The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-18
BRIDGE TOWER HIS COUCH.
REMARKABLE ADVENTURE OF "MR.
WAGNER or NEW TORk."

Policeman Thomas Courtney was strolling
leisurey along the bridge promenade platform
at the New York tower yesterday morning,
when n number OF pieces OF mortar and stone
dropped from the top Of the tower and fell upon
his helmet He looked up at the tower and. not
seeing anyone at work there. continued along
his post. Haf-an-hour later Police Captain
Eason came along and Sc icing the pieces Of stone
and mortar. inquired where they had come
from Courtney said he thought they fell from
the top OF tho tower. Policeman Manchester
said that earlier in the day he noticed pieces OF
mortar fall from the top of the tower and paid
no attention to the matter. for the reason that
he believed a stone mason was ut work up
there. Capt. Eason went to the bridge tele-
phone and asked II any man from the con-
struction department had been put at work on
the tower. The answer came back that no one
had been up on the tower in several weeks. and
that the scuttlc doors leading from the top OF
the iron ladder to the top OF the tower had been
| locked for at least three weeks. and the keys
| were in the bridge Office
Capt. Eason sent for the boss painter OF the
| bridge. and asked him II he would take the
| risk of climbing up tho iron ladder to the New
York tower. One Of the painters. who is known
! as jim the Climber was sent for and the keys
| to the door at the top of the ladder were given
to him. A crowd Of policemen stood on the
| bridge promenade and watched the painter
| climb up the ladder. Within few minutes,
| they saw him appear at the edge OF the tower
| and wave his hat He was shouting that he had
| discovered a man on the top OF the tower and
yelled that the man was in no condition to give
| an account of himself. He said he would take the
man down the iron ladder to the promenade
platform. A few minutes later he was seen
| climbing down the ladder. followed by a man
| who had very little clothing on him. He kept
| his arms around the man legs. 80 that In case
| the man lost his grip on the ladder or made an
| attempt to jump. would be in a position to hold
| him. He also had with him rope equipped
| with brass hooks, which. In case OF an emer-
gency could be used as a support by hooking 1t
to the ladder. When they got down half way.
they stoped suddenly. and Jim. the painter.
was seen holding the stranger up againt the
| iron ladder arguing with him. Then the man
| bowed his head as II consenting to 60 on to
| the foot OF the ladder. Step by step they
| climbed down together. the painter holding
his arms about the other man. When the
| promenade platform was reached. three police
| men grabbed the stranger He had his coat.
hat. shoes and trousers in his arms and had
| carried tn EN- all the way down the ladder with
| him.
Can't. Eason ordered him to put his clothes
on and then proceeded to question him.
What were you doing up there ?" asked the
Captain. II don't know" answered the
stranger
How did you get ap thereF" Il didn'tknow
l was UP there -,..,.--. ........r
Come now, want to know what you were
doing up there" ID" was asleep"
You're not employed on the bridge. are
youY mo. sir: l never was"
Being unable to get any further information
from the man. Capt. Eason told Policeman
Courtney to take him to the Bridge Police Sta
ton in Brooklyn. When taken there. the
sergeant at the desk asked him his name and
address.
I'm William Wagner" he said
Where do you reside ?" asked the sergeant.
I'm New York"
Come now" said the sergeant. &c want you
to tell me your residence and tell me what you
were doing on top OF the bridge tower
You can search me-" said the prisoner. Il
don't know what was doing up there"
How did you get up on top OF that tower"
"Blamed If know"
when did you go up there 2" I'm give it
up"
What time was 1t ?"
1T must have been after two o'clock cause
was drinking some ale in Chatham Square
saloon at two O'Clock.
Don't you remember anything after that ?"
No / don't. l remember / was darn
sleepy and tired, and l wanted to lay down
somewhere"
He was lying down when found him."
chimed in the bridge painter. He was lying
there In his undershirt and drawers. All OF his
other clothing was in a bundle under his head
His hat and shoes were beside him. and he was
right at the edge OF the tower. II he had
rolled over once to the left side he would have
probably fallen on top OF a passing trolley car.
or he might have dropped to the ground.
supposed when he moved around In his sleep
| his feet extended over the edge OF the tower
and he knocked some mortar and stone down
and that is what attracted the polceman's at
tentlon. The only way he could have reached
the tower was to have walked IN the big cable.
No one but an expert could do that. but .
drunen man can do many things that an ex-
| pert cant do"
Il must have got lost on the bridge" said
Mr.. Wagner. OF New York.
It's wonder anybody found YOU" re-
marked the Sergeant, The doors leading to
the roof Of that tower from the ladder are al
ways locked, SO you could not have gone up
the ladder.
Have it your own way" said the prisoner.
stretching his arms in the air and gaping.
Have it your own way. ! know one thing.
I'm darned tired. and would like to lie down
somewhere"
We'll you're under arrest" said the sergeant.
"and I'll hold you for intoxcation and dis
| orderly conduct You had no business to sleep
on top OF the bridge tower"
Sorry sorry, calculated the prisoner Hope
you'll 'scuse me this time" and he was led away
to cell.
Later in the day when he sobered up he was
arraigned in the Adams street police court
before Magistrate Bremen. There he simply
said ne was Mr.. Wagner OF New York. but he
was unable to explain how he came to 20 to
sleep on top OF the bridge tower,
Any man who could walk up that bridge
cable in the dark and undress himself on top
OF the bridge tower should not be convicted OF
being intoxicated" said the magistrate. " SO
I'll Just fine you s. on the disorderly conduct
"Mr. Wagner Il New York" was sent to
Jail.
FEARS FOR THE SAN AUGUSTIM