The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-26
DEATH OF BILL BRoGAN.
A MAN MUST BE BRAVE ALONG HIS
OWN PARALLEL.

Taken sober and in the BOwery
Brogan Was DauntIess-But, Tn
fortunately. His Social Instincts
Caused Him to Overstep These Fa-
e. voring Conditions One Day.
From the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser.
Ball Brogan is dead. He died Of fright,
but fortunately for the reputation of the
Bowery it was not within its doughty pre-
cincts that he met with his strange and
fatal adventure.
BnTs best friend. Porky Sam, the sa-
loonkeeper, used to say of him: Boys,
if you were TO pop a keg of gunpowder
behind his back Bill would jes' turn around
and look through de smoke to see de loon
dat would waste a barrel of snuff; and
he'd jest make de jay put up de stuff
to oil de company's mugs"
When BIZ was sober fear was unknown
to him He would stand up against any
man Nor was he particular about a
mans build or the state of his muscles.
But on one point Bill was obstinate, and
this proved the cause of his death. He
had an antipathy for any man whose at
tire was not up and down to the Bowery
standard; and his natural aversion for
any man dressed in strange costume
was increased even TO fear when Bill was
drunk He would as soon think of at
lacking a man that wore a white shirt
rs of drinking wine or using a napkin.
Even when he was fortified with "Porky
Sam 5 finest" Bill would hesitate to tackle
a chance Chinaman, Arab or Turk. He
gave them one and all wide berth.
The other day Bill unavoidably got into
a fight with a Turk. His natural dislike
for the fez and tunic was too much for
Bill; and but for the encoura cement of
his friends he would have been downed.
Happily for Bill it resulted in a draw.
But as he had the reputation of always
coming out on top he Unlisted for revenge.
The next day Bills friends forced him to
pick a quarrel with the Turk, but the
Turk had him arrested. He was bailed
out. On the following morning Ball
brought forty witnesses into court to prove
his innocence, and the Turk was discom-
fitted.
This incident greatly increased Bills
high reputation for valor and his friends
came to believe that Bill bore a charmed
life. and that he was match for the devil
himself
The next day Bill was celebrating his vic
tory over the Turk in Perky Sans sa-
loon. Porky Sam was telling Bill that he
was going to open a new saloon away out
side of the city, on the high road between
Mt. Vernon and Yonkers. The boys were
all invited to the opening, which was to
take place on the day following. bill,
me boy" said Perky Sam. as he stood
behind the bar; 'Billu come up to the
christening, and if anyone of you remain
sober he ought to be a parson.' Bill ac-
cepted the invitation.
Bright and early that morning Bill got
up and prefaced the great celebration with
Porky's best AS Bill had not ventured
above Canal street in twenty years, he
felt kind of shaky,' as he owned to Null
vihill, the bartender.
"Mulvi, me boy We Sc it's dis way. Yer
know I said I'm never leave de street for
any jay, but 1 got to do de square by Sam
and Sc de ting run off all right. You see,
Mulvi how de ting stands; 1 am givin'
yer square game, me boy, all right Only
for dat I'd never snow me phiz on de I'd
der side of Canal street.
And so, bottle in pocket, he set out, on
the voyage of his life.
When he found himself on the dusty
roadway he discovered to his surprise
that there were neither houses nor side
walks, nor noise around him. Nothing
but green fields, rocks, trees and, further
interest him, but he felt all the more down
hearted for it. There was still some of
Porkys finest in his bottle, enough to
raise his spirits, and when theN bottle was
empty Bills head seemed empty, too-so
empty and light that he was wondering
whether his red hair was still where ii used
to be.
Bill was sure he saw a head moving
stealthily among the trees, behind ris-
the puff-puff of train but it's noise was
dying away, and Bill felt sure that the
faint sounds were drowned by the foot
steps of an enemy, who was advancing
on him on the double quick. Tightening
his hold upon stick he had in his hand
he pushed on.
The sound of hurrying footsteps became
louder and louder. Il seemed to Bill that
the very trees were closing in upon him
to help his enemy. His brain reeled A
tail man in a long yellow fringe-lille cos
tune, with gun in hand, was making at
h! mwith long strides. Bill Brogan gave a
wild yell as he saw this vision disap-
pear among the trees. He never became
so suddenly sober in all his life. Far away
he saw house, and making a bee line for
it, he pushed open the door, and fell In
front of the bar amidst his friends.
All the boys crowded. around the strick.
en- man, looking blanl1ly at each other
They turned to Perky Sam for an explana-
ton. But Sam had already seized a bot
tie of spirits and was forcing Bill to take
a glassful. Bill opened his eyes and find
ing his friends all around him his terror
abated a little.
The boys fell back. e.Bill motioned Sam
aside. and began 10 relate to him in short
rapid sentences, his strange adventure
SAM" said BIZ, he was jes comm right
at me. So quick, jes like gettin' down an
oyster. 1t was Old Harry, sure. l received
me warnin. I know me time is up. 1 had
no biz TO leave de street"
After Bill had finished Porky Sam in
formed his astonished friend that the
strange Individual that he had Just en-,
countered on the road was none other
than a certain Wall street broker. who
went hunting for squirrels in the neigh
boring woods every morning, and that he
went by the name of "Crusoe," on ac-
count of his fantastic hunting costume
Bill was crestfallen, but not consoled He
felt that he would lose prestige among bis
friends if they story leaked out In the
ceremonies that followed Bill took a hand
with great guSto.