The daily gazette., 1878-10-03
One New York "Gang."
FOUR YOUTHS WHO MAKE LIFE-sAyINc
PROFESSION.
From tho Naux

4
PROFESSION.
From the New York Times.
| Few persons in this city are aware n,
tne existence here Of q juvenile associa
uon the real object and practical work
OF which are manifested In acts of per.
sonal bravery and humanity. Least OF
al would they suppose that such an or.
anlzatlon could be found in what are
called the "slums" of the Fourth ward
70, nearly four months Two young men
anu % Two Doys nave carried on what they
Association They have formed th.iT
ASSOCIATION and elected President and
nice-fresident They do not need a
treasurer, and one of them acts as Secre-
tary, his services in that respect being
confined to the making of entries in the
~record-book." These young men are
William ONeill, twenty-thrce years of
age, residing at No. 62 Cherry street;
Glioert Long, age twenty, Of No. Is
teen. of No. Is Cherry street: and PATRICK
Mari, age ten. of No. z Oak street. o.
Ne,'i Is an overgrown boy in appearance,
ana mas been known as "Nan, the News.
ooy," since he was six years old. He
sells papers and blackens boots on tine
Sylvan Line of Harlem steamers, aiding
IN the support OF widowed mother. II .
mas saved fourteen lives within the past
Two years, three being placed to his
creult on Saturday last. Long is tink-
er, employed in a shop on Burling slip;
Kelly works in G old street leather man,
utactory; and little "Patsey" Mari is
learning the painters trade at a paint
shop in Peck slip. Long has already
saved 10ur persons from drowning in the
river; Kelly has saved two persons; aud
"Patsey" has rescued one. All are ex-
pert swimmers aud divers, and simi-
larity OF tastes and ambition probably led
them into each others company.
Nearly every night in the week these
or the lover street pier. Starting thence
UNelil takes either Marr or Kelly with
MIN and patrols the South street dock
from down as far as the South Ferry or
the Battery sea wall. Long and the re-
naming patrolmen go in the northerly
direction, and give their attention to the
river 'front.' as far up as "the Hook" q
little below Grand street Ferry. They
have scraped together money enough
10 Duy two life-lnes slender, well-spun
heinpen rope, each about 100 feet long,
and provided with a cross bar Of wood,
TO which person in the water NAV
readily cling, and which also aids by lis
weight In throwing the line. They re-
main on patrol usually from two to three
hours, always meeting again at the Do
yer street pier, and reporting the occur
rences of the night. Their plan of rem
dering assistance is to allow ono to plunge
into the river when aid is needed, while
tne other remains on the pier and aids
the rescued and the rescuer with the life
line In getting out of the water. A part
OF their patrol duty consists in practising
q the throwing of their life-line-aiminp
TO throw 1t accurately to objects in the
water. At present they say they need
several articles of equipment, such as
ME buoy or two, and eventually they hope
to be able to get rubber caps and capes
TO wear ON rainy nights. These young
heroes seem to feel some sort of contempt
for men who need boats to save life, be-
cause they say that many persons have |
oeen drowned while others have been
looking fora boat and running around |
LOT oars to 60 to the drowning persons |
assistance. They would be willing to
have boat themselves, however, merely
because they would always have it for
use, and they could patrol their respec-
ave distances in front of the piers, see
greater distances, be more easily sum-
noned, and could go over their patrol
'osts three times where they now do IL
'nce. Their method OF saving a person
lowever, Is 10 go in after them, seize
hem and support them. They will en-
leavor 10 have boat by next summer,
'ut vii c,ntinue their fo It patrols mean
lne. ONelll is trying to get an appoint
INIT from til. Government on one of
he lifo saving stations on the coat.