The evening world., 1902-08-26
Old John Fleming, for
32Years an Employee
Of New York Central,
Now City's Charge.
KNOWN AS GOOD FELLOW
"Let Them Have a Drink on
Me-" He Said to the Bar
room Crowd When the AM
buIance Took Him Away.

This is John Flemlng's first day in the
almshouse. The old man is so broken IN
both mind and body that he does not
appreciate his predlcament. but his sons
and daughters, living in plenty in Phila-
delphia and Albany, will perhaps feel it
for him when they learn all the ruth.
Officials of the New York Central Rail-
road Company may also feel a pang of
sorrow.
Until two months ago old John was
employed as an inspector by the rail-
road company. his friends at the
Niagara Hotel, No. 200 East Forty
second street. say that he drew 800 a
month. Then &c was employed on some
work being done by the company in
Weehawken. rho old man had for
thirty years worked for the Central,
but two months age he became i'll. He
got his salary for the month. but it soon
went for doctors bills and necessities.
After that he was as one lost.
Always Had Money.
For more than a year he occupied n
room at tile east side hotel. He
always ID a dollar in his pocket and
as a consequence his friends were al
ways on hand. The old man delighted
to sit among them, listening to their
stories and paying for their beer. When
he was asked about his family he al
ways seemed displeased and he was
known on one occasion to declare that
he would put on his black list the next
nan who asked him about his family
"Ill tel! you this nuch.' he said.
my family is ~good-none better. / have
children and they are happy, l hope. I
don l count for much with them. but
what does that matter. I'm old and I've
been foolish"
On another time he told a waiter at
the Niagara that In early life he had
been a produce merchant. Yes. sir he
said to the waiter. II recall one day that
l lost $50. 900 and | didn't mind 1t much.
My rating was first-class in those days
Beyond what was gathered from one
or two remarks of this kind nothing
was ever known of old Fleming's his
tory before he went to work for the New
York Central.
Goes I q Work at Fifty.
He was past fifty when this occurred.
His children were grown up and mar
r!ed and his wife was dead. Through
a friend he got a position in the Cen
trails repair shops, There he worked
without complaint until old age struck
him down.
Old Fleming was a man OF culture and
education. He showed this in his manner
and dress. He always walked erect and
until two months ago never required
a~nybody's care. But when the end came
It came fast. He became weak and
senile. He would lie for hours without
food, forgetting 1t was time TO eat. The
physician called In advised him to go
to the hospital. Day by day he became
more OF n care. and when his money
gave out the policeman on post was
asked what should be done. This was
yesterday. and the policeman said:
why chase the old Puy down to
Bellevue"
The Ambulance Comes.
Somebody called an ambulance and the
doctor and the policeman Went up to
old Fleming's room together. He was
in bed. Although the room was sitting
The windows We're closed-the old man
had drawn the bedclothes up under his
chin. and he regarded his visitors sus-
picousiy, with just his eyes and fore
head showing above the blankets
Come, john" said the clerk. who
came in a minute later. This is the
Doctor"
Ambulance Surgeon Hogan asked the
old man In a kind voice II he d.dn t
want to go to Bellevue.
do they go quick down there?" was
the repiy in a piping voice.
Without making anv further ak DR..
Hogan motioned to the policeman. The
latter raised the old nan from the bed
and helped him TO a chair where he
dressed.
As they lifted him into the wagon old
Fleming looked into the barroom where
q dozen or more Of his "old friends
were scaled.
Tell them I'm going" he said to
Hogan. Tel them to have a drink on
me-"