Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-16
An Indignant Girl Wreaks Swift
Vengeance on the Man Who
WanIOnly lnsulted Her.
PlTTSBURG WOMEN TURN AT LAST
The Police LabOring Under Great Dis
advantages in Suppressing
the Growing Evil.
SPOTS FAVORED BY CORNER LoAFERs,
Many Arrests Beng Made Daily but They Are Without
Much Effect


suited. The affair occurred at Penn avenue
and Sixth street, where plenty of people
were present 10 witness it.
A gaudily dressed commercial traveller
sauntered out of the Hotel Anderson with a
cigar between his teeth and def lance to all
humanity in his look Two women were
passing at the time, and he took occasion to
make an ungentlemanly remark. One
of The women turned quickly, and
with a sweep of her umbrella
crushed the shining tile Of the
offender. He was eornered completely and
had to stand while the insulted woman
stated in plain terms her opinion of himself
and all of his kind. The crowd enjoyed the
scene hugely, to the great discomfort of the
masher, who skunk sheepishly aroundEthe
corner and disappeared.
Not an Unusual Occurrence.
The first part of the scene was but
one of MANY which occur daily on the
more frequented corners of the city,
though it is seldom the offender gets such
rebuke. Pittsburg, like many other large
cities, is infested with q class of
idle young men who pass the
earlier portions of the night loungIng
about the principal streets, leaning against
anything that will afford support to an inert
body and indulging in indecent comments
on passersby. Their numbers are apparently
on a steady increase, and each night sees an
addition to the army of street loafers.
Ladies without escorts are the par
tieular targets for these beings,
and even when accompanied
by gentleman are often forced to over
hear insulting remarks on their personal
appearance which anyone, even of lndiffer-
ent moral tone, would resent. Young girls
even in daylight do not escape the remarks
of these idlers Intentionally uttered loud
enough for them to hear.
Came From All Glasses of Society.
The police have tried to put stop to this
business, and in some degree have been sue
cessful. but nothing less than an army of
officers could continually keep the downtown
streetsfree from the human trash that frequents
them. Corner loafers come from all classes of
society, but the greater number of them are of
the stml-respectaole order, attlred In gaudy
clothes of the very latest cut and possessed of
peculiar staring habit which renders their
presence Objectionable to every well-bred per-
son.
Last evening a DISPATCH reporter made a
tour of the principal stamping grounds of the
corner loafers and listened to their conversa-
tion, catching dislointed sections of obscene
stories low jokes, at which the laugh went
round, shreds of talk and gossip peculiar to an
unoccuped mind, and comments about passing
ladies which anyone may hear IN jaunt about
the streets.
A Pair of Gay Gushers.
At the corner of Fifth avenue and Smith
field street a pair of gay gushers stood en-
sconced in the door or the Pennsylvania Rail-
road ticket office. One of them, with brilliant
little stone in his scarf held cigar in his
mouth. but he was too much occupied dis
cussing the merits of the people passing to
keep the weed lit. The first man who passed
with cigar was hailed for a light, and COM
piled with the request of the tailor
made youth, waiting patiently while
he leisurely transferred the fire. Then the
criticism of pedestrians began again and no
lady escaped the staring scrutiny of the pair
until the cigar was out again and second gen.
tleman had to be hailed for light. The gent
with the diamond apparently knew all about
half the women who passed. and his boast of
atIracJiveness was not intended for the ears of
his companion alone.
Across the avenue, at the postofice corner,
two members of the Pittsburg Councils were
about the mos conspicuous of the stationary
figures. They kept their place for an hour,
while stream of people surged over to one
side TO get past them Down a few yards a
party of Seedy-lookng ward heelers clustered
about lamp post and kept conversation hum
ming for two hours on the antiquities of the
Gourley-Bailey mayoralty contest.
Moved OFF but to Return.
officer Garrett Crossan ordered move on"
three different times, but the politicians simply
scattered for moment and returned to the
post when he was past. totally disregarding the
fact that their disagreeable presence was OBJ
structing the pavement.
About o'clock a well-dressed trio sauntered
down Fifth avenue, and seeing the old
familiar pOstofice steps with their usual crowd
of lOafers, they turned in there for a rest
This is as good place as any. boys" re-
marked one of the three. There's no wind
here. Look at tbe cut of the trousers on that
guy out there-aud the woman following him;
she's pretty, amt she, but logged out like a
cook"
There we're dozens of their kind Iounging
about the corner indulging In similar remarks
and keeping an eye open for approaching Off
GERS. The corner loafer has diversity of
topics to discourse upon when not picking
flaws in somebody's attire or staring at ladies.
Business. the club, saloons, balls. theaters,
clothes, horses, and all panner of subjects
come in for their share. There is special Off
Ger at the postoflce, but he cannot keep them
away.
Every night crowd of idlers stand about
Fifth avenue. indulging in. the luxurious priyi-
lege of doing nothing until the approach of the
LAST cable car out makes them think of getting
home. AT the corner of Fifth avenue and
Wood street can always be found dozen or SO
Of loaters
a Spot Favored by Loafers.
One of the most notable resorts is Penn ave-
nue. and Sixth street, where the proximity of
TWO hotels and two theaters proves an addi-
tonal attraction to the charm of
ewing the people going and coming
from Allegheny across the Sixth street |
bridge. The advent of the summer season |
brings with it daily increase in the number of |
loafers, as they are strictly warm-weather |
birds.
But it is not altogether on the busy streets |
that these ldlers congregate. The Mononga-
hela wharf and Water street are infested with |
them every day. Three men sat on a pile of |
boards on the wharf yesterday afternoon with |
nothing to do and not even subject for con-
Yersation. They remained there all afternoon |
until finally the patrol wagon was called and |
they were given lift to Central station. They |
VIII likely follow ten others who were arrested |
Tuesday and sent ten days TO jail.
Not every man who dresses fairly well or /
happens to stop public corner Tor few |
minutes to chat with a friend is a nuisance OF a /
masher, and few days ago new policeman on |
the force made an amusing blunder.
Were Mistaken for Washers.
Two well-known business men had been
taking drop to drink at the Anderson bar, and |
as they emerged from the room they stood on
the corner to talk over current matters They
were soon interrupted with a blast from the
copper across the street. requesting them to
move on.
For what reason replied one of the men.
Now. don't be giving me back talk" said
the officer, his "dander up" ''you mashers
think you are smart smiling on young girls who
pass by"
This break was too much and both of them
laughed heartily. Ore had a daughter, Is years
old, and they were SO absorbed in conversation
that they had scarcely noticed the women who
tent. and threatened to leave his perch if they
didn't obey orders. As the men
had finished their chat and reflected
that possibly the officer had big
the blunder with the discharge of the police
man. They moved on after guYlng him for his |