Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-15
A PROFESSIONAL FINDER.
Study of a Curious Man with an Odd Ed
uCatiOn.

From the New York Journal.
One of New York's peculiar men
haunts the cafes and bar-rooms in the vi
cinity of Madison Square, but so deity
conceals his identity that it remains
profound secret who he is or whence
he comes. He is called Dominick Bur-
dell. He is tall and slender, with
sallow complexion and brown
hair that borders closely on the
golden hue. He is well dressed
and invariably wears double
breasted sack coat. Black is the
color of every garment, including his
''four-in-hand" scarf. This walking
mystery is one of the few survivors of q
class of men once numerous, but now
nearly extinct, who were known to be
habltues of fashionable clubs and re-
sorts, as well as to the police, as Find
ers"-nen who devoted ali their time
energy and skill in seeking treasure
trove for which a liberal reward is or
fered. One alter another the group has
been decimated by death, removal, or a
lapse into crime, until the subject of this
sketch stands alone, all mis- companions
scattered or in the grave.
When the men about town finger in
the famous bar-rooms to enjoy parting
"night-cap" before retiring the eccen-
trio Finder is there. seated in chair
and apparently wide awake. He sits
conveniently close, and listens to the
conversation from neighboring groups
of people, but never obtrudes, never
speaks. Harmless and inoffensive, he
is regarded with a friendly gaze, and
the very mystery that surrounds his
movements creates desire to cultivate
him. He does not drink intoxicating
liquors, and when invited to join in the
festivities Of the hour invariably orders
a cup of black coffee. Three cubes of
sugar form its sweetening power, and
quietly and surreptitiously this sin
gular man places the remaining cubes
in his pockets. This circumstance has
earned for him sobriquet-''th sugar
fend."
In the street he walks erect, but his
eyes wander from curb to store Or house
line, always on the pavement, and new
er straight ahead. Early in the mo ming,
when the streets are quiet, this profess
sional finder" may be seen in Printing
House Square watching for the first pub
lie issue of the newspapers. He scans
the Lost and Found" and "Reward"
advertisements, and then starts on his
daily quest. II a certain route is speci-
fed where money or Jewels are lost, the
silent man is speedily there, and his
years of experience aid him greatly in
seeking out the hidden recesses where
such an object might be concealed from
the casual gaze Of the average pedes-
trian, and the successful operation of a
single day realizes enough to make his
living secure for week or more.
On one occasion BurdelI was seen in
r ORC yvou rH of ~ in
the morning, and his movements at
tracted the attention of the policeman
on that lonely post. He concealed him
self behind a telegraph pole and
watched the mysterious visitor in the
abode of the dead. He saw him doGg-
ing behind tombstones, turning over the
grass and even removing fallen leaves
until in the glare of the electric light
there flashed FROM the long fingers of
the Swallowed man scintillation which
showed that glitterlng diamond was
the fruit of this search at a gloomy
hour OF the morning IN such ghoulish
spot. In few hours the lady who lost
the ring was in the possession of her
valuable souvenir. and Nick. Burdell,
Professional Finder" was $50 in
pocket, and happy IN the reflection that
he was an honest man.
Daily be promenades Broadway and
Fifth Avenue as unconcerned as though
he was q landed proprietor journeying
with the throng of wealthy citizens en-
route to a luxurious home. His eyes
are gazing downward, his step is set to
slow measurement, and no surrounding
event, however thrilling. attracts his at
tention. He is bent upon one supreme
object, the discovery of treasure in
money or jeWelry which may be con-
cealed in a hidden mass, or that some
pedestrian in the vast pushing and
swinging tide of humanity may care
lessly have dropped. For over ten
years this strange man has led the life
OF recluse. He has never been known
to withhold p lost article his trained eye
has discovered. The police speak of
him with the utmost respect. AS far as
it is known ne is believed TO be perfect
ly honest. He merely works for a re-
ward.
There are other grades Of finders"
but their game is OF very small order.
Before the street-cleaners have swept
away the refuse of the streets into piles
of rubbish or in the gray CT the morn
ing ere the chlffonlers have started out
with baskets and small hooks, the small
fry finders may be seen inspecting the
store doors or securing the cutters in
search of articles which belated travel
ers have dropped in their Taste to
reach home or in their maudlin stages.
And yet an Italian finder pays over
$1,000 per week to this city for the
privilege of sorting over the street
sweepings. Their reward is small, and
the mere question OF seeking rightful
owner never enters into the thoughts of
these street wanderers. Others haunt
concert rooms. Sixth Avenue dives and
certain streets where gilded vice faunts
its gaudy colors in the face of men of
wild and dissolute habits, and their
s'finds" generally consist of money and
iewelry. The latter finds its way, as a
rule, to pawnshops or "fence" houses,
where purchases are made and no ques-
tons are asked.
Still another class of this indus rious
class make the car tracks Of the city
their mines of wealth, but the fruits of
their labor are very meager, for the av-
erage car driver claims this as his pre-
empted land, and he rakes over the
ground between the iron walls so thor
oughly that there is little lett for any
outsider. Theaters, bathrooms and the
81" road trains are watched SO care
fully by employees that the professional
ssfndor,cD 0ppnpafi6fn ia Oono amoef