New-York tribune., 1896-04-20
ITALIAN MISSION WILL CONTINUE.
THE WOMEN WHO ARE CONDUCTING 1T ARB
NOT INTIMIDATED. AND CHECKS ARE
ALREADY BEING RECEIVED.

Scarcely was the ink dry upon the newspaper
account OF the closing OF the Italian Mission at No.
II Conover-st.. South Brooklyn than checks began
to be received for the support Of mission work In
the Italian quarter
"Is your mission work dead7" was asked OF Mrs.
T. D. Mason "Dead?" replied Mrs. Mason. mo.
1, is not dead II Is not asleep. We will hold
services mex. Sunday but the place is kept secret
I have already received two checks with requests
to use the money for the mission work In the
Italian quarter"
The women connected with the mission work
have been drawn into public notice in a manner that
is in no way congeniai to their tastes Their In
tention was to work quietly In Little Italy. ana
they sought TO make clean. good citizens OF thefe
Italians to teach the daughters how TO sew and the
mothers how to care for their children. WASH them
and mend their clothes. The policy from the hrst
was 10 do no work among those who went TO any
church.
These good women got their blow from the side
they had least expected It. They began to be
prosecuted by the people they were trying 10
benefit Some OF the young girls who had
been coming to the Saturday afternoon sewing
class remained away. and when questioned they
said their mothers would not allow them TO come
One woman who had been coming to tho mission
services one day ran into the chapel. and out OF
breath was she that she fell exhausted to the
floor Friendly brought word to the ladies'
that they were in personal danger IL they were
afraid they not ntimidated, Tor on last
Sunday Mrs Mason went down to the little chapel
alone and carried the communion silver with her In
q basket.
Mrs Mason Is a lineal descendant OF John Knox.
and she is not likely give up this work now that
she has fairly started II. OF the seventy girls
beIone,nR to the sewing-class only four came last
Saturday. and even those Miss Ran. the teacher.
went out and brought In. That public sentiment is
awake is clearly shown from the fact that only
two days passed after the closing OF the little chapel
when checks and encouraging letters began to be
rece,ved Dr. Mason In person paid four-ffths OF
the rent of the little place at NO IL Conoyer-st.
The block where the mission Is situated In Con-
over-st between Hamiiton-ave. and the India
Wharf was one Of the most dangerous In the city.
At Summit and Conover sts. part OF what was
Inown as the Arch Gang used to assemble.
They were ready to rob and perhaps murder Tor inc
smallest sum OF money. and gave no end OF trouble
to the Atlantic Dock police. nearly killing couple
Yrn,av-st.. which Is inclosed By huge warehouses
an the west side. and foundres and iron works on
M The east. This was always a safe refuge for the
liver thieves thS, freQuented the place when pur-
.smed nv the police. The leader OF the gang
died couple Of years ago In the Kings .,s"ny Eodhy
harrei OF appies from q canal boat. Nearly all the
others are now dead or In prison
The house where the mission Is used 10 Do h9uor
.,are and was kept by an Austrian at one time
wSo had i,,numerabe battles with this gang line
place was known by the sobriSuet Of Of The The PlIS .iS
IN there Over the bar there used to be suspenueu
this sien mo two men to drink out or one 9iass
Ultimately the gang was too mucn ior me p'o'
prietor. and he had to leave the place