New-York tribune., 1901-06-03
HORSESHOES HIS UNDOING,
IEAiKEN WOULD HAVE CITY STOP THEM
FALLING FROM BRIDGE.
OTHER THINGS FALL. TOO. AND DRIVE TEN
ANTS FROM HIS BUILDING IN. SOUTH
ST. so HE SEEKS RELIEF
IN THE COURTS
IN THE COURTS.

William Lemken, owner of the four story build
ing No. 173 South-st., just north of the line of
the Brooklyn Bridge. has given the tir.,eworn
superstition about horseshoes bringing good luck
an extended trial and he says it is all a hum
bug. Horseshoes have brought him misfortune.
driven his tenants out of his store building and
caused him a lot Of personal ANNOYANCE Mr.
Iemken has put the law on the city because
Of horseshoes. He has begun an action in the
Supreme Court against John l. Shea. Commits
soner Of Bridges. and the entire Municipal AS
semhly, demanding that they cause to be abated
the showering OF horseshoes on his South-st
premises.
II seems that Mr.. Lemken bought the South
ST. property two or three years ago on the sup
position that il would rent readily Perhaps IL
did at first, but il not long, according TO
the papers in the lawsuit. before Mr.. Lemken's
tenants moved out. They were driven out by
the dropping of horseshoes from the Bridge road
way overhead. Other tenants came. and after a
few DAYS experience under the rain of horse
shoes nails, sticks and other things. they also
moved out. Since then the place has become
known as the house where the horseshoes
drop. At first il seemed like joke 10 Mr.. Lem
ken. but when he went down 10 south-st.
day and stood on the roof Of his building and
lodged several horseshoes il wasn't funny any
more He is said TO have been driven off the
roof by an unusual rain OF horseshoes. but per-
haps that particular story a lie. II is no
lie however that Mr.. Lemken has grown so
tired Of the rain of horseshoes that he has sued
the city 10 have Commissioner Shea and the
Municipal Assembly restrained from managing
and maintaining the New-Tork and Brooklyn
Bridge
To hear the people down in South-st. talk
It would seem if all the horses that cross the
get exactly over Mr.. Lemken's store and then
kick off a shoe, which promptly falls 10 the roof
Of the store building It would also seem that
every man who smoked saved up his cigar or
cigarette butts and tossed them out of Bridge
car just as il reached spot No. 1I:S, for
NIr. Lemken complains that all such refuse drops
on his building constantly" There is get
ting away from that assertion. 1t was put into
the papers in the case by Mr.. Lemken's lawyer.
Archibald C Shenstone of No IL Broadway,
who has the reputation among his associates Of
being an exact man in his speech. Mr.. Shen-
stone alleges that ''horseshoes, nails and other
pieces of metal sticks. stones manure and dirt
are permitted by the defendant 10 fall constant
ly upon the premises
Just where the stones which fall on Mr.. Lem
lxen's roof come from is another mystery. The
other day. when Mr. Lemken couldn't stand it
any longer. he went down TO South-st., gathered
up a bagful Of horseshOes nails hairpins, cigar
and cigarette butts. chewing gum, banana skins
sticks and litter Of all kinds. all Of which
re took TO the Corporation Counsel's office. where
he offered it as an exhibit in his action against
.he city.
There is a sailors boarding house on the sec
ond floor Of the building. When q Tribune
porter asked one Of the truthful looking sailors
about the dropping Of horseshoes, he took bite
Of plug tobacco and a hitch in his trousers. all
tn motion, and said:
Sure, Wasn't I lyin' in bed de udder
night dreanin' o home an mudder. an didn't
horseshoe Wflizzin t'rOo de hatch an nearly
crack crown. / guess every horse dat crosses
dis here brig"
Mr. Lenken isn't particular whether Commits
sioner Shea and the Municipal Assembly move
the Bridge in order abate the nuisance.
put on extra inspectors or attach drip pans to
the under side Of the Bridge. He's bound
have something done about those flying horse
shoes and that's why he has sued the city.