New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
A TRANS-HARLEM OLYMPIA
A REPRODUCTION OF DEWEY's FLAG
SHIP OUT OF STONE, BRICKS, PIPES
AND OTHER QUEER THINGS

AND OTHER QUEER THINGS
To make tangible image Of what it worships
is one OF humanitys primitive instincts. Boy
hood is primitive humanity renewed in every gen.
GRAFTON. and there is much Of It about the corner
lots Of The Bronx which visitor to New
York should miss seeing. From where Elton-ave
obliquely slopes away out Of Third ave. to an in
definite distance in the sixteenth decade OF
streets, the neothic age may be seen revived
at every block, with only the triflinS modifica-
tion OF pantaloons enforced by unsympa-
thetlc police, who care nothing for the infancy
OF the race. The tribes Of the region seem to
he distinct one tribe Of neolithc boys to every
four or five blocks. They intermlngle very little
in peaceful pursuits. but each tribe when not
engaged in war with its neghbors, amuses itself
apart under its own chosen leader
AS an example Of this distinctness of the
tribes n tourist one day last week. having been
informed that one Joe" Cohen held sway at
the corner Of One-hundred- -and-ffty- -ninth-st,
where an image Of the sacred cruiser Olympia
had been built inquired for him there, but none
OF those young aborigines had ever heard Of
Joe" 1t was only when the great efiigy itself
loomed UP at the corner OF One-hundred and
ffty-fourth-st. that any tidings Of joe Cohen
could be obtained.
rs Joe Cohen the captain OF this neolithtc
man-of-war?" the tourist asked
Nav. He's only a bum dat. in de crew.
OATS him over dere. De papers got 1t dat he /
made de ship because he's bigger dan de rest
who did make the ship, thenT
Ed Brantsfeld is de captain, and we all
helped"
The Olympia OF One-hundred- and-hfty fourth
St is artistically admirable because her design
shows so plainly the power TO grasp the distin-
gushing features Of a modern man-of-war.
Built Of rough stones on the top Of a rocky emil
nence not easily accessible to the ordinary side
walk wayfarer. she presents at the first glance
all the salient points Of a cruiser. from the rak-
ing slope Of the ram at the bow to the blunt.
heavy counterless stern The two tall smoke
stacks are there (rain water pipes), and between
them is the windsail procured from the top OF
some neighboring chimney to supply the draught
TO her furnaces; there is the bridge where Dewey
stood there is the forward turret "a brick struct-
ure) the long protruding turret gun, the iron
sheathed superstructure and the coming tower.
No one could mistake the work for a representa-
ton Of a Sound steamer a ferry steamer, the
Constitution or anything but a contemporary
war vessel
IL was impossible to obtain interview with
Captain Brantsheld. he away and hid as
soon as his visitors real character was suspected.
From the brief glimpse Of his personality that
was accorded he seemed to be a bright, light
haired boy Of about eleven with face both eX-
ceptionally clean and exceptionally intelligent.
Others OF the tribe gladly gave information
speaking in chorus, and in the shril stone pierc-
ing voices Of the neolithc boy.
see de deck. rs purtected.' It is Of wood
sheathed in the remnants Of departed tin sham
ties. "Betchyer can't tell how you get down
tween decks You got it. OATS itr'
And the master at arms who happened to be
the only one Of the crowd at the time wearing
the sailoruan uniform Of the stone Olympia,
obligingly lifted the naDhtha box deckhouse
astcrn and crawled below. proudly showing how
the fore part s divided off by real wooden
bukhead
And now the tribe is building fort still higher
VI on their hill. Asked II this was meant for
the Correeidor the chorus answered Nav.
dat's a blockhouse say, come back again.
Wen finish il inside Of two days"