The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-06
POLICEMAN ESCAPED IN COFFIN.
A Similar Attempt to BEAT" q Roundaman
Not So successruL

A DimilnF Attempt to "BO0to q ROun0nm0n
Not So suoceHsruI.
Speaking of beating roundsmen, the
best story In that line I ever heard said the
old Sergeant, as he looked in o reminiscent
manner over his gold-rimmed spectacles, twas
tho way in which Patrolman Larry D%onohuo-
he's out Of the business now-beat his rounds
man one night several years ago. Larry bad q
section of the Bowery for his post. and in those
days the cops used to take some big chances.
oven in the busy distrtcts-and the Bowery was
as bad as they made EN- in those days.
Now. Larry had a bed fixed up for him in an
undertaking shop on the lowor Bowery. and
when things, looked quiet, after an hours
walk, he used to turn in on the sly. and snooze
for a couple of hours-kind of q cat nap. The
undertaken had n night man who used to wake
him up II anything happened, and altogether
1t was a safe game.
"One night Larry had just begun to snore
when the roundsman came up to the door,
looked in, and then stood still. The night man
waited q while, and thon went back and woke up
Larry.
You're pinched this time for sure said
the night man. Tho rounds is a-waitin' for
yez.'
Larry peeped out from behind q curtain.
He must a seen me comm in groaned Larry.
It's a sure sack, wild no back door for mo-
THE roundsman waited and waited. and
Larry he fumed and frettOd, aud swore at his
luck and everything else. But fnally.he hit in
a scheme.
Half an hour later the undertaker's wagon
drove up TO the door from the stable. Tho
night man had called it up on the phone.
"'Got n case this time O. nightf asked tho
driver. as he got down;
the corner. though. Come in and lug the box
Those two chaps lugged out a coffin and put
it in the wagon and the driver whipped up his
horse. The roupdsman stood by and watched
it all. That coffin, though, didn't hold q dead
man that night: not BY "A long shot. When the
wagon turned into Grand street tho driver
stopped and lifted the coffin lid. Out tumbled
Larry ar ana ne ih scq RGn Sr sNmth two BLOCKS and
minutes as clipper as .. bird.
The rounds was still waiting at tho under.
taking shop when. Larry s&unteTed by,
Good evenin' to yOz. Rounds said Larry.
as il he was surprised to meet the roundsman.
Rounds kind o ,stammered something and
Say continued Larry, 81 tink them dagoes
up do block'l break, loose before me tours out.
or more. Just keep within hailin' distance. will
yezi They've got their knives just sharp for a
THAT ended Larry's adventure-excep that
he had to pay 81 TO tho undertaken for RetLin'
him out OF the scrapc, and it was dirt cheap. for
Somebody else has told the story OF another
policcman's escape from his vigilant rounds
paratively small. was cornered in a bake shop
with tho roundsman waiting at the outside door
to get his number. The baker. who was u big.
strap ing, follow, undertook 10 help the police.
man on, by taking him to the waiting delivery
wagon N a big basket and cnrting him of, Tho
policeman got In the basket and WI 8 covered.
up with lOaves of freshly baked bread. Tho
baker carried the basket as far as the door, but
weighed down as he was, tripped on the
Threshold. Out tumbled the policeman at tho
very feet d, tho roundsman. After he had
picked himself up from the pile of bread and had
brushed tho -four and dust from his uniform,
the ,roundsman. who was splitting his fat sides
with laughter. said:
You're loo good to he sacked after gettin' SO
far. Thell wild yer number, but don't 60 In
again.
That closed tho incident. The little police.
man is sitting behind TIE desk as a Sergeant to-
day and hG doesn't mind telling the story now.