New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
ALMOST KILLED IN a CHI HURCH
4 wATctIMAy ATTACKED IN THE DARK.
WORK OF DESPERATE GANGS IN THE FASHION
NvrcT rSD AVE \IrF

WORK OF DESPERATE GANGS IN THE tAoIlO'
ABLE WEST END AVENUE.
Whether Samuel Van Varick received his dread
ful cash on the head from thugs or from an enemy
who owed him deadly grudge may never posi-
lively be known But that he is the victim oil
an attempt at murder is certain. Van NarcK'
who is fifty years old, had been for many years Il
widower. and lived with his sister
Mary who kept house for him ana
for his two daughters, Daisy and Eclia.
Norcross Brothers arc the contractors for the
new building OF the German Relormc
Church. now in course Of construction, ~
Sevcnty-scventl-st and West End-ave. ieW
weeks ago they employed Van Narick as hISh'
watchman and his tour Of duty began at
o'clock when the worlkmcn employed OH INV
huilding ceased their duties for the any. All
through the dark hours of the night van Na'IcN
WAS left alone, with nothing but MS ciup "
protect him from attack. $50
A. each corner of Seventy scvcnth-st ana "cs'
End-avc.. is an unfinished building. Ncw ouIlu'
incs are the favorifc hunting grounds oil the
|" Rock and Guinea gangs which inieSt inns
and other districts. They like to stc'u 'hc ~
ripc or ANYTHING else they can lay their hahus
on. About month ago. gang OF thugs NiSi"',
the new church bhilding at night ana denianu'', ,
lead pipc Probably they would then have Hiic''
Van Varck, on anything like reaSonap" oPp''
tunty. for they will not allow any such ih'"'i W.
stacle rs "a mans life to stand in thcf way. N'
the critical moment, however. other W''c"in'"
came 10 Van Varick's assistance. and he was s"'c
for the time being.
Van Varicl began his rounds as usual oh ~
day night. Ills duties included the care OIL Ten
fires which are kept burning day ana nlSh' 10 "'S
the lath and plaster Guarding. the other ho"Sr7
are three watchmcn, Thomas Reilly. George hi''
and John Il. McCayc, the last named having c"" ~
If In. building ON the southeast corner. 1t was
lust after . 80 yesterday morning "heh va"
varicl- numbcd by many hours walking in
the cold night air, walked INTO M''"Ne
shod and warmed his hands Then McCavc, with
Van Naricl, walked over to the new cn''rch JUN"
inc and the two ate a meal in company. Ihci
Nc;'avc badc Van Naricl good-by and weh'
h,ct ,o his own po,t. II was then , a. m -Four
boui, orterward at : o'clock, Charles Mlnnicck' q
pointcr and the first Of the men to begin WORK
-, tc,ed thc buildiip. He looked around for Van
yarick but at first could not ~rc him. Looking
more closely. he caught sight OF mana lo'"
stretched ont in front of one Of the free. Com
nearer hc saw that the body was tha' ol van
varick. The old watehman lay on III, back III q
,ooI If blood. which had soaked his coat and th'
ground around him. Tie blood had ho"'d over hi'
face aud neck from a great cash on the righ' Sl"'
of the head The face gray with tie pali"r
Of death. bat the faint SaSrs which broke no" anu
again from the parted lips, showed that the h''r'
stiu heat His gray ulster and his undercoat
and waisfcoat were torn open. The mud "hi''
covrrcd tic ulster from the collar d"Nh"'''
showed that Van Narick had been dragged 10 me
the spot where he was found y lew yai''
away lav a shovel full of coal which had dropped
from his hands AZ he struck down from DC
hind by the miscreant who gave hIm What W"
probably prove his death wound Assuming ID"
robhcry was the motive for the murdcrous a',"'N
/, i rather strancc that the thieves should h"N'
loft Van Varick's watch which was SUI III "'
ouicr pock.t Of the ulster where ne hah o'ri
accustomed TO keep it. Although no money wa
f,und on hir! .hc pockets were uhuiS'"r"'"
,I,,nt a dozen yards away was hIi-"p'h "o'',
tn TITO doorway was his lantern anu
rc,t "a il has his heavy walking cane ,,...;,.I
V,n Naucs was taken tp koo-cN'i' Ilosl",I1
and - nlmosf certain to die. Now aptaln nii,i' y
md tb. noiicc of the new Twenty f0urh I!',tiIt ~
arc Luufiny for his assailantN. NJ preN'.' 49,
on,rntions have been confined 10 lhNc''I-n",p m
,n,on, the two alueS and thrN have not t'' 'HAV'
THEMSELVES whether Van Narlck mad an ch'"N'