The sun., 1907-08-11

For some lnexplic1ble reason the Cor
lears Hook gang had II In for Skinny Mooney
from the very day he moved over from
Gowanus. and while it was admitted that
there was nothing specific against him.
except possibly that he was Brooklyn
guy, IL could not be denied that he got
anything but n pleasant deal from the
start II may have been because Skinny
in one breath boasted Of having been the
best boy in. ST. Johns school and also the
leader of daring gang In Gowanus. but
then the youngsters in the Hook don't go
in much for past performances; they take
a lad as they find him, and if he is the goods
he is initiated With Skinny, however. it
was different. There was something too
aggressive in his makeup for stranger.
and when he started in TO tell the first day
Of his advent in the Hook that he never
played hockey from church and then went
on to narrate the dcpredatons OF himself
and the Gowanus.ans the Hookcrs had him
! marked
Skinny can fght-hc was born and
| brought up in Gowaniis, where "A kid has To
| fight To get by and he wasn't Shy about
pitching into the youngsters who first
tackled him. II didn't take long for the
! news to travel that the Brooklyn boy was
| there with his mitts. and when he had
| licked some of the best scrappers in tho
Hook the gang was in quandary as to
worthy adversary 10 stack up against him.
IL was then that Skitch Mcclure finished
| his two year bit in the ref and came back to
| the gang. When Skitch went away he
was the champ scrappcr, and the two years
| he spent on Randalrs Island, with regulsr
living, plenty to cat and lots Of sleep. didn't
harm him In the least He was bigger and
stronger when the gang welcomed him,
back, and when all the fIookcrs got through
telling him how glad they were that he
was with them again they broke It very
gently that there was q guy from Gowanus
that was in for "A trimming hut nobody in
the mob was able 10 hand it TO him. .-
Skitcb had made up his mind when he
got out Of the ref that he was going 20 dodge
trouble in the future. but scrapplng wasn't
contained in his good resolutions. Al
though Skinny had done moi hing TO earn the
ennity of Skitch, the ref graduate made
himself believe that he had it in for the
Gowanusian, and he clenohed his fists as he
led the gang up through Fast street ia
search of skinny.
Skinny. a woful look on his freckled
face. was sitting on the curb watching
game of bail when Skitch and the gang
came up. Something told him that trouble
was brewing and instinctvely he arose.
Here's a guy wotll put it all over yuh."
yenturei a lad whom Skinny had sent 10
defeat only a few days before. -Yuh
tink y1lh're a hell o n scrapper. but dis
puyH give yuh all yUh wants 81.
Skitch stood by scrutinizing skinny 20
ono prizefghter does another when they
take their corners The ref grad was half
n head taller than Skinny and many pounds
heavier, and az he looked him over care
fully he wondered how the little fellow
ever got away with those members of the
Hook gang He felt confident that he
could lick Skinny without any trouble and
he eagerly awaited sign from skinny that
the battle was TO he on. ....
"He amt done nuthin tub me an | amt
apoin' tub fight" said Skinny, calmly.
IF has anyt ing agin' him it'd be me and
him all over de street, but | amt never seen
de bloke afore and dere amt nuthin tub
fight about"
Cries of derision came from the lads who
now took advantage Of Skitchs presence
to be brave. and few Of them urged Skitch
10 wallop him just TO get hunk. But Skitch
didn't want to force the fight.
Put a chip on Skinny's shoulder and
knock 1t of" cried lad. -an' if he don't
put sp his dukes, wy he's gutter
piece of stick was picked up from the
gutter, every lad in the gang spat on it. as
is customary. and it was placed on skinny;
shoulder Skitch advanced boldly and
knocked it of, and even tncn skinny made
no move.
"Skinny's quittcr. D. - ascared tuh
fight" ohorised the gang n hey donarted.
N 4 n, Il el,.,W,
that skinny covered before Sldtch. The
tiniest lads in the Hook were fought by
their elder brothers to yell 'Gnitter' after
Skinny every time they saw hlm, and alt
were assured that il the Gownnusian wal
loped one of them Skitch would take up
the fight and put IL all over him. skinny
was subjected to no end Of annoyance al
every opportunity. and there was no chance
OF getting back unless ne was ready 10
square of with Skitch. And this he con
sidered unwise, for he had hunch that.
despite his conuuests in Gowanlts, Skitch
was too mighty foe. w.,
But the attitude of tho Hookers toward
Skinny was changed unexpectedly, The
gang was In swimming yesterday afternoon
on the East street dock. and skinny, who
dared not go in for fear that he would be
Aporpised" by his enemies, sadly Sat ON
the stringpiece and watched them sporting
in the water.
Skitch was giving an exhibition Of fancy
diving he had learned up in the ref, and the
gang after clamhe ing Gp on the pier
watched with open eyed admiration as he
did back Alps front somerSalllts and nade
long fetches under water. The kids APP
plauded vocferonsly, and Skitch. swelled
with pride ~ the hit he was making. didn't
feel himself growing weak. He made a
pretty back dive OF the end OF the pier and
when he came to the surface hr called for
help. His strength was exhausted ana he
knew he could never swim in. The lads
who had heard his cries thought lie was
fooling and they made no move to go to his
aid. Tho boy sank from sight and couple
Of seconds later his little hands wiggled
iust above the surface Of the water. Then
the kids got frightened and called loudly
for help. .a.r
Skinny. who had beep Watching. suddenlv
slipped OF the only clothing that adorned
his body a pair Of III fitting trousers and An
mdershirt and when nude figure dartei
through the air into the river n s<A- kIsy" =
who il was. Skinny dved deep sna when
he arose he had Sktch in his arms. The
tide was strong. but the freclIled faced lad
fought bravely and without any assistance
got Skitch To the erd ~ the pier. Other
hands lifted the unconscious 'ad up On the