The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-15
KING OF THE
ROOST DEAD.
CoTcoTan, Who Occupied Unique
P|acs In Life, Passes Away.
He DEEPLY HATED THE POLICE.
Hld Many Fights With Ihen-Rc Was
I Picturesque Character In tho Earlier
Days In the Life Of New York.
he DEEPLY HATED THE POLICE.


the ing OF Corcorsns Roost, died on
Monday morning at the age OF so In his
old rickety home In Fortieth street, be-
tween First and Second avenues, which is
the one remaining landmark of the
'roost'' that at one time sheltered the
Corcoran clan. their goats. pigs. cows
and horses, but bade no welcome 10 the
police, the mortal enemies OF the Cor
corans
His death removes one of the most pict-
nresque characters in New York. Corco-
ran was born In Dublin and came to this
country forty-eisht years ago. settling In
the "roost," which was then almost
wilderness. He erected little shanty on
the top OF the hill which abounded In
rocks and Lodges and commanded
view of the East river.
There are many stories regarding the
reasons why Corcoran left Ireland and
one which found the most believers and
which he never denied was that his faith
er on his dying bed had been evicted by
the Irish constabulary and the Corcoran
cabin razed TO the ground.
Young Corcoran brought WA him TO
America a buxom wife who shared with
even up to his last illness II was hazard
Gus for any one to mention the police to
Corcoran. After erecting the shanty with
out consulting the owner OF the property
Corcoran started In business by purchas-
ing q couple OF goats and selling the milk
they furnished lie was frugal and indus
trious and soon had enough money to
buy nine goats.
BOUGHT HORSE AND CART.
His next venture was TO purchase a
horse and dump cart. Then moro squat
ters commenced to settle around him and
those who were not relatives were Obliged
TO get his permission and satisfy him
that they had the proper qualifications to
Join his little colony, over which his abso-
iute feairrshtp WIS never disputed
The main qualifications was the ability
TO punch q policeman or To fight of in
truders in corcoran's domain. IL the po-
licemen or the intruders did not get near
enough for fistic combat his followers
were expected to be able TO throw rocks
at them with good enough aim 10 dolex-
ccution. II was almost impossible for the
police to reach the roost as they would
have TO climb over the rocks and thereby
expose themselves to the Corcoran bat
teries
Frequent thefts were laid at the door
OF the Tesluents Oh the IOOSt Dut 10 the
credit of Corcoran they were not laid TO
his door. 1t is related that favorite
pastime OF the gang was to throw lines
and hooks from rocky promontories on
the roost TO passing butcher carts and
hook up sides Of beef which were being
carried to market.
HE PRcsPERED.
The drivers did not dare to follow and
the police always found an excuse to
keep away from the place. Corcoran
prospered from the start and within a
few years owned a number of carts,
horses and cows and had q lot of men
working for him. There were born to Ger
coran three sons and a daughter, and
he often announced with price that his
sons could handle themselves with any
men their weight and loved a policeman
no better than he did.
The attention OF the police was FREE
quently drawn to the roost because OF tho
Nights that took place within its border.
Sometimes when there are no policemen
or outsiders to whip the residents got
fghting each other Corcoran used to ex-
cuse these little ructions by saying: Sure
ther byes want little fun. livery wan
OF thin misses ther fairs I'm the ould
country pluvrs they wud hev glorious
toims poundin ache other wild the shilal-
lees. There niver wa. innybad feelin's ovor
st." 0orcoran used TO take a hand in
some Of the fights himself and on the few
occasions the police attempted to inter-
fere the fighters stopped the battles and
10 man turned on them.
Corcoran's wife was almost a. much OF
character as he was Coreoran called
her the apple OF his eye and held a grand
'shindig'' ON the rocks one night when
abe showed him Ave buttons torn from a
police captains coat
1t appears that while Corcoran and
most OF tho men were away from the
yoost that day Mrs. Corcoran was waited
upon by the captain who made some in
Quiries about some stolen property. She
retaliated by knocking him down and Civ
Ing him sound thrashing after which
she secured the buttons. There was al
ways q grand celebration on the roost on
the LIST OF May. Corcoran's birthday and
the anniversary of his settlement Of the
Soost
KING GEORGES EXPEDITION.
came over here 90 foight George Wash
ington. He anchored HIS ships roight
there In Kip's Bay at ther foot Nv ther
rocks there forninst you. OF was thinkin'
that II emmy more British came here OF
vud be here wild me byes ter give them a
war-rm RECEPTION"
Once when asked why he hated the po-
lice he said: They do be ther same here
as thcr peelers In Oirland brass buttons
and blue coats are the same Everywhere
They are no good fer ther loikes NV me
or inny poor man" About twenty years
ago Corcoran constructed the residence
which he died I'm on plans OF his own. Tire
building is three stories high.
The lower story is built OF stone and Il
used TO the present day as n stable Tn.
Corcorsns occupy the two UPPER stories
which are Of wood. Inside is a maze OF
Railways and rickety balustrades, and
wooden piazzas adorn the rear. Ccrcorar
would allow no improvements on tn,
building and IL stands out I'm peculiar con
tfaEt % the modern buildings surround
ing One by one the shantics on the roos
disappeared and Corcorsn's retainers be
came scattered. until the Corcoran fam
iIy and their house remained as the onl,
reminders OF the famous otd r0ost.
Corcorans wife died last August and n.
commenced 10 fall rapidly after that
With all his rough qualities Corcorar
vas known as a man with a warm, gen
erous heart lie gave freely TO the poor.
what IN the principal title OF the en-
Dr~ss dovagcr OF China7'
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