The evening world., 1888-08-22
THEY DWELL IN THE DARK.
A Singular Colony OF Blind Pensioners In
Mulberry Street.

Mulberry Street.
Among the 40 blind people who this year
received the annual pension Of Gao from the
charity fund set aside by law for the pur-
pose, four gave thoir residence as 40 Null
berry street.
An EVENING WORLD reporter visited this
barracks. He found his way to the fourth
floor of the tencmen house by the use of his
sense Of touch. Not because he was blind,
but because the narrow staircases were dark
and gruesome.
At the head Of the third fight lie raped at
a rear door and it was opened by a comely
woman of ~forty-fve years, who stood stock
still and waited wi hout expression for tho
sound Of the voice Of the caller.
He introduced himself, whereat the
features of tho sightless woman lighted up
with the weird, unnatural smile peculiar to
those who have been long blind.
The woman was Henrietta Troy. She said.
with a sigh II have been in the dark now
nineteen years. / was i'll and my eyes in
haned. They grew worse and worse, until
at last l was blind. My husband is blind,
too"
Here, William ~ called the woman, in.
quiringly And she listened.
A door opened, and an aged man stepped
out of the next room.
That's my husband, sir. That's his step.
Here. William. Come, this ia q reporter of
TIE EVENING WORLD. He wants to talk with
TIL old man stumbled along to a chair and
sat down, but every time the reporter asked
a question. he half arose to reply to it.
He was tall aud thin and bent. His scanty
locks were silvery white. and his jaws were
nearly toothless.
Troy, 1. and I've been blind twenty-four
years, i was as big and strong a man as you
could wish till then, l worked in a brick
yard on Staten Island. One day a door to
the oven came down and j tried to put il
back aga ain but q flash of fire came out in
my face; 1t took away my eyes and burnt of
1.-The doctors told me that I would never
see again, and I cried: Then shoot me
Shoot mel / tell you I'd rather you would
eyes,"
The old man was sadly dramatic as he said
this. He continued in answer to queries of
the reporter:
80" earn enough for my wife and me ped
ding pencils and court plaster"
C%uriously enough. Mr.. and Mrs Troy were
was possessed of good sound eyes.
The reporter was informed that Hughey
Comisky, of l43 Mulberry street, had been
calling on them q few minutes before.
Hughey is also blind and a peddlar of pencils
and court plaster.
Indeed. this seems TO be O special trade
among the blind, for blind Peter Donohue,
who called upon the Troys while the reporter
was there. said that he gained his subsistence
in that way.
Mr.. Donohue is only about forty years OF
age. He lives in One Hundred and Seventh
street, and mp to 1875 was u stableman in the
Third avenue car stables. He used to dip his
head in the watering tub, and attributes the
loss of his eyes to some disease caught from
the horses which drank there.
Mr.. Troy Ia obliged to hire q boy to lead
him. but Peter Donohue boosted rather
proudly that he got about with a stick.
" The stick is my guide, ;, he said.
On the floor above the Troys lives Mrs.
Mary Cotter Goodwin. n brawny, old.fash
Toned. great hearted and quick-tongued Irish.
woman, whose eyes give no outward sign OF
blindness.
The loss of one sense is always compen.
stated for by the quickening of the others
and Mary.'s tongue few fast a%nd'loud.-
"Ah, ali! was q type-rubber and setter
twenty-four years old, and l was q great
reaoer.. That was years ago, sure. and / wa
taken sick with my eyes. 1t was a long sick
ness, but 1t makes o short story. / was blind
was at several hospitals, and finally OF
my name was Mary Cotter. and 1 met Mr.
Goodwin there. He pitied me in my blind
ness and married me. We were happy. We
wouldn't know one Of 'em If l saw them.
My husband was a keeper there and he lived
on the Island thirty years. So he left Inc a
little, aud with that aud the pension and
what my children earn, We can get along.
There are my children. " said Mrs. Goodwin,
and she waved her arm. There were a
sturdy young fellow and two neat young
women in the room and an aged man.
oh. then, this Is not your husband ?"
said the reporter.
No" laughed Mary. =" He's never had q
wifeI He's an old bach But guess he
and | will marry: We are just about the
right age. Hey, Mr.. Buris 2"
Hey What ?" piped the old man.
shrilly. and turning his face in the wrong
direction. while one of the young women
looked mortified and said Don't talk SO
foolish mother! This is a reporter"
"Ah, well. he won't print my foolishness ~
exclaimed the mother, confidently.
William Buris is blind. too. He is Mrs.
Goodwin's boarder. He is sixty-one years
old and lost his eyes in blasting at Eighth
avenue and Fifty ninth street, IN 1858.
II wish to God / was blown to death al
together. " said the cd man, feebly.
Mr.. Buris also peddles pencils and court
plaster, and is led about the street by a boy
whom he hires for the purpose.
All of these blind people seemed perfectly
happy till their thoughts were brought back
to their hapless condition, and then all the
agony Of their suferings when their sight
first departed was recalled, and the misery
of these long years of darkness.
One and all declared, with an emphasis
strong with sincerity. that death would have
been preferable to life without eyes.