The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-17
DROVE OFF WITH A COFFIN.
IT WAS BRIDGE1'S COFFIN THAT
WAS ~ TIE WAGON

The Undsrteks r'- a assistant LEFT the Wagon
UnEuarded While He Arranged for tho
Coms's Reception Comm Il Hecov-
cred and One OF Its Abductors Arrested.
Bridget having died. her friends ana neighl
bors decided to give her a good wake as be-
fitted, since che was u neighborly" woman
and well liked in tn" Cherry street tene-
menI. IL was determined by tho committee In
charge OF the function, self-appolntcd on tho
spot, that sho should he walked in n casket, Ms
fine n casket as Murphy, the undertaken. could
put up on short notice. So Tin OIlara. repre-
senting the COMMITTEES. sent around to Murphy's
place at CD Madison street on sunday morning
and said to Murphy's assistant:
Bridget wants the best casket In tho place"
"Who for I" asked James Amrhcin. tho as
s.stant.
For herself" replied Tim. shes dead.
Get it up quick, for we're going to wake her to-
night"
"All right" snid Amrhein, "IIl bring tho
casket myself this afternoon"
Have 1t a shiny one, with plenty Of trim
Minis, said o'Hara as he went away.
All preparations were made for the wake, and
the friends OF the dead woman sat around In the
room late in the afternoon waiting for tho
arrival of the casket. About o o'clock there
was a slbdued rumble. and Mrs. began, putting
her head out Of the window. said:
Its came. The wagons standin' In the strate.
Go down you, Tim O'Hara, and escort tn I'M
dertaker up stairs. proper and ceremonious."
Obedient Tim went down, met the under
takers man, told him which room to 20 to, and
kept right Oh to the corner saloon with u tin
pail which he had sureptitiously snatched up as
he passed out into the hall. Hospitality was
strong in his soul. and he proposed to tip the
duck to the undertaker's man. On the way he
met Jack MeehAn, who hangs about the place n
Oood daal and with him another nan ,yhOfn bp
didn't know.
"Chasin' 1t, Tim ?" asked Meehan. Want any
h-help 2"
Mot from you, jack" returned O'Hara.
you've got the load of o hod-carrier now. Go
FOUND TO the Oak street lodgings where you
Ny frIen' here, he's drunk's / am" said
drunken. Then we'll all 20 ridin' in my privit
Ii. waved an inviting hand toward the under
takers wagon, which was standing unguarded,
the horse searching earnestly In a refuse barrel
for something worthy OF his attention, but with
out success. because n dozen human searchers
had been through 1t before him-a fact of which
he was unaware.
presently disappeared within the swinging
doors OF the corner establishment When he
came ont the undertaker's wagon was bounding
up the street, while Mrs. Degah. hanging half
way out of the window. was shrieking at the
Help! Murder! Thieves! Stop thin dlvils!
They do be ,runnin' away wit the carpse's
CASketI IO-leeCe.'
Tim was so bewildered that he set the foaming
growler down upon the sidewalk and stared.
tHe hasn't seen the GROWER SINCE, hut that isn't
a vital point) Up trotted the Widow Fogarty's
"Dem blokes has flew dc coop wit de band
Volts that2" yelled oTlara, Selling the
sSowl 'ooooi Leggo me earl. Leg eo-o-o!
the other says Sure an they jumped on an
leited the horse one. an there they go! Ow!
itgxO, can'che z"
o. Wi;h a., a i, ma tT ISa1 r Of the ear for luck nh5
lew down Cherry street in pursuit Of the
pInnging wagon. II was gaining on him at
SfIffy 1nmps s sudde lms ss'' that ot1hi the propSr thing Ming
for them to do was TO turn down James slip.
The , horse Siis d adm u think ink so; AS t q result n there
crash of glass as II turned over. splitting out its
two occupants; The horse, after a futile at;
Job and stopped trembling; Meehan arose, took
+ s%mp, s1onnd q s eInnse At Not e,' so w9 ri; o an@ rsairsa
Ie stood contemplating the wagon with a rue
We was .h.hic-havin'a fine funeral ov our
own maxim" he remarked pathetically. an
row ~ shPoilt;;, Bad cess to you-hic-horse
You'll be havin, a funeral Of my maxim
y ScH, SloodyI m n n de IN. thief. yelled en d.. Tim Finn
that be running Off wit a decent lady's casket,
an, she not able to chase you by reason Of bein'
rs that your cahfin ~ demanded the other.
"G'wannaway wit yez."
ms was 100 muCn. hlRnteOus Wratn was IN
the blow that Tim O'Hara struck for the honor
OF the dead. The recipient OF i fell into the
OF, and took to his heels. For all any one
knows he Is running. yet. The police haven't
stopped him.. certainly, although they would
like to. O'Hara sent word around to Murphy
that his wagon was in trouble. Murphy came,
saw. and estimated the damage to the wagon
at $50. The casket was unframed, which. as
O'Hara said. was the principal point.
Murphy went around TO the Centre Stree.
Mccormick went down to Cherry street. As
darkness was falling Meehan came back drunken
than ever to attend the wake. Mccormick cap
tured him and locked him up.
But they had the wake Just the same, and
Meehan was the only guest conspicuously alb
sent. for the casket came back In another wagon.
|. urphy wanted to make n complaint of grand
larceny against Meehan In court yesterday
morning. on the ground that he had tried to
steal wagon and casket. but reconsidered and
charged the prisoner with malicious mischief.
He was held In $500 bail for trial. Attempts to
get bis companions name from him were I'M
availing. While he was being examined Bridget
was buried In the casket that he had run away
with.