New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
"MP. MOORE OF PHILADELPHIA"

NOBODY HAD SEEN HIM, But HE WAS OFTEN
HEARD To GIVE HIS NAME.
A group OF newspaper men were telling "reminiscences
the other evening one story about experiences
at Johnstown after the terrible Hood there ms
story I'm part related TO Mr.. Moore Of PHILADELPHIA
For some nights after the newspaper men reached
Johns.own they slept in brlckyard, not especially
because tie clay soft and very wet, but because
II was not cold there out on the hillside In tho
damn grass But one man made important dis
coysry He found not far from the bank Of the river
n stable which the food had left standing. IL had Q
hayloft I'm which there lot OF damp hay. Fol
lowing his discovery the Hotel dEcurfe was the moss
popular resort in JohnstOwn after midnight. About
that time newspaper could be heard yelling and
swearing as they stumbled along in the blackness
night over wrecknge and through mud holes left BY
the rushing river bunting for the stable The maa
who owned IL charged one dollar a man for lodging.
and he took as many dodgers fortune sent his way
This hotel was supplied with all the modern con-
vrnenres. IOu first climbed perpendicular cested
ladder 70 the rafers Then you got the rafters
10 the loft proper at the further end OF the stable This
WAS always an Interesting operation for OF course no
lights were allowed In the stable where there was 50
much hay But after the brickyard and the hillside
the Hotel d'Ecure was luxurious.
Every one found his own bed in the darkness and
then lying the hay tried to assure himself That he
was a lucky man. The nights were bitterly cold and
thin blanket Tor TWO men, SOn'uuc> lhrec' ""s
te best which one could expect. and not all OF them
got that
The first night that the men got into their new
cuarters they shivered like skeletons bones ratins
I'm tle wind. While they trying TO get TO sleep
some cried out:
SAY. did you men know that the chap who let 10
I'm here locked Us in
Yes came a chorus in growls.
Well suppose this place should catch on fire. whas
would become Of liz, locked in ~
Catch a hrel' came voice from one part OF The
straw between chatterng teeth. and those who knew
him recognized Billy Kenny, now supervisor "; j.
X. Kenny. Catch fire wish II would and tien
We might be able 10 get warm and his teeth CLICKED
the punctuation marks.
say" cried Kenny from the darkness. who arc
you. anyway
I'm Mr. Moore OF Philadelphia came back Ms
answer iu deep tones.
1t was no easy matter TO find ones way over the
sleeping In the loft and in finding II clear space
OF hay SIX feet long and two wide one had freldehD
10 walk upon twenty thirty pair, Of newspaper
legs. The second night Of the lodging In the new
hotel about y O'Clock. "a man cndcavOred u nuu
enough hay to cover him. lie walked upon several
men. but they were sound asleep. Finally. he CANE
to Kenny's resting place, and stamped on his feet
then on his shns his knees and stomach and finally
on ms head ,, .,,, ,,.. ,...,n. -, 70 hu
in the loft WAS awakened by IA loud howl
elbow. LAM. ,orsd
reply. ~.
II was > O'Clock the next morning when every ohs
some one has been McKing me IN the car ioi w
last hour yelled Kenny. This has got TO STOP
Who Is this to me anyway -
Mr. Moore Of Philadelphia was the answer very
deep, very digniHed and very cold. a.
There were about million rats, aS nearly as ~
newspaper could estimate II, In that nay ois.
They had way of running over ones face wh'n VA,
magnificent sportOr the rats They used to get unue
ones head and work up towards one, fscc nnil ohe
wake up shivcr from the cold gumbe little ana ~
10 sleep again.
one night there II tremendous noise In one par
stamping. pumping and yelling The whole news
paper fraternity awakened and objected M vigorous
language to such disgraccful scenes In such an emu
nently respectable hotel few minutes later kennys
voice came up from the hay .
Who was II that was making all that noise do"s
tlerc?r
What do You mean ," said some one, when was
fighting the rats ," ..
What ?" said Kenny. "were you fighting rats VINO
are YOUR
Mr. Moore of Philadelphia came back N
"Oh!' said Kenny. and every one went to sleep.
The funny thing about Mr.. Moore Of Phiiadeip'm.
WAS that one of the New York newspaper men hao
ever seen him. though they heard him evey night
one evening when tine newspaper mon were mus Nus
copy WIN me Telegraph operators, cry went up ."
some one Ind fallen through the railroad bridge VNe
the river There was rush for the bridge u help u
unOltIinate man. for the fail was Il long one any
under the bridge lay the wleohaec Of HUNDREDS .,
houses and the bodies of of people who hH'
pei ished III the food.
The first man to reach the trestlcworS Kenny
ilallo!' he shouted down between the ties. we
are here ready to get odt. VINO are yOi oil man
Mr. Moore OF Philadelphia was the thick, muddy
and altogether miserable reply. -. o,
Well Moore cried Kenny nv ,tetLcalIy won't SoS
Kenny went like child.