The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-08
THE PASSING OF BIRD DEWEY.
WONDROUS EAST SIDE PARROT
SINGS HIS DEATH SONG.

No More WIN the Children Hear those Tales
% Mexico, and No More WIN Resey
stand In Court with . PrOmpter &C His
Ear-A Broken Heart and h Pip.
ever Grand streeA any time between Md
night and midnight It is UNNECESSARY TO
ten you who Dewey is--or was. But for
thu benefit ofsthose who have never stood
beneath City Marshal David K~raushaar's
ArS escape at the corner Of Grand and Pitt
streets Il may be as weIllto say at the be-
ginning Of this obituary that Dewey was
q Mexican parrot, legally The property OF
MRS. Kraushaar, but claimed by the entire
East Side.
Dewey came from Mexico 1--WE years ago
and settled on the East Side with the Kraus-
haars a few hours after getting through
Ellis Island. Mr.. Kraushaar says the bird
had relatives in Harlem and had intended
going first to visit them before settling
down in the new and permanently, but on
the way up from the Battery Dewey hap
pened upon the city marshal near Broad
way and Fulton street and stopped to ask
him in broken English whether tran sients
were accommodated at the Central Park
aviary.
Ons word led to another and at last Kraus-
haar. impressed with the marvellous lin
guistic powers Of the parrot, and noting, too,
. the honest curve to Dewey's beak, invited
the parrot TO settle permanently with the
Kraushaars at their home at 400 Grand
street. When Dewey was presented shortly
afterward to Mrs. Kraushaar It was another
case OF Low at first sight. In fact Deweys
death was due TO his affection for the city
marshal and his wife. They went to hocka-
way Q few weeks ago, and In their absence
Dewey died Of a broken heart, aggravated
by sub-acute pip complication.
Thu day after Dewey had taken up his
residence on Grand street his popularity
began. First the little chill dren playing
under the trolley cars stopped TO look at
the new arrival, who perched on the krau-
the passing show. scenes so different from
those that Dewey had been accustomed to
in his boyhood home at San Saltpetre, in
the foothills OF Sierra Madre del Sur.
Dewey encouraged acquaintance hip. and
90 the second afternoon had scarcely passed
when the bright eyed little 9 Of the
neighborhood had learned that next to
throwing soft mortar at the Mayors auto
mobile as it chugged along the finest sport
one could wish for was to gather around
Dewey and listen TO his wondrous tales OF
a far Oh land, where the palms grew noun
tain high and strange beasts and birds
made the hillsides look like The Bronx.
And only the youngsters Of the East Sid
can appreciate the disappointment that
Suffered into their little hearts when a few
weeks after hts arrival Dewey stopped his
tales and began to associate with b Essex
Market Bar Association.
A strong friendship grew up between
Dewey and Rosey the Lawyer. IN crowds
that are wont to go to the Essex Market
court 70 heal tho iurist address the Magts-
trate, remember affeotionately the sight OF
the eloquent lawyer summing up In a push
cart case with Dewey perched on his shoulder
ever and anon whispering in Mr.. Roeey's
ear a prompting word when the orator
In the heat Of his art would fall down.
p Until the beginning Of August Dewey
was In the best Of health and was still de-
voting much Of his time to news gathering
for the Looie Zeltner East Side Wireless
Associated Press Company, Inc, by which
he was employed. But toward the close
OF the first week OF August Dewey sent
word to Mr.. Zeltner that he was all in and
would have to call OF his wireless reporting
for a time at least. The parrot never men.
toned that the absence Of the senior Krau-
a was eating away his vitals.
Last Sunday evening Dewey came in
from the fire escape for the last time. With
staggering step he worked his way toward
his perch, and young Jack and Gus krau-
shaar, who had been attending to his wants
in the absence Of the senior K~raushaars,
noticed his weakness and hurried to the
parrots assistance.
I thank you, lads said Dewey. pausing
near the window for one long lingering
look at the dying sun. Il shall not bother
you much longer he added with q wistful
little attempt to smile. And then he seemed
TO lapse into q stupor..
The bells were tolling midnight when
the two silent watchers noticed the bird
raise himself slowly from his dropping
poeition with an effort. Then be began to
speak. but his mind was gone.
Hal Would your Honor see me stung
for the ccstsf' he cried. IL. who prao-
legged shrimpi Fine 'em. ! say Fine
'em." no shrieked. why, dammit, L
Hush. Dewey. YOU are breaking our
hearts" pleaded Gus and Jack. Their
soft weeping seemed to bring Dewey to
Let me hold your hands. lads said
Dewey, softly. N v he gripped their
hands he asked them to sing a hymn. With
voices trembling with emotion Gus and
with them but the EFFORT was too much for
him and he stopped in a paroxysm Of cough
ing.
Flea as q dog Of the mountains.
Plea 90 . dog by the sea.
Softly the voices foated through the
darkened room One by one the n~eighbors
assembled and joined In the singing.
There are nIes all 6long soda fountains.
But what 10 q ny 10 q near
Il see the old home murmured Dewey
IN a CHASTITY voice when the hymn was
ended. BE kind to Rosey, my lads. Be
kind to your And then he turned his
face toward a stewpan and passed out.
Weeping neighbors Placed Dewey in the
refrigerator for the night, n when the
kraushaArs returned from Rockaway the
next day the bird was sent to a taximurderist
to be mounted. Rosey has offered the
receipts OF his entire practice for one hour
to the Kraushaars for Dewey's mounted
remains, but Mrs. Kraushaar refused the
offer. The bird will be on exhibition In
the city marshal's home Just as soon as the
taximurderist has crocheted him together.
THE SEAGOERS.