape his life would be in jeopardy, for he thoroughly recogoised that be was the prisoner of a desperate gang of ruffians who would probably stop at oothiog, end some of whom he noticed were armed witb daggers. Keeping Lis eyes about him he saw that the door of the room was half open and a man standing near it had bis (Greenwood's) overcoat on his am, and held a stiletto io his band. Watching his opportunity, he landed one straight from the shouldei between his assailant's eyes, Bnd witb one bound made for the door; and coming to the man on guard, Bnatched his coat off his arm find the dagger oat of his hand, aod then rushed down the pa-aaqe, wbere he was followed in full cry by the . whole gang. Approaching the door leading into the street, Greenwood noticed, to his consterna'.ion, that it wns bolted, but it was too late to hesitate ; so puttiog on full speid, charged the door with a'l his force, ond was lucky enough to burst clean through it, and struggle into the where he found his level on the broad of his back. He hardly had time to pick himself up, when ho saw a leg of one of his pusuers coming through the broken door. He at once determined to make a good record, arid started ofjp down the street at a pace which even his b*other Harry could not hope to beat. Having gone about three or four hundred yiids, he came across a policeman who stopped him, and inquired what the " Britisher" was up to, \lr 'ireenwood having briefly explained the affair, the officer sprung his rattle, and in a faw moments they wsre joined by four other policemep. and the party proceeded to the scene or the late affray. To their surprise aot a sign of the w'isperadoes was to be seen, aod their i»»v > i?iotim had to be content with having g* l off as safely as he did, and, as the police officers told him, to thank his Incky stars that he hid emerged from the place with a whole skin. We have gleamed these particulars from Mr Greenwood in the course of a conversation and publish them for tthe benefit of our readera, who will doubfcbss take interest in the adventures of bo well-known and popuh* a Wangaaui boy a 9 Charley Greenwood.—WaDganui Herald.