The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25
K1xa OF rHE LopeEns



station, and is likely to remain 80 for som
time to come. lie is called King Of the Ledger
by the policemen, and has Tow reigned 10
nearly two years. although there have bee
numerous reyolts to unseat him. Brock is tn
only name the King Is known by. and he neve
volunteers any other. lie IL n short, stockil
built fellow with a heavy black moustache. AM
now that he Ia n king he shaves regularly. II
the palmy days when Harry Hills fam Gus resOr
was In full blast at Houston and Crosby street.
Brock mover wanted for a soTt couch. He wa
the actor puEilist who used to spar with Hillt
champion and get Knocked out regularly ever
night for the amusement OF the sports anC
men about town who visited Hills to see tn,
opponents Of the manly art" in action.
Brock was a clever man with the "mitts" II
those days. even II he did allow the erstwhll,
champion to buffet him about the ring pretty
much as he pleased. IL Is owing to that train.
ing that he Is now able to retain his job "a king
Brock received n stated wage OF 81 per knock.
out at HIS and free drinks :besides. so he did
not worry about his living expenses. When
Hills was shut down and the sports moved
away 20 other fields. Brooks occupation was
gone. and he began to wander also. lie was
waited around the country by tho winds OF
fortune and misfortune. having a try at all
sorts OF exnedients for turning an honest dol
lar. Brock has been engaged In everything in
the calendar. but did not aucceed In anything,
until he struck the Job as king OF the Tender
loin dodgers. which he says. suits him to dot.
The duties which are entailed upon the per-
son who assumes the rtsal mantle OF that dis
tinGuished personaRe may be said By some to
DO unworthy OF the titFe. but they are very
essential to the retention Of the Job. Tho king
has to run errands for imprisoned Grimm ais.
shovel coal attend to fires. preserve order In
the lodging room. and be handy man OF all
work. Brock became regular" in the
lodging room when Capt Williams, now Iu-
spector. was in command OF the Tenderloin,
and he has been there through the regimes OF
Captr. Reilly. Mclaughlin. and O'Connor. and
Is now at the height Of his reign.
A few illustrations Of the manner in which
Brock has to uphold his title may be interest
ing. On New Years night. while everybody In
the outside world was making merry. young
man. with frnyed trousers. Q seedy frock coat.
and n battered hat walked hesitatingly up to
the Sergeant's desk. His face and general ap-
pearance suggested hard dissipation. but he
was sober. and his voice wavered IS he spoke
to the officer.
Sergeant. can I stop here for the nieht1
I'm broke an got nowhere else to 60" he
said.
The Sergeant lifted his eyes from tho blotter.
looked the man over for q moment. and re-
piled: Yes; go through those doors and up
stairs."
Tho young man walked through to the rear
room and. opening the door leading to the
lodging room. stepped within and burst into
tears. Tho mntron. doorman. and big police
man were standing near the door as he passed
out and witnessed the incident The big
policeman walked over to get drink OF water.
ha ms trnn W tn hnr nd thn
man stood looking after the Young man as he
young mans Grst visit to the lsdgers' room,
that door, lis cold enough ter g freeze s over
at the Young man. Who was SO stana f
In the doorway looking over tho scene.
:, The slightest noise awakens Brock, ever on
in n moment. lie nnrolied himself from his
bedclothcs, that Is the only blanket In the lodg-
Come in an close tho door" said Brock
sitting IN and rubbing his eyes.
,oo fes; gone ne IN. damn T. an come rnnnin.
shut mn yer miysd-ale trap. yer one horse
the regular" inumbled something and be-
same unconscious again,
was in the right place or not. the young man
in low tone.
h. That. T az r,gnt yS1pG Teller yer may not
~
.er sl.er, why yer kin find bunk here" was
me kings assuring reply. Brock had looked
he eye Of the expert student OF human ma
.ure. that the shiverinR form and tear-stained
,ye we're not arectati2n byany means. Then
Here y are; young Teller: les take this
blanket ia and settle down In ihat corner l
Thank YOU" repl led the Young man. and
le apparently made up his mind that the room
o.
ouietness relGned ono. again In the lodging
'oom; broken only by the snorss OF the seepers
rsGusrs For an hour this state oi Sfa .ns
existed. Then one Of the regulars" who was
,olt upright and began tagging away at one OF
iis shoes In mad desire TO tear II on.
,,Thsy'rs ea,in' ne; Eill 'emmki!l emf"
hrOcE' broadway Billy's got Their snakes"
IL was not necessary to thus inform the
Ing q Billys ailment. for he know full we'll
Get some cold water" he commanded. and
:. regular" flew to obey,
Woo-o,o.o-o-o-o-w! Woo-o-o-o-o-o-o-w"
Iad acted like a man who l. sentenced to he
lied iis had one OF his shoes on By this
la1e and was Vigorously shaking 1t and
See ,em see em squirm. Oh. kill 'em, kill
en- KIN 'ep, Billy kept on yelling.
see nothlE, yer loon! you've been smokin' |
ope cause mixed ale nor benzlns d never |
live YOU Their WHY'S" said Brock. The cold |
Vater cure was administered aud had its ef- |
Get but Billy was not safe ia III. lodging
Dom. and Brock called In the doorman who |
an billy locked up where he could be watched, |
The dodgers with signs OF relief dropped into |
heir shores once more. and there was peace.
I was an eventful night. however, and as |
3rock hal prophesied. he was destined TO |
Tak elulness. Tor he had not fairly settled |
own comfortably when he was called again
his timo IL WAS the doorman who disturbed |
he slumbers OF his majesty. One OF the pris- |
ners wanted to send n messenger for one OF /
s friends TO bail him free. ana as Brock gem
rally attends to such affairs he had to he |
ull out, Brock cannot com plain when dis
lrhed In this manner rs IL generally means |
light consideration in the way OF u fec for the |
Messenger, and Brock Is the Mercury
When lie returned he found ore trouble
bewhiskered individual was meandering
round the room declaring that some body had |
cen trying 10 rob him during the kings alb
snce. TINS was too much for Brock and he |
urst into prolonged guffRw.
Mhy Chauucey, JOS you lie down an sleep
n !. IL guard yer an yer millions" said Brock |
nd the man with the whiskers hal to laugh
bnc" IN while generally on sunday even
gs, when things are quiet in the Ienderloin
rock siTuees IN. puts on his light oveTeoat
lnds his mueh-Valued silk muller around his
eek, and disappears, The COPS say that he
tends mixed ale parties and horse rAfies
M the KING only smiles and keeps his mouth
hut And yet they say that Brock is Ike
FIN MeGill Of Murray IIilL
Who never worked and never will