Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-07-25
TO CHICAGO IN A BOX.
Lefkovitc Went to the Fair as
Express Matter.
THE HEAT ALMOST KILLED HIM.

He Was Boxed Up From Saturday Night
Until Monday Afternoon and when He
Came Out He Was Arrested and Taken
to Jail-Then He Went to the Hospital.
CHICAGO. July 25.-There was great eN.
element in Old Vienna, in the Midway
plaisance at the Worlds fair grounds,
when a huge box delivered by the Ameri-
can Express company was opened. Out
of it jumped blond young man, dressed
in a summer costume of a knit undershirt,
knickerbockers and stockings, who fran
tically waved an American flag in his right
hand and an Austrian flag in his left.
Il am Niennese boy. and l greet you
air. he exclaimed, and then asked for a
cigarette.
The blond young man was Tgnatz Lefko-
vito. He left 2a7 Fifth street, New York, at
6 o'clock last saturday evening in huge
box. coming to Chicago as express matter,
marked: GLASS. This side up. Handle
with care"
He was much exhausted, having eaten
nothing since saturday, and being forced
to endure during the forenoon OF yesterday
heat OF l56 degrees in the box. lie
told a reporter shortly after coming out
of the box that had he been compelled to
endure this temperature for an hour longer
he would surely have died.
Lefkovltc was at once taken in charge by
Mr. Marcus Braun of Old Vienna, and led
to a room. where he was given ice to chew
and allowed to sleep. Lefkovitc is - years
old. He was born in Vienna and arrived
in New York in October last from Nene-
zuela. BY trade he is a maker of trans
parent pictures, and has OF late been work
ing with a man named Oppenheimer at ~
Second avenue New York lie has a
brother at 3l5 East Twelfth street, New
York, and has been living At 331 Fifth
street with Jan Dcrbohlaw, He says his
brother knew nothing of his contemplated
trip to Chicago as express matter.
Travelled With Lots of Cash.
Apart from the fact that Lefkovitc ran
the risk of heinS smothered 10 death en-
route to Chicago. still greater danger
menaced him. There was money to the
| amount of S5,NO0O in the express car in
which he travelled. and had the express
messenger known there WAS "A man i'll a
| box in the car he would have killed him.
| This the express messenger said himself as
he saw LctkDvitc jump out of the box in
| the gateway Of Old Vienna.
LcfkovitC travelled from New York tC
| Chicago in an ordinary box or packing
| case, 90 lItl IN Nltltll, lttl IN ntlSuI anC
t feet in length, He purchased ii for 81 OF
| Thursday last nj mercantile house il
| Fourth street. New York. the name Of
| which he cannot recall.
| He said AT first | lined the box side,
| and ends with straw, over which malice
| bunting representing the Austrian anI
| United States colorS nailed an American
flag also at one end. an Austrian flag at tn,
| other and hung picture of Presiden
| Cleveland at one side and of Empero
| Francis Joseph ut the other ond carried
| small AuSiri and small American flag
| with me in case | should need them
| Il put in a small cracker box at one end o
the big box in which placed five lemons
some sugar. four bottles of lemonade,
bottle of vinegar. n small bottle of cogna
which | didn't touch-a bottle of rum.
bottle of coffee half pound Of tongue
loaf of bread. nine hard boiled eggs, som
sausage and a big piece of ice.
| Il also took thermometer with me i
the box and pillow upon which to res
| my head"
The police heard Of I.eikovic's arriva
late in the afternoon. They arrested hir
on the charge of di>orderly conduct, and h
was taken 10 the Service building, tn
headquarters of the Columbian guard. 4
| the prisoner appeared to bc i'll he was sen
| at once to the Emergency hospital, wher
he was examined by the physician i
, charge. who told the police he should ne
be disturbed. but put where he could get
good nights sleep. He was thereupon tai
en- back to the Woodlawu station and gir
en- a good bed.