The morning call., 1893-01-08
PATHETIC AND PICTURESQUE.
A Bit of Real Life on Lower Kearny
Street Yesterday.

"G0d bless you, sir. I've livsd here OF
and on for nigh on thirty years, and never
see the time when l felt more thankful than
jest this minute"
There was sober fervency In the old
mans voice as he said it, His form was
bent, the rheumatic" had put halt in his
STEP and his torn and patched clothes told
story Of privation. His weakened voice
was moro CHEEKY as be turned TO a grnning
urchn at his side and said, with a proud
smile: We'll. me laddybuck, what'll
mother be thinkin' OF we now?"
The pair had Just been actors in one OF
those little picturesque and pathetic scenes
that one may see now and then amid the
changing phases Of human life in great
city.
The scene and the story connected with
it were the result of remarkable instance
OF the promptness and efficiency OF the
Fire Department. Early on the morning
after Christmas a fire broke out In store
on kearny street, near Clay, in an ancient
two-story frame building that was built
before the C0mstOck was discovered.
Years ago the building was for some time
regarded with superstitious reverence for
"hoodoos" by many, for in sGme of the
stuffy little rooms upstairs five murders
were committed IN less than as many years,
the Coroner's wagon hauled away one or
two suicides. and twice unexplained at
tempts had been made to burn the structure.
But when the freladdies got there, amid
the changing OF firebells, on that cold holi-
day morning two weeks ago, the fire demon
was soon stayed for tho third time, and the
strangely fated building was partially saved
for at least another interesting episode.
This Old landmark. almost wrecked by
fire, was where the odd happening Of yes
terday occurred. ble front was nearly
burned out Boards replaced most of the
~ had hePn
spaces were boarded with borrowers. On
the inside were partially burned showcases
and counters; the walls were blackened by
smoke or charred by fire, and big, ragged
holes in the plastered ceilings and walls
showed where axes had crashed through
and where streams of water had played.
Into the confusion Of this wrecked and
darkened store the OLD man and the urchin
had gone. He had looked at q nice suit
of dark tweed stuff which he saw careless ly
piled on some others Oh long table and had
asked: How much do you ask for these,
boss p"
spruce young man with dark mus
tache glanced at the suit and said: "Oh,
have You got dollar and half with you?"
"Hey?' said the old man incredulously.
for he had seen that only the inside lining
on one side had been burned llttle.and be
knew that The old woman would make it as
good as new in fifteen minutes. Then he
saw on the price-tag $50 90"
"A dollar and half"
The old man had bought his last suit three
years ago and that WAS why his thanks were
fervent when he went out.
The urchin had been fitted with neat
suit for an odd four bits the old man had
left. 1t had only been splashed with water,
but then il was no longer tit for a clothing
store counter.
There were nearly hundred people in
side at the same moment finding just such
bargains. Thousands Of dollars worth of
insured goods slightly damaged. but coed
for years respectable wear, are being
given away"-g0ng for ''any thing"
There are suits and overcoats for 81,
81 80, perhaps 81 or S. that can be Just
found" where that holiday fire was in that
historical old building.
There are boys suits for two bits, four bits
and six bits.
There are underelothes. white and col
ored shirts, hats and all the rest that may
as well be got rid of for the price OF drink
or two.
They have seen little smoke or water or
perhaps been seorched just little aud the
crowds are packing them off.
The place is the Buffalo Clothing Com
pany 626 and CPS Kearny streets