The evening times., 1899-08-07
A MASCULINE GoD1vA.
Sad Predicament of a Bather In the
Schuylkfll.


Philadelphia, Aug. lit was embar-
RAISING enough for Frank Morgan to have
to run without a stitch of clothing on
through the street because some low
down thief stole his clothing while he
was swimming in the Schuklkill early
yesterday morning, but to be taken for
a crazy man by a policeman capped
the climax. and Morgan was very angry
man. All this happened in the vicinity
of Twenty-third and Callowhill Streets,
and Police Sergeant Patterson cannot be
blamed for thinking he had crazy Fer
son to deal with when he saw man,
entirely nude. running along Twenty-third
Street at full speed in a peiting rain
storm. The man was shivering with the
cold, and he was sent to the Hahnemann
Hospital where he was loaned enough
Morgan SAIL HE lived at 371o Fisher
Street, which is in Port Richmond, but
he did not-.eSplain why he was SO 1ar
from home. His story, however, and its
sequel, formed an interesting combina-
ton. Morgan is a man of generous girth
and weight, and naturally felt the effects
of Saturdays s. .eneravating heat. In an un-
fortunate moment he got the idea into
his head that bath in the Schuklklll
would go a rong way toward relieving the
effects of the heat. 1t was then long past
midnight, and Morgan made his way slow
" to an available spot near the Willow
Street wharf Not person or living
thing was Within sight or hearing. AT
ieast that is what Mr.. Morgan supposed
when he disrobed and plunged boldly into
the cooling waters.
Although Mr.. Morgan is a corpulent man
he is considered very fine swimmer, and
he struck boldly out from shore. few
drops of rain announced to the bather that
a storm was near, and he hurriedly swan
to the point where he had disrobed. To his
horror his clothing was gone. There was
not vestigei OF 1t left but small polka
dot necktie,- and under the most favorable
circumstances that would not be consider
ed adequate to shield man the size of
Morgan. By this time cold rain was
falling in torrents, and the unfortunate
bather suffered greatly from cold and ex-
posure.
There was nothing to do but to get home
the best way possible, and he proceeded
to move cautiously along in the shadows of
the buildings In the middle of a square
near Twenty-third and Callohill Street the
unfortunate Morgan espied an automobile,
loaded with merry young men and women,
coming toward him. After several attempts
to get into some friendly vestibule, Nor
gan gave it up and fed wildly toward CAL
lowhill Street
Here the most serious part of the esca-
pade occurred. Sergeant Patterson saw
the startlingIvision scudding along Cailow-
hill Street and he gave chase, under the
delusion that he was pursuing a demented
person. Morgan finally slowed up and
permitted the sergeant to approach. AS
soon as possible the policeman summoned
patrol wagon. and, while waiting for it
to come began to speak to Morgan in
soothing tones.
oh said Morgan, who saw the police
mans error; I'm not crazy. / was in
swimming, and some one stole my
clothes Ii.l
That's all right. old man: just keep
quiet and nobody will hurt you. Now,
here's good fellow!" replied the officer.
tenderly patting the shivering man on his
shoulder.
When the patrol wagon arrived il was
decided to take Morgan to the Hahne
mann Hospital. as he was suffering some
what from exposure, and this was the
nearest point at which raiment could be
procured, AT the hospital matters were
soon explained and Mr.. Morgan was fur
nished clothing and sent to his home. The
police are on the lookout 10 catch the
hea rfI lose fhiaf