davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1908-12-26
FOOD FOR $500 FAMILIES.
Volunteers OF America Give Out Baskets
All About the District.

According to q eemi-offioial estimate
about 1900 families got Christmas dinners
yesterday from tho Volunteers of Amer
lea. In addition TO families in Man.
haitian and The Bronx the distribution
inclpded some in Brooklyn. Jersey City
and Newark. l.,
Gen. Ballington Booth. with his daugh.
ter, Miss Theodore Booth. and a man
dressed out as Santa Claus visited the
several places OF distribution, beginning
in The Bronx at 8 O'Clock in the morning
No baskets were given out at any OF the
stations until the arrival OF the General
Then Miss Booth presented the first bas-
ket and Gen. Booth the others Of the first
dozen. Each basket contained enough
roast beef, potatoes, bread. tea, coffee
and sugar TO provide q nice meal for a
family Of FIVE. Candies and fruit were
tucked into the baskets.
This Christmas was not nearly 30 pros
porous az that a year ago. The contri-
buttons we're not as large and the appl-
cations for free dinners were more nu-
merous. In distributing the dinners this
year care was taken TO see that only those
really worthy received the charity. Each
application for a ticket for a dinner was
investigated and only where the need
was genuine were the tickets granted.
Mrs. Ballington Booth, as head OF the
Volunteer Prison League. tried to make
Christmas pleasant in the homes through
out the country OF prisoners she is inter-
ested in and Of her charges In the various
Hope Halls. She sent out TO their fami-
lies during the week several hundred
large boxes containing clothing and toys.
The sun., 1908-12-26
BEATEN, ROBBED AND BURNED
The Fate Of , wealthy virginia Reciuse
at the Hand OF Tramps.

RICHMOND. Dec. 26.--J. A. ColAhan, as
years old. Of Broadford. smyth county.
was beaten. robbed and incinerated In his
own house. which was set afire by tramps
who are thought to have known that he
had money around the premises.
CoIlahan, though q recluse. was popular
ir his locality and well known. He rarely
left his home except to get his meals at
nearby farmhouse. The victim was In
his home when the tramps came upon him
demanding money. IL is thought. Upon
his refusal he was set upon and beaten
insensible. The house was ransacked
by the marauders, who then set fire 10 II.
sacrificing the old man TO the flames.
NelRhbors were attracted by the blaze
and went to the scene Of the oonfagration
In an endeavor to check the flames, but
their efforts we're futile. It was not at
first known that the old man was In the
house. His dead body. however. was dis
covered, charred beyond recognition
when tho flames had spent themselves
CollRhan is reputed TO have been
wealthy. The assailants OF the dead man
were seen In the vicinity by many people.
but were not suspioiously regarded. It
10 believed that four men made up the
party. The only clue left on which the
officers can start 70 work is a coat found
Just outside the yard OF the house.
The sun., 1908-12-26
JOHN D. CRTNMINSE WAITER.
SERVES CHRISTMAS DINNER
10 SISTERS OF TIE POOR.

"AIay Heaven BV YOuP Bed Hhsn Yea
DE-" Says One-'Loag Nfe and
Happiness 70 YOu," Says Crimininl
His Sens and Daughters Help Him.
John d. Crimmins and five Of bis chill.
dren, sons and daughters, put on white
aprons yesterday and acted as walters
at the Christmas dinner OF the old folkG
at the home OF the Little Sisters Of the
Poor in East Sevenieth street. =
Mr.. Crimnins paid for the dinner. and
TO show the 2s4 aged men and women In
the home that he was not q bit stuck up
he became their servant Tor the time
being and carried dishes Of turkey, po-
tatoes. cranberry sauce and other things
with all the expertness Of q professional.
"Will you have some moro turkey. Mrs.
McCarthy?' he asked Ellen Mccarthy.
who In supposed to be % years old and
who has been In the home for the last
twenty years.
-Long life and happiness to you. sorr;
/ will. II you please" the old woman re-
sponded as she held up her plate for an
other portion
sHave you room for charlotte ruase.
Mrs. Mccarthy the amStsur waiter
ask ed some time later.
For who. eorr?'
This is a dainty; something good to
eat. he explained.
-Thank yea kindly. May heaven be
your bed when you die, she said. "a she
received the paper cylinder and studied
the way In which to dispose OF the con-
tents
Mrs. Mccarthy is widow and was born
in Kilmair. County Kerry. Ireland. She
Ia not sure whether she 10 90 or 100 years
old. She was in middle life when she
came to this country. She held down her
head and wept whom asked yesterday
about her young days. Until she came
to this country her life was happy. she
said.
The Is4 woman inmates gathered about
the tables in two dining rooms and the
100 old men sat at tables In a separate
| dining room. Probably not one OF them
was under 8O years old. Bridget Rooney
said she was IS years OF age and expects
| to live for full century She looks Al
though she might do 80.
One OF the men said he was 90 years
old. and there were several others between
so and 90. A young man OF rs entertained
the rest OF the men by playing on the
piano in the reading room after the din
ner.
Santa Claus seemed to think the ole
folks were in the same class with young
sters so far as finding happiness in be
| lieving in his existence was concerned
| for Christmas trees had been prepared
| by the sisters for them. These trees were
! brought into the dining rooms anS
| lighted. Tinsel, fiery paper and othel
] things we're used in the decorations anc
the inmates seemed to find as much de
| light in viewing the trees as 30, many
children.
But Santa Crimmins did not stop with
decorations. From the branches OF the
trees dangled pipes and packages OF to-
baoco for the men and boxes OF candy
for the women. Many an old man there II
welded to his pipe and was grateful
for the tobacco. Altogether IL was happy
day for the old folks at the home.
The sun., 1908-12-26
MORTGAGE LOANS.
MONEY TO LOAN
On Manhattan Real Estate.
Low Fees.
MOOYER & MARSTON,
rs Exchange Place.

son of Kentucky. The Millionaire. King
Rudolph and Chi Slim saw him and
grinned pleasantly. Once upon time
they assisted in burning Mr.. Forbes
in efigy. Now, thanks to the scarcity
OF police, they grinned ahably and never
troubled to step into THE Crooke. Get
away the subway tunnel under Forty,
eeoond street., between the E, uREtown and
downtown platforms Big Bill Shannon
and Toledo Whitley were observed In
Herald Square. prosperous 1t may be
noted for the satisfaction OF out OF town
friends who may chance to see this story.
Diamond Lizzie. the slickest mouser
beater ever entered In Jim Forbes 8
notebook, was at table with friends In
q cafe not far from the corner OF FORTY
second street and The Alley:
These were only few Of the aristocrats,
the high class" panhandlers who keep
their linen neat and spend money at the
manicure's. For the rest, they were at
every corner. Butterfly Jack. seemingly
hopeless paralytic, really most ,! active siN't
actually a cripple and wholly a crook;
The Bos'un, In his second hand sailor
suit Florida Shine and Riverside shine,
pair OF negroes who work together;
Tin Leg. always a lone wolf spr. one who
begs alone: One Eye Finley. Saginaw Red
dozens and do7ens more. the product
of all the big cities in the country. who
know that New York is easy piclkings,
always easy and around holiday time
unbelievably rich in alme. There wal
Old Billy Quigley, who sat for four hours
Yesterday afternoon at the corner ol
Fourteenth street and Fourth avenue
and took in sls--and his luck was in nc
wise remarkable. 4
They will be on the job again to-day
after the effects of the celebration veal
off. and for many days after until the firs
to the roads with a little nitroglycerint
handy for such odd jobs as Mercury may
vouchsafe. But in the winter there ID
nothing like New York.
pffff -whhhjttttl
The sun., 1908-12-26
CAT STARTS A BAD FIRE
by knocking over q Candle-Three
Children saved. Two OF Them Nude.

In the apartments of Mrs. Joseph Seigei,
on the third floor OF the four story base
ment at 800 Pennsylvania avenue. Brook
lyn, last night candles were burning in
observance OF the Jewish feast. A cat
knocked one OF them over. The fame set
a curtain blazing.
At the time Mrs. Seigei was bathing
two of her three little boys. one years
old and the other S. Jacob. Z years. had
had his bath and was asleep In the front
bedroom. .t
Smoke poured out through the vim
dows. There were cries OF fire and q
panicstrioken rush from the tenement
began. The flames burned through the
ceiling and making short work Of the
apartment over the Seigel home ate
through the roof. The flames soared
high in the air and it looked as though
several big buildings SPre doomed. By
way of FIRE escapes an4 down the stair
ways fed frightened tenants carrying
everything they could.
Alarmed by the cries while sorubbing
her children, Mrs. Seigel ran to the front
OF the house and saw that there was great
danger, Without stopping e e5;ain
up, one under each arm, and though they
kicked and squirmed she toted them
down the two dights Of stairs to the street.
Then she remembered her Jacob. and
shrieking her fear she rushed toward the
building to reenter 1t, the naked boys
having been taken by neighbors. She
got past the policemen. but one OF them
followed and graaped her, There was
n short tussle, but the woman was too
Weak 70 break away. -
The fire engines were coming up then
and in O minute there would have be6n o
TO the rescue. But before they had q
chance TO get to work a man who wore
no uniform-just q plain workineman.
eyidentiy--rushed forward. Baw that the
stairWays were ahame. and before any
oae could reach him he was scaling the
are escapes in front Of the building y He
was hidden by the smoke at intofyals,
for the FIRE had burned to the second door,
but Just az he entered the third story
window q burst OF fame in front revealed
him plainly.
at the window with q little bundle 10 hie
arms. and while the big crowd watched
open mouthed. fearing to shout lest they
bring disaster 10 the resouer. be brought
down the bundle which contained Jacob.
Firenen met him half way and quickly
the baby wan In the arms OF Mrs. SfeGcl.
The rescuer bad suffered much from tn-
haling smoke, but was coon revived at
a drug store nearby. He eaid he waB
Lewis BerrneI, but be wouldn't tell where
he lived. The baby had inhaled smoke.
too, but he didn't suffer much.
The fire damage was $500,
The sun., 1908-12-26
THE NEWSBOYS EAT roo.
Some Others as Well Dine Through Mr.:
FlIess,s Generosity.

At the Newsboys' Lodging House, IA
New Chambers street. about 800 were
fed yesterday. Some OF them weren't
newsboys, either. In the line. which
started to form as early as o'clock.
there were a great many more men than
boys. The doors were opened at and
up the stairs and into the big dining room
filed a long string OF silent. sober faced
men. They took their places at the long
tables without a word to any one, except
when some regular patron OF these AFFAIRS
stopped to shake hands with MIR. Hyde,
who has charge OF the home.
Behind Mr.. Hyde. trying to conceal
himself from the line OF hungry men stood,
William M. Fliess, the man who was stand
ing treat to the crowd on this occasion.
Now and then he was recognized by one
Of the old timers. for Mr.. Fliess has been
giving tAe Christmas dinner at the Lodg-
ing House for some years, and his face is
familiar one to many who have partaken
OF his hospitality in the past.
1t is sGrt Of tradition on T.ida u MI alissss Less
to those who can't buy it for themselves.
mir. Hyde said last evening that the
present donors father had been the host
for many years and that his mother had
given the dinners after the older Mr..
Fliess had died until her son was willing
70 take up tn0 UaSk. VI iuotO tbah toi "
years, he said. the Newsboys' Lodging
House has been able to feed all comers
through the generosity of this family,
The total absence OF boys In the early
part Of the evening caused MIR. Hyde TO
offer an explanation. He said there was
a great fight in progress on the other
side of the world and that the regular
diners were waiting for extras at the
neghboring newspaper offices. But he
was confident that the delay was only
temporary, and the crowd Of youngsters
which trouped in later on verified his
conviction. They weren't quite as silent
as the men who came earlier had been,
but they were orderly and careful not to
overstep, the bounds OF etiquette which
they all know obtain on such occasions
The rule is that il the table manners Of
any particular boy lead him to scatter
food promiscuously among his friends.
that boy is taken Immediately in hand by
the walters and requested TO linger no
longer thereabouts.
They were fed in patches of 200. and II
was nearly midnight before the last hum
CRY mouth had been filed. Then what
ever was left over was given TO the thrifty
housewives Of the neighborhood. who
came with empty baskets and took them
away filed.
The sun., 1908-12-26
SUES ALLEGED DEFAULTER,
Hut Peoples Bank or East Orange May
Not Seize II. ID. Towne, Jr.

EAST ORANGE. N. j., Dec. 25.-Jerome
Dudley Gedney. attorney for the Peoples
Bank Of East Orange. admitted to-day
that suit had been brought against
Edward B. Towne. Jr.. the alleged default
ing accountant for the Matheson Com
pany, for overdrafts on an account he
had maintained in that bank. Mr.. Ged-
ney said that the claim OF the bank against
Towne amounted to 81, 900 or more on over
drafts, and nothing else, but he did not
know whether efforts would be made to
find the debtor or not.
I'VE have information said Mr.. Ged-
ney, (which we think will enable us TO
find Towne, but we have not yet made up
our minds whether to attempt to seize
him or not. Thus far we have been able
to oover our losses through his overdrafts
to certain extent, and II we can recover
the whole amount we will let the matter
dror. How we Have done so do not care
10 say. nor am willing To. tell you how
we know where to put hands on him. IL
detectives on his trail ask for the infor-
nation we probably will give it to them
The sun., 1908-12-26
LONG DANCE AT SNAKE .HILL.
Some or the Insane Have High Time
and All Have Lots Of Cider.

The mana cement Of the Hudson County
Insane Asylum at Snake Hill gave turkey
dinner, concert. vaudeville performance,
moving picture show, Christmas tree and
a dance to the inmates Of the institution
yesterday afternoon.
Only $50 Of the $50 patients we're allowed
to take part in the dance. They were
men and women whom the attendants
were reas onably sure would attend strictly
TO their social duties and wouldn't spring
surprises while the volunteer musicians.
q pianist, a violinist and cornetist, were
at work. Hardly any Of the favored ones
missed q dance, and most OF them kept
at It until they were obliged to stop from
il was said at the asylum last night that
the guests were a well behaved lot and
all hands thoroughly enjoyed the after
Moons fun.
Al the end OF the dinner tho announce
n,ent was made that no limit would be
set on the amount Of cider any one wanted
TO drink A large number of tummy-
aches were reported last night.
The sun., 1908-12-26
A SALVATION Army DAY.
MEN, Women and Children An Have
fssFo af ChYi0eniao Feed.


MEN, Women ana children An Have q
Shsro q ChFiStHas Feed.
Saint Nicholas was busy early on the
Dow0ry. He handed out rolls and ooiOs
TO 1900 men who were lined up at the
Bowery Mission waiting for him. Later
In the morning at the same stand baskets
containing 200 dinners were given away
to as many housewives. These zoo
mothers didn't have TO stand In line To
bO stared at, but were invited inside the
mission, and every one had Q seat while
the baskets were being prepared. And
then $50 members OF the Broth erhood-
an organization Of those who ere trying
70 fight their way back to the ranks OF the
fespectable-were called In. and each
got an outfit OF clothing.
At the Grand Central Palace the Saliva
sion Army had 5000 persons waiting In
line that reached all the way around the
block and then had to be shunted od down
side street. Every basket given out
there contained chicken. some bread.
soup, vegetables, tea, coffee. milk and
fruit; enough for FIVE persons. Conn
nander Eva Booth acted as assistant TO
Saint Nicholas.
In the afternoon In the Grand Central
Palace 5000 little boys and girls sat In
long rows and looked with sparkling eyes
at the two huge Christmas trees. each
made of fifty ordinary sized trees. that
reached from the platform to the ceiling.
fully forty feet. Every one OF the
children got gift. Six men dressed In
Santa Claus clothing had the task OF hand
Ing the presents oat. The children tscoped
forward under the command of forty
nurses and received their gifts, q row at t
time. There was q band that played
wonderful music and q screen on which
moving pictures were thrown. And then
Commander Eva Booth, whose birthday
falls on Christmas, told her little friends
how happy she was and how much obliged
she was to them for coming to her birth
From the Grand Central Palace Saint
Nicholas moved over to the Murray Hill
Lyceum. Seven hundred little mothers
were there to meet him.. First they, got
dinner. Before the dinner began they
sang a song, and theyvoices sounded thin
and weak Another song followed the
dinner. and the voices rang out loud and
strong, ,,
mothers went up to the auditorium. where
the stage was decked with two huge
Christmas trees and the walls were hung
with flags and banners. and the lights
were shining and everything looked just
as II does In fairyland. Frank Iilford.
who provides this entertainment FER the
little mothers. was on hand TO tell the
! little ones how happy he was in having
such distinguished company as his
guests and to wish them very merry
| Christmas.
Then there we're some songs and reci,
tations and pieces by the band, and
| finally Saint Nicholas, still unwearied
and looking II anything even more Jovial
| Of his pack and gave each child present
hu ge stocking filled with goodies.
The sun., 1908-12-26
aank Robbery In California.

Loe ANGELES, Dec. 25.-Ths First
National Bank Of Monrovia, a small
place near this city. was robbed between
Moaday afternoon and Tuesday morn
ing Of $40. 100. The loss was first dis-
covered Tuesday morning when the bank
opened for business, but the facts only
becanne public to-day. The bank officials
admit the robbery, but will give no details,
It ia claimed that the funds Of the bank
were intact on Monday night at the close
Of b,Iginess when the money and seouri-
ties were put into the vault. When the
fellers counted the money on Tuesday
the sum named 6as missing II 10 said
that the time lock OF the, vault failed to
only the combination protected the banks
treasure
The sun., 1908-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN THE TONES.
A Present to Chaplain wade anda Dreary
Day for Morse.

The Rev. John Armstrong Wade. who
has been Protestant Episcopal chaplain
in the Tombs prison since 1908 and re-
Gently resigned to accept call to the
Church Of All Angels. West End avenue
and Eighty-first street, held his last SER
vice In the prison yesterday. After the
service Warden Flynn on behalf OF the
prison employees gave the retiring chap
lain a gold emblem ring. cuh links and
studs.
There were 7so prisoners In the Tombs.
All OF them had a few extras for their
Christmas dinner. Charles w. Morse
had no visitors, and his dinner was not
much different from that OF the other
prisoners. although the day before his
delicacics. Morse did not 90 to Christmas
service. -.
The sun., 1908-12-26
A LUCKY AUTO ACCIDENT.
Not an Injury. though Msehine Grained
Into Car at Top Speed.


A big touring oar containing five men
came tearing over the williamsburg
Bridge early yesterday morning at speed
estimated at from forty to sixty miles an
hour. At the Manhattan end the machine
crashed into the rear end OF . Fourteenth
street car, knocked IL of the tracks and
tumbled all the passengers TO the floor.
Four OF the occupants Of the auto were
thrown out but escaped serious injury.
and the chauffeur, Napoleon Boileau,. who
10 employed by James Doig. q redred
merchant Of 900 Park avenue, Brooklyn.
was wedged between the dashboard OF tho
auto and the rear Of the car. IL took
some time 10 extricate him from the
wreckage. but he came out unsoathed.
The machine was wrecked, a. was the
rear platform OF the car. The chauffeur
was arrested on q charge of reokless
driving end was fined IS In tho Essex
Market police court. He admitted 10
Droege that he was ip q Joy
ride with three friends and boy. when the
they hit up the pace at the Brooklyn end
Of the bridge.
The sun., 1908-12-26
GIRL GOES THROUGH THE ICE.
Man with whom she Had Just Quarreied
Saves Miss Radle NJ Woods Lake.

WooDs LAKE. n. j., Dec. 25.-While
skating on the lake here to-day Miss
Louise Radle and Charles Irwin skateds
away from the others. They got into q
quarrel and Miss Radle left her COM
paIiion. He watched her as she swung
up the pond In a till and then saw her
sink suddenly out OF sight. She had
reached a place where the leo was thin
and had broken through.
Irwin shouted TO tho others In the rear
and skated as fast as he could for the
place where he saw. Miss Radle 60 down.
on the way he grabbed rail on fence
near shore and throwing this across the
hole be plunged into the water. At the
bottom no found the young woman and
managed to regain q hold on the rail.
The others, who had reached them by
this time, hauled the two to land.
Miss Radle was carried 70 her home
near by, while Irwin walked TO his home.
a distance OF two miles. Miss Radle 10
sufferinR from the chill and the shock,
but is expeoted to recover.
The sun., 1908-12-26
GOMPERs IN ATLANTIC CITY.
He Refused to Talk About HIS Case, Ex.
cept to Say That IL Is Not Enhed.

ATLANTIC CRY, Dec. 26.-Samuel Com
pers, president Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and now under sentence
OF twelve months for contempt of court.
slipped quietly into this resort last night
and Is in practical retirement at the Hotel
Lamborn, on Maryland avenue, Al
though the head OF the powerful labor
organization was out on the walk to-day
which has stirred the laboring people of
the country, either there or in his hotel,
and he has denied himself to all inter-
viewers tonight. ID.
Scores of friends halted iGompers on
the Boardwalk 10 condole with him over
the affair. but received only smiling as.
and even TO these ne refused to give any
information as 10 his intentions. Com
pers Is alone at his hotel and says that his
stay will be short.
The sun., 1908-12-26
Finds Grandaon IIanEina Doafl.

PLAISPrEr.p. N. j.. Dec. 2s.--Edward
Brown. restauraut proprietor. com-
mitted suicide last night by hanging
himself in his bedroom at his home 10
Washington avenue. The body was
found this morning by Browns grand
man dcspondsi,t. HS Was m - .Issrs % olS l
and unmarried. -i,7'f VS.
The sun., 1908-12-26
SPARROW HUNTERsHOOTs WIFE
After Accident In Backyard Game Pre-
serve In Astoria, Hunter Goes to Jan.

serve In Astoria. Hunter Goes to Jan.
While engaged in the pleasing pastime
OF shooting sparrows and snow birds
from his back bedroom window yester-
day morning William Hohiub. A years
old. OF 81 Seventh avenue. Astoria, acci-
.dentally shot his wife Mary In tho left arm.
The region in which Hohlub lives Ia
sparsely settled, Scattering feed In his
back yard Hohlub lured hooirs OF birds
to the place. and from his point Of vantage
he picked them Oh as rapidly as his arm
would allow. He wanted TO get enough
20 make q Christmas potpie and was
rapidly acquiring q suficiency when
his wife unexpectedly ventured out into
her husbands game preserves.
Look out, Maryl' shouted Hohlub,
but after he had pulled the trigger. he
suooeeded In hitting eeveral Of The birtis,
but he also bit 1is wife. DR., HanRaften
OF 81. Johns Hospital dressed the wound
and Mrs. Hohlub remained at home while
the police took Hohlub 70 the Astoria
police station, whore he spent the greater
part Of the day looked up ou q charge Of
reckless shooting.
The sun., 1908-12-26
Gifts Of the Aiackays

RosLrN, L. l.. Dec. 2s.--Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Il. Mackay to-day gave two
vee,xs wages TO each OF their employees
o,, their estate, Harbof Hill. The poor In
the village were not forgotten by tho
Manknye' each needy family receiving
a turkey and other things needed for a
BID Christmas dinner.