The sun., 1894-10-01
A NEGRO FOR A NEIGHB0R.
HEAD-WAITER THOMAS NOT VEL
COME Nv BROOKLYN
Adioinins Property Holder. STIRRED Up 1T
ISIS Purchase OF Dr. smith'- House 0.
Fort Greene Pisee-They Will Try to
Buy Hin OF He. Head waiter; Owns
Saratoga Hotel, and Il worth ssoey00O.

fort Greene Pisee-They Will Try 20
Buy Hin OT-He's Head waiter; Owns
Saratoga Hotel, and Is worth esoe,Ooo.
The house at l3l Fort Greene place, Brook
lyn' passes to-day into the hands Of Hiram s.
lhomas, rich negro who is proprietor OF the
New Lake House at Saratoga Lake, and acts in
winter as the head waiter Of the Lakewood Ho-
tel, Lakewood, MI. His purchase Of the prop
erty became known 10 the neghbors through
the visit of Gen. Edward Molineaux, who lives
t III Fort Greene place, to Saratoga Lake
early last week, when Gen. Molineaux happened
10 meet Thomas whom he has known for many
years. Thomas told him he had bought the
house. not knowing 1t was In the sGeneral's
neighborhood.
Gen. Molineaux did not for the moment con-
ncctthe news with his own property, a few doors
away. In letter to his eister Mrs. J. s. Burn
ham. who lives at 1873 Fort Greene place, he told
OF his meeting with Thomas, the man who had
looked out for their table comforts often at
Saratoga Lake, and incidentally mentioned the
real estate transaction. Mrs. Burnham told the
news to her husband. He at once called to see
Ernest II. Power. who lives at 120 Fort Greene
place. Power aid it was " n damned outrage"
Together the. called on several near neighbors,
and the news finally spread through the entire
block that negro had purchased No. 131 Fort
Greene place and would move in 1t very soon.
DR.. Emma Onderdonk of 1O4 South Elliott
place, physician OF some twenty years prac-
tice, owns the house which the Burnhams
liye In. 1t is about the only house in that block,
save the one in question. which Is not owned by
Its inhabitant. To Miss Onderdonk the irate peo-
pie went, and laid before her the pleasing pros
pcct Of q tenantless house, because nobody
would live next door to negro"
Miss Onderdonk lost no time looking into the
matter, She began in cool way to trace the
erty OF DR.. Henry B. smith. After the Doctors
death IL was occupied by his son. also physi-
away Miss onderdonk ascertained that Alvin
A. Sealy, a real estate broker OF 81 flatbush
.1r Dr.
coal dealer, and that Henderson in twenty-four
hours sold 1t to Hiram ). Thomas.
found him at his place in Taylor's coal yard,
Bedford avenue.
next door to my property. which you've sold TO
a colored man, and ] want TO know what right
you've got to go and do such mean thing and
ruin ruin my property, @ and drive my tenants out and
Please speak little louder, madam" inter
:" Well. you'll hear what I'VE got to say before
I get through" screamed Miss onderdonk.
" Do you think you've acted the part OF aChris-
Well. business is business" rejoined the coal
fi Having Sd made fruitless visit to Henderson.
Miss Onderdonk went to see Sealy, the broker
who sold the property In the first instance She
for breath, Sealy said II he bad known what
Henderson would do with the property he'd
having passed, he didn't know what could be
done about i unless Thomas would consent to
Miss Onderdonk or any one else who chose The
woman physician rejected the idea with scorn,
and vowed she'd be trampled Oh and imposed
upon by no one.
However, after conf rim among ,hemsslyss,
sbe pro lIerts rwners q sile.M it wonlt he bettor
the burden than submit 10 what they considered
q gross outrage. SO after sttgmatizing Hender-
could i be- Considered eeponsi6ie. they spproeched
Henderson for tern .. Henderson promised to
" see what he could do"
Miss Onderdonk and told her hastily that
Thomas was In town and would be bought OF
made % on the @ property and 81 900 70 pay him for
" He viii give you until o'clock this after
going away. Miss Onderdonk went TO Mrs.
Burnham, but Mr.. Burnham was at his place OF
so what could the women do but discuss the
short shrift given themr 80
Mr. tSid Sun 81 og reporter thas the I
neighbOrhood was greatly stirred up over the
II and my brother, Gen. Molineaux.r she said.
"haye known this man Thomas a long time.
We have known him at various hotels, where
hnt of course we object TO the possibility OF ly-
Ing n, II door 10 q colored man,
II have heard, though. that he didn't buy II
IN live in, because his business would prevent
that, but as an investment. and I'm sure he
would let the house out 70 none but the most
unobiectionable people. So after all, our fuss
Miss onderdonk, however. did not share Mrs.
Pith Henderson and seaiy. and her reflection OF
the possible fall Of her property. she was in no
humor for looking at the bright side OF The mat
derson, and said she thought his selling the Smith
house to Thomas was an outrage,
obliyious OF the rights of his neighbors. He
cause eau be hadn't 1s hsd the place but twenty-fOur
"IS Ernest ii. Power who also lives next the newly
sold house, is tre insurance broker at No. 40
'1!fS fS fS Ssss sfs R hs ssia born in sh.
rpS Se aS o seees ss
ity And now, to think OF pack of negroes
moving right in our midst, subiec.ing US 70 the
humiliation and annoyance and running our
property-it's damned outrage, SIR, tell you
"But they say the man doesn't intend living
in the house, but will let it to respectable
p"What'd he try to buy Pr; smiths furniture
man buy fine furniture for other peoplef Be
sides, It's my opinion he intends putting, his
wherever his business is.'
What are we going to do about it Well.
I'm willing To go in to a reasonable extent to
buy out q, the trouble, but won't be black,
mailed I'll tell you that. II we can't get out
Of il ON decent terms. I'm IN favor OF going to
law on the ground that this man Henderson Is
inturIng our property If there's any law In such
a case"
ascertained the news that has played havoc with
the peace OF his neighborhood;
"I want you 10 understand" he said, that
1nOInaS a there
not a word to say against him. He's respect
able and he's got lots of friends among some OF
the most prominent people in this State. and no
one can object 10 him personally. He's rich
and he's educated. I've got nothing against a
man because hs'sanegr9, l fought for the negro
and will stand by him. Personally. Iwouldnt In
the least object To having Thomas as a neigh
Dor, but, Of course, / see the property and other
considerations which would lead 10 objections
| have not been approached by anybody on
the subject, and while I'm ready 10 act in a
neighborly manner, II will be understood have
nothing whatever TO say against Thomas"
Thomas will, II is said. be in town to-day, and
the iFate property owners will undertake to ar
range with him some satisfactory terms. lie Is
- D. ~. E.a.aa