The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-27
LIGHTS OUT AT The MASK BALL
PE0UODRHEELMEN FIGHT HITH
-. POLECENBN IN THE DARK.

| Clowns, Cowboys. Devils. Monks and Pa
lama Girls Finally Flee Before the
Reserves Into Bryant Park and the
Gloom Surrounding the New Library.
The fourth annual masquerade and civic
ball Of the Pequod Wheelmen's Association
was what the posters called IL. and that
sounds very innocent. The special police
man Of Lyric Hall, Sixth avenue, near
Forty-second street, says II was the worst
he ever saw. Detectives Morton Billafer
and Dockstader Of the Tenderloin station
concur
They went to the place about II o'clock
Saturday night 70 view the Pequodians,
who we're revealing en- masque, Seventh
avenue costumers had rugged the dancers
up into cops, clowns monks, devils, cow
boys and the like. Many had their faces
masked; others did not need to. Paiamas
were favored by the ladies'. The ball had
been on for two hours and nearly all wore
jays. Morton sought the honorary first
vioe-president who always runs these
select affairs.
See that there's no lighting, said Morton
'or we will clear the hall
sSure, sport, said the first V.-P., this Is
a swell affair and there won't be no
He paused for the purpose Of lodging a
chair thrown at some low fellow who had
taken away another persons goil. Even
now the fight was on.
Morton and his partners rushed to the
place where the escort was beginning TO bite
the interloper's ear and tried 20 pull them
apart. Those who were choosing partners
for a scrap turned upon the detectives.
Cops copsl- was the cry. Run EN-
OUT
Policeman Connolly ran up from the
street and joined the plain clothes men
IL was four against 800. The detectives
are all handy men, Morton having a repu-
tatiOn for bravery as a fireman as well
as a cop. They drew their billies and
Conn lily swung his club, carefully pick
ing out the biggest maskers as targets.
Blood shove through several cheeseoloth
masks. And then some kind citizen turned
out the gas and left the hall as black as a
pocket.
It was very interesting One could
hear the scraping Of the strugglers feet.
the hoause cries OF the merrymakers, the
swish Of the billy and the consequent thud
the screams Of the women huddled in the
corner, urging their Rallants TO noble
deeds. The only light visible was at the
staits and toward this the detectives forced
their way, showing a SCORE Of men before
them. They battered and kicked half
OF THESE down lue elAllh, ana tne night
began. The women, following their
beauI, rushed after the police. To the
fugitives Bryant Park seemed the best
hiding place and they made for IL like mad,
scattering over the grass like a Russian
army. Screaming girls masked in pa
jamas and touching only the highest places
disappeared in the gloom surrounding
the new public library. The false cops
taken for the true, joined the retreat and
added 10 the terror Of the rest. Devil
and monk fell together and peasant girl
tripped over both.
Tue deteotires did not CHASE them They
remembered that Policeman Connolly was
still upstairs, and while one sent In call
for the TendeTloin reserves the others
hurried back 10 the hall. IL was still in
darkness. There were cries Of Joy and a
strange bumping sound. The latter was
caused by Connolly, who was being thrown
over piles Of chairs, He vas having the
time OF his life.
Just as the lights we're turned up again
and the detectives rushed TO the aid Of the
policeman tho reserves, two dozen OF
EN-. ran into the ball and did some skilful
clubbing. When the meTrymakers had
been properly punished for their offence,
they were hurried down the stairs. pro-
PEELED by kicks. There we're no arrests.
vas ferry gTadevul 10 you gendle-
mems" said the leader 81 the orchestra,
as he tripped down the stains. hugginR his /
beloved violin. you &c We get our money /
bevore the hall stafdt and We are gedding /.
home % early yet r.