The evening world., 1908-12-18
CRUSHED BY CAR
AS He HELPED
CHUM PLAY SANTA
Johnny Nugent Killed Earning
Nickel to Buy Doll for
"Eddie's Sister,"
WIDOWS ONLY CHILD.
Accident Comes at End of
Day Spent in Fairyland of
m Broadway Shops.
WIDOWS ONLY CHILD.

All tho little boys and girls about
First avenue and Thirty -seoond street
have been dropping in to SEQ poor Mrs
Srgect today a.. tel! her how sorry
they are her Johnny Is dead. There
Isn't one OF them who wouldn't readily
have given his or her measrs hoard OF
Christmas pennies TO buy the doll for
which Johnny gave up his life had they
foleseen what sad ending his gener-
osity was going 10 have.
But It's too late now, and all they can
do IS to stand around with blanched,
frightened little faces and wonder how
anybody on the block is going to be
happy Christmas without Johnny Nu-
gent to help.
Johnny was ten years old. THO only
son of q widowed mother. who lives at
No. $40 First avenue. Just around the
corner, In Thirty-second street, lives
Eddie Bowler. Johnny's seven. year-old
chum. Eddie had never seen Santa
Claus. but Johnny. who had been over
as far as Broadway few times. he'd.
Went TO SEQ Santa.
y
die. there's q real Santa Claus over
there. Ever see a sure enough Santa7'
Nav" replied Eddie. but seen pic
lures Of i'm goin' down the chimbley
We amt got any chimbley at our house,
80 I'd Ike to see i'm"
They skipped along across densely
thronged east side streets until they got
over 10 the dazzling shop windows. II
big. wondering eyes TO his companion.
I'll show you things. Kid" boast
!ngly declared Johnny as he began to
point out the miniature autos and other
things in the Offering holiday display.
Does this real live Sanity give YOU
presents?" inquired Eddie.
Sure" fibbed Johnny. 1T you've been
a good boy"
But II you haven't?" falteringly
asked the smaller chap. "rd Ike to get
doll for Annie
Wanted Doll for Sister.
We'll" said Johnny, ~ he don't give
us anything. wen buy II. amt got no
baby sister and don't want no doll. But
I'll get a doll for you and you can give
II to Annie"
Sure. I'll bet Annierl be glad" said
Eddie. with boy!sh glee. but We amt
got any money. have we?" Johnny
seemed to be thinking.
And the pair. little better than tod
diers went along toward and across
Broadway. and all through the after
noon they gazed in wonderment at what
was shown IN the STORE windows Near.
ing six o'clock both were worn and
-.
fed. Neither was Johnny. The latter
had seen a lot OF things he wanted to
buy for his mother, and Eddie lot of
dolls he wanted for Annie. But neither
OF them could get through the doors of
the stores and by six O'Clock Eddie was
In tears.
Glves Life for His Friend.
Johnny landed him safely across
Broadway TO the east. and was trudg-
ing along when he eap!ed a newsboy
who was a friend. He told this news
boy what was the matter with Eddie
and said nickel would buy the sort OF
doll Eddie wanted. The newsboy divided
his wares, saying he would help out
kid at Christmas time, and gave five
papers TO Johnny to sell. Johnny asked
Eddie TO stay there minute or two
while he went back to the west side OF
Broadway. near Herald Square, to sell,
Johnny started. but a northbound Co
lumbus avenue car caught him and
crushed his life out. The car was
packed with shoppers, many OF whom
we're women carlyiHs Christmas pres
ents home to their children. and when
they heard the story of the tragedy
they were overcome. Little Eddie had
followed Johnny across the street, and
as the mangled body was taken from
beneath the car. Eddie, unconscious OF
the fact that his chum's life had been
blotted out. crawled under and saved
the little cap that Johnny had worn. and
then with the ambulance still In View.
he toddled along as fast as his little
legs could carry him TO the Thlrtieth
street police station where. condoled as
best the lad could be by sympathetic
policemen. he remained until his parents
called for him and took him home. He
would not go with any policeman. in
sisting that either his mother or Santa
Claus should take him away.
Mrs. Nugent, heartbroken. called later
with a niece and arranged for appro-
pirate burial OF Johnny He was all she
had, she said. and Christmas for her. In
his absence. would be lean, sad one.
The motorman was arrested.