The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-03
TIKI COP, HEHADTOB IATRON
CARE or LOST CHILDREN FALLS
on OLD MAT M'COY.

Tho Pelios Humorists Spread Themselves
when Word Came mat He Was 70
Take the Place Of Mrs. Travors, Sus-
pended for Twenty-four Hours.
The fat and gray headed policemen who
are detailed about Police Headquarters
In confederation Of their rast service met
yesterday in informal convention and de-
termined to do all in their power to prevent
any more children from escaping from
Matron Travers in the lost childrens de-
partment on tho top floor OF the Head
quarters building.
They did this. not because Of the high
regard which they have always enter
tanned for the matron, but because they
don't like the consequences Of her being
disciplined.
At 3 clock on Thursday morning Matron
Travers was suspended by the Commish
for twenty-four hours because she had
let small boy escape week or two ago.
There are no substitute matrons.
Commissioners ORDERS" said spruce
roundsman to the venerable Mat Mccoy,
on duty at the door Of the building, not
long after . o'clock.
Mccoy Strengthened up, set his cap on
straight and looked as important a. he
felt.
you are hereby detailed continued
tho roundsman, ito acs as matron until
relieved and to report for duty at once.
whore you talking tor inquired Mccoy.
Act as WHAT"
Go up and dry nurse the kids, ex-
planned the roundsman "The regular
old lady's been suspended. You're it.
Mccoy went grumbling to the elevator.
There were no children in the city nursery
and he breathed a long sigh Of relief. There
came tapping at the door.
Come in" called Mccoy. The door
opened and hand appeared with package
roughly tied in a newspaper, which was
dropped to the floor. The hand disap-
peared and the door closed. Mccoy ex-
amined the package
Somebody's getting too damn fresh!
said he to himself. Tho package contained
an apron and nurses cap and nursing
bottle. There was more rapping
Mccoy went to the door and opened "
hiruseli. He made ready to grab any hand
that should appear. None appeared. In
Hey. Mac said the visitor. There's
three lost little ones here that NEEDS
mothers care
Mccoy stepped back from the door and
said things to himself most unoecomins
to one to whom tender innocence IL ABOUT
to be intrusted. ,,.,
well. where are they?" he demanded.
Seven sheepish-looking six.foot blue
coats from below stairs marched In grinning
and stood before the unmotheriy old pache-
Tor His face worked little and then he
burst out laughing himself: -, ~,
-l'm gled it's you, boys, ne saId. ~
IL hsd been kids don't know what Ia nnNe
done. Tn all alone here and there isn't
a eoul here to tell me how to do thing.
II kid ives to begin to cry thluk Ia jump
Out from the closets and from behind
screens caIue the giggling subordinate en-
ployees Of the bureau. who had been wit
neeses to his perple1ity, -,,
All Of you get to work, SAID ne. or IL
have al Of you under charges and sus-
panded.'
And they did. But "a the day wore on.
the polke serse Of humor. which is neither
discriminating nor delicate, was made mani
feat to him In many ways. Late IN the
afternoon a policeman from an uptown
precinct appeared with asd Il "ysr
Mccoy and then stood about ginning.
Mccoy sat down with the bundle on his kneo
and unpinned it, saying:
If the poor little KID isn't smothered IL
isn't the fault OF you goats up In Har iemI
Then he saw what was in the b'inole
He Jumped 10 his feet and waved the piece
OF feminine apparel in the air and spoke
bis mind in good police fashion
Sure, you're no lady or you wouldn't
talk like that" declared the young police
man, and lodged out Of the door, none too
soon.
At night Policeman Gehhardt had the
lob. He found tho job enc of grim earnest
The lost and strayed began TO come in:
The first wes a girl Is years old who had
been In this country only three weeks and
was so scared she hardly knew what her
own name was. Then came five other
Youngsters. Gebhardt turned them over
with scant ceremony to the nurses. But
his face was haggard and worn when Mrs.
Travers appeared for duty at O'Clock
yesterday morning.
.N's all right he said yesterday to
the policemsn who reminded him that
thev had often been assigned for duty in
the bureau for lost children at night when
Mrs. Travers was asleep; bit she was
there, none the less And if one Of them
had the colo or wanted its ma real bad
you could send and wake her. It's the
responsibility that counts. Sure and I'm
L., b.v I al