Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-11-29
Gotham Gossip,

tp'- Young EaIconers O"" hV-
.71ials of the chief of the
Ne,v York Detective Forcc-A re-
markaJlc Case.
New York, November "a, 1888.
The preparations for Evacuation Day
are complete, and the two pageants
which will enliyen the streets of New
York and the rivers surrounding the
island will be really magnificent. The
principal feature in the street parade,
will be the presence of the surviving
members of the old Volunteer Fire
Department, in their typical'red shirts
and huge hats. The history of old New
York is the history of the Old Fire De-
partment. From the fire laddies sprung
the politician and the energetic man of
today. They were strong, athletic men,
and although the spirit of rivalry be-
tween the different organizations led to
frequent quarrels, yet they were proud
of the city and worked bravely for its
welfare. During the war, the fire lad
dies were the handspring of enthusiasm
which sent regiments to the front to
battle for the Union. The dashing
Zouave regiments with their dare devil
courage and indomitable fortitude, were
for the most part firemen, whose mus
Giles had been hardened and whose wits
sharpencd in their battles with the fire
demons.
Inspector Byrncs, the Chief of our
Detective Force, is rapidly earning for
himself the name of the American vi"
docq, and deservedly. The manner in
which he caught the gang of forgers
headed by that clever criminal forger
Brockaway, and thereby prevented the
consumation of a swindle which would
probably have enriched the sharpers by
half million of dollars, was marvel
of care, skill and astuteness. The
whole plant was captured and the web
of evidence was woven so carefully and
thoroughly around them that it will be
wonder if any of them escape short of
life sentences. As he has been so fire.
quently named in the dispatches let
me describe him to you. He is a man
but little short of six feet, well devel-
oped frame, pleasant, strong charac-
teristic face, rudy complexion and a
remarkably clear, quick grayish blue
eyes. His movements are languid and
his conversation is also slow. His
manner is winning in the extreme; he
makes friends wherever he goes ; even
criminals, who fall victims to his skill
are fond of him, and he possesses the
knack of extracting statements from
them which are very valuable in the
interest of Justice. He rarely drinks
anything except glass of claretat din
ner; but he is an inveterate smoker
One can scarcely meet him without a
lighted cigar in his mouth, and it is
said of him that on retiring he puts
cigar in his mouth and match at his
bedside, so as not to lose any time on
awakening. He is very fond of game
of poker with few intimate friends,
but he generally loses. He is also
great admirer of racing, and during the
season the turf affords him his sole re-
creation. His judgment Of horses is ex-
cellent. For trotters, or the driving of
fast horses he has no fancy. He is
worth probably 100000. Most of it
was made in Wall Street, thanks to the
points given him by Vanderbilt and
Gould, both of whom have taken fam
cy to him.
The trial and conviction of young
Falconer in Brooklyn, for sending
anonymous missives in the shape OF
love letters to Miss Hale, disclosed an
amusing phase of Brooklyn social life.
Social intercourse there, is founded on
church going. No young man can
hope to get on, if he does not join some
church, and therefore it is desidera-
tum that he becomes member of a
fashionable congregation. Young Fall
coner was only fifteen dollar a week
young man, and worked at photo
grapher's. He joined Mr. Beecher's
church, and there met Miss Hale. He
fell in love and smiled at her as he sat
in his place on the gallery, she occupy
ing a seat in the body of the church,
His friends testified that she smiled in
return. His young heart trembled
with delight at this and he commenced
to write with all the alteration of young
lovers in old fashioned novels. This
frightened Miss Hale. She might not
have been averse to a little ordinary
filtration, so dear to the heart of any
woman, be she sixteen or sixty, but she
did not care to have the running made