New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
''BUTCH' RIDES I'm STATE
BOWERY LIGHTS FOLLOW.
Death Alone Keeps "Pamhandler'
from His Ozcn Party.
AlZ very worst friend from beginnin' 20 ind
BY the blood av mouse. was mesilf.


This Orthcris couplet might have well served as
Butch" Harrngton's epitaph. for "he never did
no one no harm cept hsselr' is the worst and best
that is being said about him to-day on Centre
street and along the Bowery. Butch" that rare
Bird a straight panhandler" and beggar was
buried in Calvary Cemetery, Brooklyn yesterday
afternoon, the very same afternoon on which the
annual rib party Of the association which owes
Island.
Senator Daniel ROrdan and Timothy D. Sullivan,
a cousin of big Tim as well as nearly a hundred
lesser lights who belonged TO the association, In
cluding Racks" Callahan ''Hoboken Jack" ''Vyin-
oy Henry, Scully the Carpenter Banato the
Baker and Dick the Dog. occupied the half dozen
FUNERAL carriages which wound their way to the
cemetery from the undertaking establishment Of
J. r. Whelan. No. 4s6 Pearl street, soon after
p m. So far could be learned 'Eutch's'' one
ambition at the time Of his death was 20 drive 10
the RIB party this year in an open coach and
wearing for the first time full dress suit ana silk
nat This ambition was virtually gratihed. though
Butch will never know 1T. He did drive yester-
DAY. clad in dress suit with high collar and
patent leather low Shoes but he drove incased in
rosewood casket. satin lined. with silver handles.
Even his bitter enemies. il such he had never
accused Butch Of having done a sin
gle days work. His nearest approach TO 1t was
when each evening he delivered two penny news
papers to Tom Foley. the saloonkeeper on Centre
street. opposite the Criminal Courts Building, the
neighborhood Of which Butch made his prin-
Foley received each night the latest news and
Butch the sum of % 20 cents. silver every one
being thus satisfied. 1t is that at the RIB
party Butch" came perously the borderline
Of work when he rushed the grOwler- for the
party
Opinion is divided as 10 the cause of his death
in hallway last Thursday night. The women
say it was his mothers death some three months
ago. Foley's friends the other hand. stoutly
maintain that 1t the saloonkeeper's departure
tell Of s.
like affection for Tom Butch" they say. would
watch and watch and watch for FoIey's return at
night and did he the light spring up in Foley's
bedroom late at O'Clock in the morning would
tug at the saloon doOrbel. not content until Foley
had descended and passed the time of day with
him.
The more practical aver that Butch" died from
the effects of cold. Luigi Foley's bartender re-
calls that Butch walking around iIclad
day two before his death. and declined Luigt's
offer Of a coat and waistcOat explaining that he
could not think Of visiting Luigis home for the gar
ments unless he. Luigi. accompanied him. The
ultra practical say that dispossession because his
landlord failed to comply with the Tenement House
Departments new sanitary regulations, preyed on
Butchs mind. The cynics name straight cOrnjuice'
as responsible Poor old Butch Never thought
how I'd live to seS you planted Straight as
die he WIZ" Never went back on pal" Whittier
than his hide Of the expressions heard,
following the customary "1ulo Butch! How
your as one friend after another, peered down 20
look him in the coffin, scarcely recognizing his
cleanshaven face.
Bearded. Butch bore a distant resemblance to
Richard Croker, and like Croker. somewhat
stockily built and husky: hence his sobrquet
Like Alice, Butch bore malice. although
when magistrate who did know him varied
perpetual vacation by sending him to the island
for three months, he threatened to bring down the
majesty OF the law the magistrate himself. say
ing that he was an old soldier. his Of service
it subsequently transpired, having been just three
months.
year two ago Butch got religion. and for
a time a regular attendant at a Catholic mis-
sion. Such was his probity that It said he was
trusted more than one occasion TO bring back
the right change for a 800 yellowback, and il is
well known that he frequently the conddant
Of many Tammany politicians OF note. His sym
pathy and assistance to those in distress his affec
tion for children and his views on single blessed
ness likewise known in the district where he
made his home. number OF 'Butch's" pals
acted his pallbearers yesterday His chief
mourner was his sister, Mrs Mary Sullivan, for
Butch is said to be related TO the political family
of that name.
IF Butch had a quarter he would give Is cents
of It to his mother long she alive. He
honest the sun, and he never did mean
Already 'Butch's' understudy, round faced,
round bodied idler, who in the height Of summer
wears two overcoats secured with rope TO keep
them from Topping, has stepped into "Butch's'
The patrolmen on beat will miss the sight Of
'Bdtch's'' blue jumper
The association will miss him. too although the
'rib party has merely been postponed until next
Sunday, with Grape bands and vacant place at
the table the diners last tributes to Butch"