New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-02
BLIND BEGGAR BURNED TO DEATH.
FATAL ENDING or NEW YEARS PARTY IN A

sQUALID ATTIC.
Doubtless many charitably disposed people
Will remember giving occasional coppers and nIckes to
blind beggar whose footsteps wero guided by lame
woman. The hobbed along one
leg and crutch. and the blind man. when they
worked" the upper part of the city, called attention
to his presence by singing ballads which were intended
to be pathetic, though the beggars voice. crude and
harsh lsuted to that sort Of of melody. The bog
didn't sing n the business part OF the city, because
that would bring policeman down on him. The man
aud the woman wcro known among their associates as
blind Mike" and Lame Annie" They also shared
the name OF Mulligan between them Whether this had
ever been sanctioned 10y marriage ceremony their
friends ne knew cared. Certain it was that
their united Affections for thom more money than
either could have made alone.
Bind Mike has coarse features, watch but for the
sightess eyes would awaken only feelings of aversion
Lame Annic's face shows all too plainly the marks
of dissipation. Her hair is gray and struggling and
docs not often contact with comb. But they
prospered amazingly for beggars and were able to find
warmth and shelter at right week ago they hired an
attic room in q "rookery" at No. AZ James-St
They paid the first weeks rent, 81 So in advance. The
srlall. and stand upright In 1t only
the door, but it furnished with stove, bedstead
a piece OF carpet and chest Of drawers. Otherwise
they conld have had 1t for trfc over
a dollar week. Their DeighbOrs
in the house were all wretchedy poor people. They
concerned themselves little with Mike and Annie
except occasionally TO envy them their method Of
earning livelihood
This season OF tho year s the beggars'
harvest time. and Mike and Annie made
much money that yesterday they felt
justified in inviting another blind beggar, Michael Par
sons, to share their hospitality. lie had no afflicted
companion to enforce his appeals to charitable people
and therefore was not well of. The three took TO
the rooms several pals OF beer, and arrived at
that condition which many people Of better social
standing not strangers TO New Years Day
But Annie Was not so far as to be entirely
unmndiul OF business, aud late In the afternoon hu
RED her into the street for begging exped
on in the eghborhJod. leaving thcr guest lying on
the bed with pipe in his mouth.
Peter Finn WIS passing through Jamesst about $3.50
O'Clock and saw smoke pouring ont OF tho attic window
lie told Officer COnOn VINO hastcned TO the nearest hre
alarm box, while Finn hurried up stairs john Brown
who with his wife and several small children occupied
adjoining OF the beggars had already scented
the smoke and had just opened the door OF The attic rOou
II was nled with flames and smoke. Poor Michael
Parsons with his clothes ali charred and his flesh black
eued. was stretched out on the floor. Win great dih-
Guilty and not before Brown had his hair slngcd they
managed TO haul the unfortunate beggar out of the
lance arrived Ills body was taken 10 the oak street
Police Station. As be was In drunken stupor 1t is
scious before the flames reached him. The people IN the
house heard no cries. The hremen put out the names
before they exended to any OF the other in the
house The damage TO the room ami furniture was
trivial
found In a beer-shOp near by seated a
barrel and SIN showing the effects OF
neither Brown nor Finn corroboraed 'sho said that
aud Mht had returned to th room soon after ehy-
light opening the door she found the bed burning.
with Mikes aid she tried 70 awaken Par'ons andi haul
him out OF the lOom but couldn't succeed before they
were driven out by the flames Then they made their
way the street. Unfortunately Anne's character for
yeraciy Is good even when sober ohc sd that she
was thirty years old statement which hor gray
LOCKS AMI wrinkles hally contradetrd; Hhe hadn't
ed the story when Blind Mike rccled into the ROOM
Whash nas-her /" he asked.
"snut yer mouth" said Aanie, "yer git arristed.'
" Don care T do" lie Replied adding win an oath'
"A