The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-16
M'KAIG'S GREAT DILEMMA
Pretty Girls at the Davis Fair
Mistake Him for Captain
Chapman Of New
York.
RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK $4,000
Alderman Midlige and a Hun
dred Quarters Visit the
Big Bazaar.
RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK $4,000

When the first week of the Robert Davis
Association fair closed on Saturday night
Manager Heller was able to state posi-
lively that the receipts had come up to
. his expectations and had even gone a
trifle beyond them The total amount
taken in last week was over $4,000 This
week should net larger sum, as there
will be many valuable articles to dispose
of on the final nights of the fair. Many
persons are Withholding their money until
the closing nights when they hope to Sc
cure valuable bargains. The present in
dications are that the profits from the
fair will far exceed $4,000 Leader Davis
is well pleased with the results to date.
Metropolitan Hall was crowded almost
to shffocation Saturday night. 1t was all
a person could do to push his way through
the throng that filled the second floor,
where all the auctioneering was done and
where nearly all the valuable articles that
are being disposed of by chance are to be
found. 1t was merry happy, hustling
crowd, large in size but perfectly orderly
There was no jostling and not a dispute
arose in any quarter of the building. The
big policemen who were on hand to pre-
had nothing to do but stand at their posts
and look handsome. Bicycle Policeman
Sidney O'Donnell, one of the handsomest
men on the force, took up a position in
front of the wheel that is being disposed
of at the Third Ward BOOTH He proved
a great drawing card and many chances
on the wheel were disposed Of the in
vestors having had their attention. called
to the wheel by O'Donnell's picturesque
posing beside it. The other wards where
wheels are for sale think of applying for
details of bicycle "cops," but it is safe to
say that none of them would prove as
great an attraction as Handsome Sid"
Speaking of policemen suggests a good
joke that was played on Police Captain
Archibald eMckaig of the Gregory street
station, who was on hand Saturday
night to see that everything Was all
right Tax Commissioner James Clarke
is one of the greatest practical iokers
at the fair. On Saturday night while
looking about for chance to have some
fun his eye fell on Captain McKaig, and
he picked him as a good victim Going
to the second floor, where the girls. with
chance books, were at work. he gathered
about a dozen of them together and said:
Girls want to tip you on a good thing.
Captain Chapman of New York has come
over % visit the fair. He has plenty of
.slnone5s-to spend He is now at the foot
uniform and his magnificent whiskers.' .
The girls did notewait for a second
suggestion but hurried down stairs in
search of the New York policeman. At
the foot of the stairs they struck Nc
Kaig. Some of them tumbled to the
joke and returned up stairs, to settle
their accounts with Commissioner Clarke,
but others were fooled and really thought
that McKaig was the beauty of the Ten
derloin and the Bowery.
With a rush they surrounded him and
thrust their books in his face;
.Oh, Captain Chapman, do take
Now l know you won't forget me.
Just one chance on a handsome piano.
please take chance on ton CT
And so the girls chartered on until some
one whispered that it wasn't Chapman at
all. but just plain Archie McKaig, who
wasn't there to enrich the Golfers of the
Davis Association but in his capacity as
Captain of the First precinct
Captain McKaig was not Tax Commis-
sioner Clarke's only victim. Assembiyman
James Murphy fell a victim to his wies.
Among the articles Commissioner Clarke
had to dispose of in connection with the
Eighth ward booth on Friday night was
ton of coal. He disposed of it by The,
numbered envelope system of chances.
package numbered from one to fifty, and
paid one cent for each numeral Assem-
blyman Murphy was induced to try his
luck The first time he drew No. and
he failed to get his change The second
time he drew No. g. and again proffered
ten cents in payment with the same re-
suits. The third time he drew he laughed
long and loud at the manner in which he
had stuck Clarke by drawing low num-
bers His third choice was No. Is. He
rendered a quarter in payment and was
so busy telling a friend of his great luck
that he walked away. without any return
of his money He told an his ar friends ;
low numbers and how cheaply he had
come out of the deal when Clarke had set
out deliberately to get the better of him
Saturday night when Commissioner
Clarke met Murphy, he asked. Say,
Murphy, how about that CHANGE"
what changer" asked Murphy.
Clarke explained. Murphy declared
that the joke was on him and treated
to ginger ale.
Assemblyman Murphy lodging the girls
with books. He had been an easy thing
all the week and had decided to give
some other person chance to spend ms
money. The result was that he was
seen at various times during the even
ing scurrying down the hall with girls
ali around him, trying to escape the in
evitable In spite of his precautions ana
good resolutions he managed to get rid
Of a good sized roll of bills before the
booths were closed for the night.
Other expedients besides that of run l
ming away were adopted to get rid OF the
energetic girls with books, but none was
as successful as that used by Former
Police Commissioner John r Feeney
Whenever he spotted girl bound ms
way to solicit chances, he would indus.
triously suck on lemon, which ne kepl
for the purpose. With few exceptions
the young women were completely feazed
bv his dodge. Commissioner Feeney was
one of the most energetic Of the auc-
tioneers at the fair Saturday night Ine
result of his efforts and those of his part
ner In the auctioneering business, free
holder Frank McNally, was that the
Third Ward Booth turned in the highest
receipts of the evening. nearly SOU MI
Feeney's talk while auctioneering on
ran Of maple sugar was fair specimen
Of the manner in which he disposed oI
all the articles given him to sell. II
Wont Something like this
.Don't be backward; step right Tor
ward and buy a bat. Only five cents, a.
dies and gentlemen Five cents IoF lhas
can of sweet maple sugar. Who'll buy a
bat? Only few more left. On 10.
Well We'll, Wellt Oh, won't we nave
bread and n1olassesi"
Little Alderman Moran worked h9rI IS
auctioneer at the First ward booth
A1dernnan-at-I&rge M1dllge was one -
the easy things Saturday He nad real
and heard all about the methods OF the
statesmen and saleswomen at the fair, 50
ne went fully prepared to make MS 10 oW1 m
change. He had in his. pockets w ~
osarters. besides a roll Of b1lls- When ne
struck the top of the stairs the nrst per
so1a' who Snabbed him was Tax Commis-
sinner Clarke who made him take Two
o5sances on 1.-THE Jersey City News e3m-