Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-06
STREET URCHINS
DIVE FOR COINS
DRUNKEN MAN THROWS SILVER
PIECES IN GUTTER
NimbIe Newsboys Heed Neither Water
Nor Mud and Come Out of
Contest Without Serious
Injury

A performance strange and varied
attracted an audience of several hum
dred persons at Third and Spring
streets yesterday afternoon, who under
any other circumstances would have
sought shelter from the rain.
In the islands of the southern seas
voyagers gasp with wonderment as the
little brown bodies of the natives dis
appear beneath clear waters to emerge
later with coins that have been tossed
from the decls of a riding ship. AT
Catalina island the bronZed youngsters
of Southern California struggle and
plunge, to the delight of eastern tour
lists whose pocketbooks grow light as
they linger to witness the aquatic
contests that ensue. But this eXpe-
rience was different.
Five ragged neWsboys surrounding
half intoxicated man who threw
handfuls of coins from his unsteady
grasp into the raging cutters furnished
the amusement that held the crowd
spellbound with wonder and fear
while it lasted.
Don't think I'm Scotty-hic-no mill
lionaire. JUS fool, yes a fool-therc
they 60" With that another handful
of coins was tossed out into the cutters
and streets which We're shedding their
torrents
A bound and the quintet of urchins
leapeQ across the CuID ~ IutOW lHeLh
selves under the wheels of passing
wagons, snatching and grabbing at the
nicl<les and dimes. The crowd gasped
as Il careful motorman barely drew his
car to d stop before the little crowd OF
fighting, mud besmattered newsies
who groVeled and tore at each other
on the oozy pavement.
Money Thrown in Cutters
Back they went for further pecuniary
reward. This time the drunken man
threw his money into the cutters which
ran deeper as every moment passed.
More than one in the crowd cast an
envious glance as the contribution
hung for !; second in the air and then
disappeared under the waters a
glance at their well shod feet and pre-
sentable attire was enough to deter
them and they remained content,
watching the water rats.
Down i'm the sea of muddy water and
slime went the neWsies. They fought
at each other and scratched for the
nickles that lay buried a foot beneath
the water
Reckless to a degree, no thought of
danger entered into their minds and
many a woman in the crowd screamed
as the rolling coins We're followed by
the five youngsters.
Dray wagon drivers as they tugged
at their horses heads in bare time to
avoid crushing the heap of struggling
juveniles, cursed the man on the cor
ner, who shouted in gleeful inebriety
as he emptied his well filled pockets.
Secures More Money
Not content with his inglorious con-
dition the curbstone philanthropist
disappeared into the saloon near the
corner, to return with fresh supply
of money.
Half-dollar pieces commenced to fly
and the diving from the sidewalk took
on a more furious turn. Coats We're
stripped off, and laying themselves
bodily in the flood, a frantic search
for che hidden treasure was renewed.
With a final and dramatic effort the
last nickle went into the air and
dropped dolefully out of sight, not to
be found by the bedraggled water rats
who had interfered with traffic in