Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-02-07
A PROFESSIONAL FINDER.
STUDY OF A CURIOUS MAN WITH
AN ODD OCCUPATION
He Has for Years Lived Comfortably
on Rewards Earned by Finding
Lost Articles in the Metropolis.

d One of New York's peculiar men
haunts the cafes and barrooms in the
vicinity of Madison Square, but so deity
conceals his identity that it remains a
profound secret who he is or whence he
comes. He is called Dominick Burdell.
He IS tall and slender, with a sallow
complexion and brown hair that borders
closely on the golden hue. He is we'll
dressed and invariably wears a 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 class of
men once numerous, but now nearly ex-
tinct, who were known TO habitues Of
fashionable clubs and resorts, as we'll as
to the police, as "Finders'-mer who
devoted all their time, energy and skill
in seeking treasure trove for which
liberal reward is offered One after an
other the group has been decimated by
death, removal, or a lapse into crime.
until the subject of this sketch stands
alore, all his companions scattered or in
the grave.
When the men about town inger in the
famous barrooms to enjoy a parting
"night-cap" before retiring the eccentric
finder is there, seated in a chair and APP
parently wide awake. He sits conven-
iently close and listens to the converse
ton from neighboring groups Of people,
but never Obtrudes, never speaks. Harm
less and inotfensive, he is regarded with
a friendly gaze, and the very mystery
that shrouds his movements creates de-
sire to cultivate him. He does not drink
Intoxicating liquors, and when invited to
join in the festivities of the hour invari
ably orders a cup Of black coffee. Three
cubes of sugar form it's sweetening power,
and quietly and surreptitiously this singu-
lar man places the remaining cubes in
his pockets This circumstance has
earned for him a sobriquet-"thes sugar
fiend."
: In the street he walks erect, but his
eyes wander from curb to store or house
line, always on the pavement, and never
straight ahead. Early in the morning,
when the streets are quiet, the profess
sional "fnder" may be seen in Printing
House Square watching for the appear
ance of the first public issue of the news
papers. He scans the ''Lost and Found"
and ''Reward" advertisements, and then
starts on his daily quest. If certain
route is specified where money or jewels
are lost, the silent man is speedily there,
and his years of experience aid him great
ly in seeking out the hidden recesses
where such an object might lie concealed
from the casual gaze of the average pc
destrian, and the successful operation of
single day realizes enough to make his
living secure for week or more.
On one occasion Burdell was seen in
Trinity Church graveyard at 5 o'clock in
the morning and his movements attracted
the attention of the policeman on that
lonely post. He concealed himself be-
hind a telegraph pole and watched the
mysterious visitor in the abode Of the
dead. He saw him lodging 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 a scintillatiOn which showed that a
glittering diamond was the fruit of this
search at a gloomy hour of the morning
in such ghoulish spot. In a 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 re-
Election that he was an honest man.
Daily he promenades Broadway and
Fifth avenue as unconcerned as though
he was landed proprietor journeying
with the throng of wealthy citizens en-
route to luxurious home. His eyes are
gazing downward, his step is set to slow
measurement, and no surrounding event,
however thrilling, attracts his attention.
He is bent upon one supreme object, the
discovery of treasure in money or jewelry
which may be concealed in a hidden
mass, or that some pedestrian in the vast
pushing and swinging tide Of humanity
may carelessly have dropped. For over
ten years this strange man has led the
life of recluse. He has never been
known to withhold lost article his
trained eye has discovered. The police
speak of him with the utmost respect.
As far as it is known he is believed to be
perfectly honest. He merely works for
a reward.
There are other grades of ''fnders,
but their game is of a very small order.
Before the street-cleaners have swept the
refuse of the streets into piles Of rubbish,
or in the gray OF the morning ere the
chiffoniers have started out with baskets
and long hooks, the smalI-fry finder may
be seen inspecting the store doors or
securing the cutters in search of articles
which belated travellers have dropped in