The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-15
PLUMBERS COME TO TOWN.
PICK OUT A WARM SPELL IN WHICH
TO HOLD THEIR CONTENTION.

~ "VDD HEAh DONf y"
From North ana south. East and west, They're
Here. q Filled Hest AttestiuE tho OPP
ulenco OF Their C~ailinE-To-Dny They'll
Begin TO Nap Out the winters Campaign.
In these balmy summer days, when the un-
timely hot-water pipe bursts not, nor the gene al
drainage system OF the house goes suddenly AMI
without warning on a mad and maddening de-
bauch. the master plumbers OF the United States
of America. ~pro1tins by their loss of trade, are
proceeding to convene in this city. From east
and west and south and north they gather. with
the Murray Hill Hotel as their objective point,
and by tomorrow II Is expected that, including
their rc~tinuos-sisters. cousins. wives, and APP
prenticos-they will expand the population Of
this town by one thousand.
1t will DO n wcighty thousand. A more portly,
prosperous. profitable looking crowd than the
plumbers who have already put in an appear
ance can't be imagined. Their average weight
must be 200 pounds, and the curve of absolute
beauty finds a homing place in their waistcoats.
These waistcoats. by the way, are in most
cases chained to the person OF the wearer by
what at first sight might be taken for anchor
cables were 1t not for the fact that they are
gold. which would seem to indicate that they
are watch chains. There were probably 200 Of
these massive golden ornaments on exhibition
in the lobby Of the Murray Hill yesterday. and
they must have aggregated many thousands of
dollars In value. Besides those on view there
were many more in the hotel safe, not to men,
ton diamond rings, diamond studs, and diamond
sleeve buttons. besides other jewels.
The fact is there is a prevalent feeling of dis
trust among the knights OF the lead pipe regard
ing the character OF this city. The visitors from
the West go about in fear and trembling, expect
ing to be held up on any corner; those from the
South view with severe suspicion any advances
on the part OF a stranger, and arc inclined to
open conversation with an emphatic disclaimer
OF any desire to invest in gold bricks or to trade
Oft deeds OF their farms for bank notes which
can't be distinguished from the genuine article
with a microscope. These sentiments a Sun re.
porter discovered when. in the course of n
search for the secretary OF the organization. he
accosted a pleasinSly plump plumber wearing a
considerable amount of iewclry and n dazzling
purple badge, which settled beyond doubt his
geographical identity by proclaiming in letters
OF gold that he came from a certain prominent
Southern city.
II see that you're from so-and.so." began the
''e gWS.6sait Il TTA am n /" 'p retorte Il the visitor. dis.
trusttully. as he put a finger on his solitaire
Il merely wanted to ask"
Whats thatr' demanded the Southerner.
around his finger so thai the stone should point
inward. and looking at his watch chain to make
sure it was securely fastened.
-t to ask IL you could direct NC"
other; sdsins STsS Young man s1.s sop,t y0u
feeling for his wallet, and finding it was there,
Sne% o n6s his Wns coat strd tightly oyer it. I don't
oh" said the plumber with "a sigh OF relief.
ca i9a |, eI too c as t0f s in &eSS F YORK. O I'm t %sh
Why. in 1870 my uncle-Sood a business man as
side of three days he had a bag OF sawdust.
three worthless checks. and a roll OF, Confederate
$500 Of rings and s%csrfpins and Such III Yes. sir.
New Works a bad place for a man with money"
A all you plumbers are rich. aren't your
you know. That's the trouble. / suppose ali
the crooks in New York are on our track. They
read in the papers that there's to be a conven-
ton Of master plumbers, and they say: Here's
haven't been easy since / got here. and there's
facts. Not so terrible rich. that is. / s'pose
more'n i've or six thousand a year, only they
wouidn't say so; Talking about crooks; though;
Go over and talk to him"
ia he a crook r asked the reporter.
,sa aHe ,i q master plumber; , sir. and md G 6i9 Of ant the
The man indicated did not upon the reporter
approach exercise any Of the signs OF trepidation
which had distinguished the Southcrner. In.
stead he shook himself out as II in preparation
" hkoaoAN- IL NpRPAA6 hhAAASa AAiAl
from afar OF and announced himself.
Reporter. hey T. said the westerner. We'll,
you don't look like a thief. but you cant tell
here. I've heard OF their tricks Can't fool me.
This morning, nice a looking young chap as ever
/ saw stopped me outside OF the hotel. Had on
good clothes and a swell hat and pulled out a
good watch as he came. Says he:
Pardon me. but could you give me the time T.
Il knew what he wanted in a minute. l
horse thief, l says. You git or I'll punch you
so full OF holes the wind won't stop when it gifts
to you. l says.
well. you ought to have seen the stare or
that chap. He looked. me all over. Then he
says: Well, OF all the blasted idiots! .Where'd
you come from; Kansas = How d'you 'spose he
was onto that ! By the way, | wish you'd tel
me II Broadway is safe after dark. I'm told
you're all right as long as you stick TO Broad
way"
The reporter assured him that an able-bodied
could walk on Broadway with moderate safety
as late as 10 O'Clock p. VI. He seemed relieved
!, at learning this.
For the most part the plumbers find safety
in numbers. and they were TO be found around
town yesterday in groups OF from three to
dozen. All the afternoon and evening they
kept coming. and the big safe kept filling VI
with assorted jewelry. II there are. any crooks
on the track OF the plumbers IL would pay then
best to hold up the hotel.
To-day and tomorrow the plumbers will hole
Far Rockaway as the guests of the New Sorl
branch. The proceedings yesterday were con
fined to greetings and n prolonged meeting o
the Executive Committee. BY midnight nearl!
all of the $50 delegates were In New York.