Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-13
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, JULY 49, 1884,
= PRoFITABLE INDUSTRY
A Novel MeaDs of Livelihood I'm whicl
the Citizens are Engaged.

A Novel Means of Livelihood I'm which
the Citizens are Engaged.
There is an enterprise carried on in De-
troit, says the Post and Tribune, which is
not generally known and never appears in
the statements Of the city's varied pros
porous industries. Its novelty is such
that it has never yet attained the dignity
Of name. 1t is carried on when a ma
Jority of the citizens are asleep. Those
engaged in it prosper upon the careless
ness and miSf0rtunes of others. Their
income de6es definite prediction, but can
be depended on for handsome return on
the capital invested. The few engaged in
this industry might be termed s'fnders."
The pioneers in the business were gas
lighters. Scarcely one of their number,
who has been engaged with the craft for
any considerable length Of time. has failed
to ind one or more articles which afforded
handsome addition to his regular in
come. Almost every night there was a
valuable find or two, and as a knowledge
Of the fact came to a few men who were
waiting for something to turn up they
saw in it golden opportunity, and are
now laying up treasures from what they
can find.
One of these individuals lives in Closes
alley and is negro. At the very peep Of
day he may be seen abroad. travelling at
good round pace. scanning the sidewalk
and doorways and swO0ping down on any
thing OF sufficient value to repay the loss
OF minute or so. There are also three
men who travel together, their rounds
generally beginning about midnight and
continuing until daylight. They walk
abreast, taking in the sidewalk, scanning
1t as they go, the centre man carving
bull s-eye lantern attached to the front of
his coat. They go as rapidly as is consis-
tent with their business and nothing of
value escapes their notice. A basket is
the receptacle for many articles. money
goes into their pockets and heavier finds
sometimes necessitate the sending of a
detail Of one or two for assistance or a
wagon. What they pick up comprises
almost every movable commodity worn or
carried upon the streets. They secure
hats, handerchiefs without number. coats,
money, umbrellas, feathers of value, oc-
casiOnally valuable watch dropped by
some night marauders. purses, rings,
breaStpins, canes, chains, bracelets, KEYS
letters, gloves, furs, skirts and even hose,
dropped by some luckless adventures.
An invoice of these findings would show
an immense annual aggregate. A plume
picked up not long since Melted SIS to the
finder. A watch was quietly disposed of
for 500, and the purchaser had bargain.
Much of the jewelrY is sent to a distant
market. Ready money is tucked away
and tells no tales.
Curious finds are also made. An old
lamplighter said to a reporter: 81 have
picked up two bushels Of potatoes when
they were worth 81 so per bushel, and no
one even called for the bags"
Another had found new suit of clothes,
neatly done up, and found them a good fit
without the change of button. Some
disciple of Bacchus tucked $40 bill out
side his vest pocket and the eagle-eyed
finder gathered it in. Purses containing
several times this amount have been picked
up, and the business is said by those in
formed to be lucrative one.
A peculiar case is that of an aged negro
who is found around the market building
at an early hour during the warm wealth
err. He gathers up the heads and feet of
chickens, declaring when questioned:
''Boss, dem am de quintessence OBJ de
towel. De possum am de only bird dat
oberrates desc fob regalah ole time sOup.''
He never misses a squash, bunch of vege-
tables or some other choice bit of diet.