The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-28
4 MISSING CLARINET.
And n PLAYER who will Play no More TIL he
Joins the Band on the Other shore.


Since the opening of spring the inhab-
itsnis Of the Fifteenth Ward have cherished u
friendly feeling for a migratory orcanst who
works by night only. lie Ia a quaint old man,
his organ il pleasant toned, and he carries a
very steady hand on the crank. He appe rs at
the end OF the street about IL o'coc *. lust when
people are getting ready for bed, and plays one
tune only, "Old Hundred" lie doesn't stand
and play 1t a hundred tunes la varying time in
one place, but never more than twice, and then
In harmonious measure; and he makes long
reaches In the street. so that when next YOU
hear the tune It is softened by distance. simple.
and savorins Of memories it vas a sort Of bene-
diction after the labors OF the day.
Last Monday night the old organist met op-
POSITION. Two Italians with harp aud clarinet
followed close upon him End executed wretched-
ly crippled caricatures Of the music Of Strauss
and Onenbach. The harp player seemed to DO
inolensive man, aud his music was tolerablc |;
but the clarinet player was undoubtedly thor
ouchly depraved villain. He was short and
stumpy and knurly and battered. His clarinet
was Ike himself IN all these points, aud In tone
it was without a single one OF the delightful
qualities OF the reed. 1t WAS sharp and raspng.
and the bandit played 1t with a diabolcd and
eccentric energy that was to the highest degree
exas perating, so that everybody wondered how
into so small an instrument.
Where Mr., Magunin lives the boarders were
wrought IN to state Of inhinmabiiity that
seemed fun OF danger for the clarinet player.
IL unanimously agreed that the discordant
music must he stopped, and the enthusiastic
Mr. Nagruder was heard To say that he would
Ike to cram that clirihet down the clarinet
ulayer's throat" Tho next night they were
ABOUND again. and Mr.. Magrud.r was missed
from the boarding house. Mr.. Elbow Mlgrcgor,
while on his way home met the musicians in
the street. ana hiding behind tree near the
Al /
gregor asked him what he wa, doing there, Ma
gruder SAID he W waiting fora good chahce 10
give the clarinet man silver quarter
On Wednesday night the Italians passed
through the street ~ usual. and soor after they
nd gone Mr. Magruder came hurriedly into the
house and went straight 20 bed. The next night
the Italians were missing. and Mr. Mngruder
was at nome, clmplasan.. ON Friday morning,
while Mir. Mdgufiin was eating his urea kfhst and
gllucins now aud then al the newspaper. his eN q
rested ON par graph that startled him. lie
showed away his plate and read aloud;
"A MYSTERIOUS CASE.
Late on "Wednesday night there was taken "a
Bellevue Hospital from the Mercer street police
| station an Italian street musician Of small
! stature and battered exterior. lie was entirely
helpless. but the cause of his Illness or injury
Was not apparent. and the doctors were puz
! zlcd. lie Was unable TO speak, and hls breath
INK was very peculiar, every respiration being
| Hc rompaned hy remarkably unpleasant rdsp
ing sound. Yesterday morning the unknown
man died, ana Dr. smith made post-hortem
examination II IN" romans.
"A Lasty diagnosis of the clothing showed that
| while somewhat worn, Il was rtlll adequate FOL
] the covering of the body. SOme Of the organ,
| were more OF less engorged aud Others were not
| Dr. Smith cut Of the mans head, but saw no
| thing in the wiudpipe that could have causeC
| tue my sterious sounds. The hands were al
| Ilgn,, and So were the feet, though theS seemed
| 10 need irrigation.
$50 far no cause OF death had been dscov
cred but ON opening the stomach the surgeol
| found n small clarinet. only partly digested
| THIS explained at once the cause Of the m. n
remarkable breathing and mysterious death
| and the body was promptly sewed up with lon.
| stitches. Having been unable to ascertain how
| tho clarinet got into the mans stomach. %
| how the man got outside Of the clarinet. tn
Coroner ordered the jury to Tepder verdict q
found drowned, and nc Is now suing Comptrol
Ter Green for his fees"
Mir. hagulin dropped the newspaper, an
fixed his searching eye on Magruder. Ever
boarder did the same. Masrlder never tlinched
Tuen the meal was resumed and finished Il
silence. After breakfast, wnen Magruder wa
ready to 20 down town, he found all the board
ers standing in row in the hail. As he pas-e
through toward tue door every DO. rder. silent
! ly, solemuly. and cordially, shook nis hand. NJ
Magruder WAS grateful and deeply moved. IL
knew they approved his action, ana would stan
by him TO the last. No Investigating committe
could ever squeeze a word out Of them, even
the questions were asked with u hydraull
press,
Last night the quaint old organ man pave
again unmoested; and "a he turned away q
the crank, he helped once more 10 draw the sol
| blanket Of sleep over tue bO.uMs OF the peacS
ful and COntented Fifteenth ardGrs,