New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-09
CENTRAL PARK AT NIGHT.
A TOUR WITH A TALKATIvE POLICEMAN.

A TOUR WITH A TALkATiNE POLltEMAN.
A few nights ago TRIBUNE reporter, walk
ing Central Park found himself without light for MS
cigar. raycoated confronted him, and. instead
of Offering him light, told him that Twas IL O'Clock
and that he must 60. pariey, an explanation anu
favor granted The policeman had his beat TO I'm
ish and cigar his heart. With an eagerness that
did not speak we'll for his love OF solitude he readily
asseuted the reporters proposal TO accompany MIN
and the tour after beated and besotted tramps
began.
'weli." began the policeman, "when goes home In
the mornn' an sees the little all cudded up in
their bed with their faces all flushed an happy, Gays
myself this ere world amt such vile hole oil place
after all Mebbe you think, rs Amt got any eddcsion.
can't feel somehow, but you you're goin to get
left It's lively enough here when there's light and it's
lyeer still arter it's dark but the yellost time or all
for the policeman is after IL. We has big beats. you
know bigger than we ought to have an we have 10
keep go for six hours stretch People thinks
we hunks In the summerhouscs aud on the benches
They don't know how work. I've been on the force
years an I've had three murders, eight suicides
an seventeen starvation That ERE is pretty
good show vim man, amt 1T Robberes without
They too many for us 10 keep count on what
about suicidesi Well. they is all about the same.
on a sudden hear crack. an with the sound,
an find man woman gaspin' on bench. We
takes them TO the Arsenal and they dies Sometimes
they before gets them there. They generally kills
themselves aroun the big lake. Funny isn't 1t But
that ere bit OF water seems them ike crazy
spell They sits down and looks at IL and sees hands
sill beckouing 10 them, aud they gets up on that Dig
rock and tnmbles or though they was asleep.
Days arterward boat full OF laughing children stirs up
the water and a swollen face out of the water.
'Taint' pleasant Is It There is clumpof trees right
near the Mall where three shot themselves In two
DAYS We call &c Suicides Hollow and some OF us
cuts shy 1t now. No. don't believe I'm ghosts but
don't want 10 Did we ever have policeman
commit suicidef Well yes, once. IL good time
ago, an the papers never got hold on It, The man was
one OF the old force. and he had quite family. His
Oldest son was a bad un. but he didn't know It. One
night he was dom his beat an he heard noise. He ran
twards II an standln' another, cluobin
him with a stick with hand and going through
his pockets with the other The Old man pulled ms
pistol and laid it agin the hefs head. The robber
looked up aud he sawd It his They say he let
out one cry like an pulled him away. The robbed man
got UP and yelled fer police. The old un led his cub
away, and changed clothes with him. Then the old
codger sat down on a bench. and when the relief
they found his brains scattered the with his
pistol In the blood. The thief saved In his fathers
clothes How did we find out Well the young 'un got
scragged afterward, and he told wna his daddy did
Yes we sees some sad things Hellol what's this
II was quite evident what 1t woman with
pInchrd features and closed eyes and babe There
n aush OF liquor the wUmans face and hoows in the
bays cheeks that told OF starvation. The policeman
shook Half asleep. she raised herself elbow
and cried:
"Dont-dc At hit me- jim"
She was led to the poiceman's post and thence
out OF the park
THAT woman IA afraid OF her man." was the only OK
PLANTATION the policeman voucheafed You didn't know"
be continued, "that arter eleven o'clock us rather
rough the young fclers an girls what up here
an COO. But they can't find bench IN this 'ere
PARK but what perliceman como behind an root
them out We has bad lot up here once In while. an
a good many things happen here what the newspapers
don't get hold There only about crime In i've
that reported 10 the perce In tho city an In this park
toe average 10 much bigger when a man gots robbed
here II good while for him get the Arsenal
an II takes good while longer for the to wind
of Rcsult-thief gets away with the doodle an the
victim gets without thin. they Ougbter have
park lighted up There's lots OF places in It dark
be. an where dark is. crime is. Some perlice
men leaves them places alone, an some don't. don't
Tnere always DO lots OF bad things done ere until
get h2ht
tramp In the midst OF luxurious sumber esped
IA smile OF contentmcnt the policemans
face lie grpped mis- club and hammered the bottom OF
with energy The unpleasant vibrations OF the
boards awakened the Arcadian, and. Jumping to his feet
he exclaimed, Cheese IL, Gully - He the glitter OF
tue pocemsns shield and starting on, said resgnedly
" Never mind. pard, IllRO."