New-York tribune., 1902-08-03
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
" s7EEPLE BOB" TO DO A DIFFICULT TASK THIS WEEK
CALSsON RICKETS A POPULAR DISEASE NOW.
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH

1T is q pity that some more Of those ignorant
and useless detective sergeants were not reduced
to the ranks" said person who for many years
has been in close touch with the Brooklyn Police
Department when he heard CT the degradation OF
a number of the men of that rank the other day
by Commissioner Partridge. There Is one IN par
tlcular whom have had my eye on for some time
although I suppose there many like him Ihls
ignorant laboreT His wife, who as
washerwoman for Hugh Mclaughlin had struck
the fancy of the Democratic boss, was complaining
day about the little money her husband made
Why, I will put him the police force. Mary,
said Mclaughlin. Then he can earn enough SO
that you will never have to do any more washing.
So. sure enough, this man became a policeman
within a short time Soon afterward he secured
soft detail court officer. and it was not long
time before he was made detective. Now, so far
as know, this man has made only about six real
genuine and original arrests In the ten years ne
has been on the force"
Then the Brooklynite told a story TO show the
intelligence lack OF intelligence OF the detective
The detective had at the time just been assigned
to the precinct commanded by Captain Campbell
who is now an acting inspector. Campbell had
not had time TO become acquainted with the man.
when complaint came in about the robbery OF
bakery. The detective sent out with orders TO
make thorough investigation. After an extended
NOBODY in the bakeshop. and ali he could learn
Yas that it was run by woman named Shag4t9 ar a
seen it in the window.
Robert Merrill. 'Steeple Bob who has climbed
heavenward the spires of most of the famous
churches in the Eastern cities. began work on the
queerly formed steeple of the Church of the Pill
grims yesterday The tackle is ali in place, and to-
morrow Bob will begin his perous ascent. On top
of the spire rests huge gilded ball. Should this
become displaced and fall. IT would crush
anything in its path II is TO make sure that this
sphere has not become loosened and TO regild its
surface that Bob has been secured. The ball is
of large diameter, and it is source Of speculation
self upon its top; There is a stubby lightning rod
surmountng the ball, which may aid in solving the
problem.
''Casson fever" or "caisson ricketts, which
name more nearly describes the disease is becom
ing so common among those who are working
the foundations of the bridge at Washington
st. that the ambulance of the Brooklyn Hospital is
called out sometimes three times In single day. The
trouble by the change in air pressures be-
tween the caisson and the outer world In the cais
the men work under high pressure, and, II they
10olshiy come up INTO the open alr 100 S@Goeny a
sells are burst forming clots When these oiots
form in the brain they usually prove fatal There
have been several deaths from this cause.
A majority Of the two hundred and fifty men en-
ployed on the Job negroes, who best fitted
by nature withstand the extraordinary air pres
sure Three hours work day, In two shifts of an
hour and half each, constitute a days work for
these men, who familiarly known sand
hogs" Most of the men, however, do not last long
at the work. One attack Of "Caisson rickets"
usually cures them Of any desire to follow up the
work. The pay is good, and the contractors say
that they have trouble in getting all the men
they need
Enthusiastic advocates OF cremation will be de-
lighted to learn that prices for cremation have
been reduced recently in Brooklyn. A cheerful an
nouncement made recently is that when the crerna-
tory is used its full present capacity Of forty
bodies IN twentyfour hours the charge will be re-
duced to s. case including care or the ashes
The regular rates, however. according to the new
schedule OF prices s25 for crematng adults and
SIS for children.
There are several interesting features OF tho f"s-
tival which the Brooklyn Arion Society will hold
in Thanksgiving week at the 18th Regiment Ar
mory. Prizes of 500 each offered for the best
novels OF fifteen thousand words in English and
one hundred and fifty lines in the same languages
The English manuscripts Will be judged by st.
Clair McKelway Professor Franklin ". Hooper
and Professor Charles II. Levermore. The German
manuscripts will be judged by Professor Hugo
Mnnsterberg and professor Lawrence A McLouth,
OF New-York University. Subjects OF novels and
poems must he taken from American history or the
lives of celebrated in the United States
a prize OF 81 900 is offered by the Brooklyn Aron
Society for the best rendering Of Horatio w. Park
er's Harold Harfager'' by a mixed English chorus
OF least hundred and fifty voices There will
also prizes of $500 and $500 respectively for male
and female choruses, English and German.