New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-07
ms LOSS MAY BE OCR GAIN.

One of the experiences which Mr.. Richard
Croker encountered in Washington, while at
tending the Inauguration of President Cleve-
land is described with great particularly and
animation by several of our valued c0ntemp0-
rarics. From these ndisputabe narratives we
learn that the vehicle in which Mr. Croker was
ccnycyed to the ball on Saturday evening was
missing at the hour when he desired to return
lie himself instituted search and Happily
found his chariot right side up, but the driver
had been inaugurating too enthusiastically and
was disqualified for the honorable task OF con-
Quoting a statesman to his hotel. Hoping Tor
the best. however Mr. Croker climbed in and
of they started But when they hal proceeded
quietly and steadily for an hour or more 1t
occurred - him that either the dlstanc" from
the Pension Building TO the Arlington llCtel
was much greater than the distance from the
Arlington Hotel to the Pension Building, )r
else that his Jehu was triiling with him. lie
looked out of the window; the scene was I'M
familiar: the dome Of the Capitol was invisible :;
:, was the driver and the dlcIdful thought
careerod through his mind that he was lost in
Washington. Ii is unnecessary - plunge
deeper into the horrors of the situation. suffice
it to say that Mr.. Croker was finally discov-
cred, extricated and transported u his lodgings
We should not have thought il worth while
10 audc - this tragic occurrence II VIC bad
not desired at the same time 10 draw Mr.
CrLkcr's attention 10 the fact that thousands
Of citizens of NewIorl are daily subjected u
similar alarm and danger Indeed, their cX-
perencc is even more startling than his. mas
much as they are at home while Mr.. Croker
was abroad some persons endowed with r.
markable memories may be able 10 recall 70
the minutcst detail how the metropolis locked
in old times, before its most familiar features
were oblitcratod through the mastery inactivity
of the street Cleaning Department at an cx-
pcnsc Of S2,200000 per ann'im. such foitu-
nate individuals. recognizing here and there
some object which to their superior faculties
serves the purpose of a landmark, are able to
find their way home slowly and painfully, and
perhaps never got really lost in Newl0rk
But the gloom and misery OF the situation can
not be measured by the cxrcrtncs' Of these
altogcthc. exceptional pes MS Supro.ng that
neither Mr.. Croker nor Mr. Brennan has gone
astray this winter, become bcwildcrcd and
frightened and sunk down % die in the snow,
we cannot cOncedc that their immunity dimin
ishes the injustice of condcmning less aStutc
wayfarer to perish, possibly with his own door
steps only just beyond the insupcrable drift
and core.
If Mr. Croker has been as much illuminated
by the scenes through which he has passed in
and around the National Capital rs we hope
he has becn and particularly if his escape from
this snaio which was set for him last Saturday
night has produced its proper effect, he will
give orders to have the metropolis exhumcd
If he docs great many strange and pathetic
sights will be revealed in the process. Imagine
the feelings Of the policeman who hasn't been
able 10 find his way to more than half the
basement doors on his beat ali winter Think
of the lost dogs whose inanimatc forms will
emerge to view just beyond the c,rbstone, and
Of all the dear familiar objects that once VIC
knew, and by means of which we shall be able
once more to direct our steps in confidence and
safety! Let us be dug out