New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-09
LOST MEN.

Several months ago, in commenting on the
large number of persons who were constantly
reported as having mystcriou-ly disappeared. We
offered the clear and probable explanation that
they had been shut in upper bcrls by sinister
sl,.ping-car portcTs. We mad" IA ringing appeal
20 Congress for an investigation. pointing out
that "A Democratic Congress couldn't b. better
employed, but our words UNDECIDED and
nothin. was done. On the whole. perhaps we wcr"
rather too much taken up with the idea, and
there may not be 80 many missing folks thus
imprisoned a. we thought. though stu lean
to the view that dark. whish-hroom friend
has more American citizens packed away in upper
Lcrths than he has any right TO have. But We
lave new theory which will account at lcas;
for local disappearance. Missing Ncw-lork
people have simply gone over 70 Brooklyn and
got lost.
We say simply but We don't mean to imply
that there is anything simple about being host in
Brooklyn. Far from it, We know Of nothing
mere complicated. Nevertheless believe that
wel-drcctcd and systematic search would lead TO
the discovery and rescue Of many of these lost
ones But the quest must be- conducted with
intelligence and system. We could learn much
from Tie explorations which have been made
with the view of reaching the North Pole. Too
often we these expeditions start out but poorly
prepared for the work in hand, only to br fol
lowed by a party sent Ia rescue the explorers
and sometimes II relief expedition to bring back
the rescucrs. Nothing of this kind must happen
in connection with the great work to be done in
Brooklyn. No Brooklyn rescue party should start
without being provisoncd for at least three
weeks. They must proceed with great caution,
blazing the lamp posts, erecting frequent signal
cairns and making numerous caches Of food and
other supplies Nor must the opportunity be lost
To map the route taken so far possible, rs
help to further adventurous persons who may in
unguardcl moment accept the invitation Of a
Brooklyn friend TO dinner without the stipulation
that the friend meet him at this end Of the
Bridge and show him the way
Many persons living at u distance may have
difficulty in understanding the true situation
They read sermons preached in Brooklyn and
take it for granted that the place has been en-
plorrd. mapped and opened to travellers and
traders. Such is not the case however Brook
Ign is to-day utterly unknown to the outside
world, and even the native does not usually have
any knowledge of il beyond II singh, trail lead
Ing from his house TO the Bridge or nearest ferry
to Ncw-lOrk. Trcks have been made 10 Pros
pref Park and Greenwood Cemetery, but no trust
worthy guide 10 the route is eXtant. Explorers
and Adventures have penetrated the city for long
distances and have returned, but they have
usually been wasted by the harlshps endured
as to be unable 10 give ineligible account of
their wandcrings. interruptions persons have
even put forth alleged maps of Brooklyn, bur
bearing no marks Of accuracy ard these have
frequently been responsible for some of the sad.
dest cases of suffering, as relying on the fraudu
lent map, many have gone into the city only to
lind that the map made a bal matter worse Still
from the accounts of men who have passed over
the region III balloons, it, appears certain flat