The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-03
SULLIVAN SWUNG HIS CLUB
AND THE BIG BARTENDER,s VICTIM
rs At DEATHS DOOR NOW


A Saturday Might Inciaent on the East Side
The sins ofthe Hamiton street GROWER
Gang Visited on the Head OF doe REAGAN
Joseph Reagan. 10 years old. who lives with
his mother at 40 Catharine street. went out on
Saturday NIGHT with tho Hamilton street
"Growler gang" and he now lies at the Cham
bers Street Hospital with fractured skull. the
result OF n collision with big Cornelius Sulli-
van. bartender In Quinlan's saloon ut Mar
ket and Hamilton streets. Saturday seems
to have been young ReaRan's first excursion
with the gang. and It is said that 1t was while
In the performance OF duties that formed part
OF his initiation rs a member that he received
his injuriee.
The Hamilton street GROWER gang has been
in existence nearly II year. and is the terror Of
saloon keepers in that part OF the cast side
which includes Market. Hamilton. Monroe. and
adjacent streets. 1t operates in squads Of
from six to ten. and In n manner peculiar to
Itself. and always at or after midnight. Its
membors' aim In life is to get drinks for moth
ing. and the success they have attained In tho
past few weeks has made them particularly
bold in their operations While policeman is
at one end OF his beat the gang begins it's
operations at the other ond. One man lie as
signed to watch to watch for policemen, while
FIVE or six post themselves in the vestibule OF
enter tho side door, and II the saloonIs nearly
empty or the bartender is alopsf they order
drinks After drinking they refuse to pay.
II the bartender does not show fight and
simply orders them out, there is no further
trouble: but II he insists upon being paid. a
signal Is given by one OF the rushers. and the
rest OF tho GROWERS" como in. The bartender
Is told quietly but firmly that 1t is not wise to
make fuss about such small matter as q
couple OF drinks He usually gives in and
orders the gang out. But when he holds
wants to thrash somebody or threatens
to have the men arrested. the gang simply
anG a Ho.f oSs
from the shower the Growlers',, are nowhere
while undergoing this initiation, Bartender
sullivan says that heagan was so roughly
Sullivan says that the gang has paid him
H be o ae oR
Of pigs feet. trpe. pickles. and plates. His
head sustained sundry bruises. and the dam,
Me Ero,v;ited Himself With = poliesmap's siub
with thoughts OF tho reception he would give
the rushers,
walk ed into tn. saloon and sullivan thought
that lie recognized them as having been with
well nlled and the two young men. after or
dering drinks and paying for them. began an
argument between themselves, which ended in
q fight. either real or assumed. sullivan put
them out. Reagan came back with crowd.
Sullivan says. and entering tho saloon alone.
ordered drinks which were not given to him.
There was no one in thu, place then except the
sullivan says he could see half u dozen Of the
gang at tho side door. waiting for the signal
to rush IN and begin the fr.e lunch fusillade.
He grabbed the club from behind the bar
aud. walking quickly around to where Raegan
was standing. told him to get out or he would
use the stick on his head. Reagan made n mo-
ton. the bartender says. as If to pun IL pistol
from from his hir rocket and sullivan struck hin ma
unconscious to the floor. EcaGans compan-
ion. Thomas CosGrove OF 20 Monroe street
picked the young man up. ana remarkiDg to
now carried bis burden out The gang had
Disappeared when he got outside. CosGrove
took RcaGGn to his home where doctor pro-
recomm ded that the invalid be moved to a
hospital. where an operation could be per-
formed.
Early yesterday. morning Reagan, still I'M
pital. whore it was announced that his condi-
tion was critical and TINT an operation could
be sEn snan ac wa s ct
O'Clock Yesterday morning. and was arraiGnsd
in Essex Market Police Court upon the com
ured man ' justice Eyan hold ii" barteeder
without bail to await the result OF Reagan's
injuries.
The Reagans deny that Joseph was mem
ply happened to go In the saloon while the
gang was hanging around They say that for
three years he has been employed as shipping
clerk for a large firm: that ne always gave his
wages to his mother. and hardly ever went out
in the evening.