The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-27
WHATNOT
"DIes crit proegeIIda sinIstra.
auam."

In common with many OF my fellow
citizens, mourn the passing OF that
one time dominant citizen OF Federal
Hill, Tough McCarron, who departed TINS
life of an untimely fracture of the skull.
The late MIR. Edward McCarron was,
perhaps, the last active survivor OF the
scrapping race that for many years made
the locality OF Federal Hill a singularly
interesting place TO view from afar, a
fruitful source OF the nimble newspaper
item, and distinctly stimulating ex-
ample OF things doin to the more re-
poseful parts OF the community i VIII
not venture to say that he was the last
survivor. trust there are many old
timers left on the Hill who once trav-
eled with the gangs, and who are today
getting much enjoyment as may be un-
der the more slumbrous conditions that
prevail In the district, resting on the
laurels won in their youth and stridency,
and by oft told tale recalling 10 an eff
fete generation the days when the
stamping ground was famous for va
riety of pungent activities chiefly re-
nected in the court calendar. Giving
ground, reluctantly. before the debil-
tating encroachment OF the electric light.
the trolley car and the humiliating pa
troll wagon, the cheer of vibrating mem
ories is always theirs TO reyel in freely
destiny OF Tough McCarron to die as he
had lived--in activity. The personifca-
tion OF the Federal Hitler of the golden
days OF give and take he survived,
though much circumscribed, an insid-
ious regeneration calculated to materi-
ally affect the kind Of functions that
most appealed to his elemental nature
and TO bring his type alarmingly near TO
extinction. Especially must he have
observed with loathing the introduction
OF the stiletto and like utensils, symbolic
of weaker race of wranglers, TO sup
plant in the code OF the Hill lighting
the ready fist and the convenient cob
blestone OF the more virginia. highways
and byways.
Tough McCarron won distinction quite
as much for his cheerful capacity for
taking punishment himself. as for ad-
ministerng IL to others. In his normal
mode OF vigorous playfulness, both seem
ed to his liking. He was of the fighting
race OF Kelly and Burke and LAea,'
reduced by virtue OF environment and
circumstances To a scrapping race, and
limited. I'm respect TO glory, chiefly TO the
records Of the police department.
I do not know how many times Tough
McCarron has been In Jail or thereabouts
during his active career. IL was GER
tainly often enough to satisfactorily at
test his restless disposition and 10 mark
a flattering number of instances wherein
his conspicuous attributes had been
demonstrated TO an interested public.
Probably he bore no i'll will toward the
laws that thus removed him, from time
To time, from the scenes OF his activities
for enforced refreshment and recupera-
ton. 1 always had a notion that Ill
will was not in his nature unless TO ad-
vance temporarily as a pretext for
humping his fellow man. He was a
tough and slugger I'm the hey day of his
vigorous manhood just as some able
bodied men play ping pong and others
seek diversion for a quiet hour at
corking game of solitaire
/ do not recall that he ever committed
a state prison offence. Kc simply was an
earnest student of the at of disturbing
the peace and he strove diligently To live
up to his ideals along that line. II. on
occasion he found himself up against
another real thing. like to himself. he
seems to have ever displayed healthy
appetite for taking all that happened to
be coming to him on such occasion. And
IT, at times. II would seem that he had
special fancy for swatting the members
of the police force assigned TO cross his
beat. 1t is also to be noted that po-
liceman, discovered with the odds
against him. once. at least. found Tough
McCarron fighting by his side.
He had n nice taste. had Mr.. McCar-
ron. in the matter OF bloody noses and
black eyes. while to his broad and dis
eliminating culture the black jack and
the spring billy had played their part.
He enjoyed the game for the games
sake, and l doubt II there was often
much hard telling about IL, so far as he
was personally concerned After all,
perhaps. much Of his reputation was leg
endary, since there was time when, II
anybody on Federal Hill had got
Inn
that Tough McCarrop must have had
hand I'm the enterprise. even though the
hour thereof might be long after his GUS
tomary bedtime
have had along with you in time Of
trouble. One might have felt perfectly at
ease i'm any neighborhood with Tough
McCarron by ones side. To the timid
and retiring nature the pages of his life
and public services can but be stimu-
lating reading. or late years the rough
house had seen little OF him. Federal Hill
has changed. and Tough McCarron was
become more plastic under the melli-
fluous influences of the Hills later as
poets The glory OF the Federal Hitler
is departed. But IL is pity that he
could not have been longer spared TO
such pleasures as peaceful valley may
afford where too. the strenuous nature,
having enjoyed it's fling. may find com
pensation for quieter circumstance in the
rich store house Of reminiscence.
/ suppose this slight and inadequate
tribute would be called by the literary
felers an appreciation Wen let 1t
go at that DAN III LOW.
>n~AAAANHnnnAr