The evening times., 1900-10-01
WILL NOT LEAVE HER POST.
The Bridge Tender of the Bronx Re
fuses q Vacation.

fuses q Vacation.
NEW YORK, Oct 1t wont leave the
bridge until I am called away from this
world I don't think I could be happy
single day away from the bridge It would
Kill me to leave it, I am happy here,
just as I have been for the last forty
three years
That was the answer made Aunt Sa
rah'' Titus. the old woman bridge tender
of the Bronx, when asked why she refused
to take a weeks vacation offered her by
Commissioner of Bridges John l. Shea
For forty-three years, by night and day,
in sunshine and storm, Aunt Sarah tt
tus has turned the bridge that crosses the
Bronx a Westchester Avenue. She was
a bIushing bride OF twenty-three when she
first stepped across the threshold OF the
little cottage at the entrance of the bridge
On the arm of Fred Titus, and there was
not proUdeT or happier girl in all West
chester. Her children were born there,
and she saw them grow UP and go away
into the world TO shift fer themselves. Her
husband died there, while she stood faith
fully at her post tending the bridge and
now, at the age of three score and six the
cottage and the bridge are all that link
Aunt Sarah 10 life. That is why the
brave old woman refuses to leave them,
even at the command or favor of the po-
litical powers.
Two years ago there was an attempt to
Gust her from the position Of bridge ten
GER At that time the officials appointed
three bridge tenders III her place When
they called for the key of the draw Aunt
Sarah drove them away with balestick.
After several attempts on the part of
the new attendants to secure the key
without success they appealed to the po-
lice.
\ warrant was issued for aunt Sa-
rah's" arrest She was taken to the Nor
risania Police Court, where she was
! charged with assaulting duly commits
stoned employe of the city.
| Her statement of the conspiracy 10 drive
/ her away from the bridge and take away
/ from her the sole means of her livelihood
| aroused the sympathy Of the magistrate,
who ordered her to go back to the bridge
and stay there as long as she pleased.
Although three male attendants have
been appointed to do the work on the lit
| tie draw bridge, Aunt Sarah Titus is
/ still in charge
! Her hours are supposed to be from mid
| night till o'clock in the morning. but,
| Gay or night, sunshine or rain, that bridge
| never opens unless Aunt Sarah" is on
hand to see that the gates are closed and
! help to turn the crank that opens the draw.
| When the present bridge was built. two
! years ago. and the officials found they
! could not get rid of her as easily as they
| could a man, they thought that by assign
/ ing her to the night shift she would soon
/ tire of her position and make room for a
voter But they soon realized that Aunt
| Sarah's'' love for her 'iren baby as she
calls the bridge, is too strong for her to
! desert it.
A reporter visited the bridge yesterday
morning shortly after o'clock and found
Mrs Titus in the bridgekeeper's hut talk
! ing to the day attendants
J Someone had stolen q red lantern which
she had placed on the bridge 10 warn tug
boat captains and she seemed to think that
someone connected with the bridge knew
something about the theft
One of the men told her to write to the
supply clerk for another one. Aunt Sa-
rah, however, could not see things in that
light The thief must be found before
she would order another one and until he
was, she said, she would hang up a white
| globed lantern and cover it with piece OF
red shade which had done service on many
similar occasions.
In reply TO the reporters question as IL
why she did not accept the vacation Of
| fered her she said:
My husband, Fred Titus. was made
| tender of the bridge built over the Bronx
River forty-three years ago. was theI