Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
BILL AND old BROMO'
Separation of the Two at
Bills Suggestion.
THIRST FOR ADVENTURE
His Own Account of His Flight
From Westboro.
BLOWS IN FOURTEEN DOLLARS
Then Hits the Freight on Way to
the West and Lands in
Washington.
BLOWS IN FOURTEEN DOLLARS

Bill O'Neill. the boy scout from West
boro. Mass. sat on the back steps of the
Juvenile Court building yesterday and
told a Star reporter just what had hap
pened since that memorable August j
when odd Bromo" turned his back on
Bill, and Bill showed "Old Bromo" into
the muck heap. head and shoulders: and
then. slipping. away amid the shadows OF
the lofty elms, visited Boston. Camden
Coney Island and All Points South, EN-
route for Indian Territory.
Bill O'Neill's right name is-well, lie
said that was his name and he has the
face Of a cherub. with the dirt of a coal
HEAVIER spread upon his cheeks. His smile
is like that of a most beautiful child. and
his eyes would charm the coolest heart.
And this is how he talks:
'Ah, chez! It's me for de freight cars
when / sees dey wants to put me in de
hatch. and says to Old Bromo Look at
de brides, Old Bromo starts to pipe de
sparrows. and 1 gives him a punch in de
stats. He turns and shifts. Him for de
upper cut and I counters one over de
heart. He trips and 1 kicks him twice in
de same place. Den he starts for de
building yellin that eight men was KILN
him. Me for Old Bromo, and as he
I beats it, and"
Identity Of cold Bromo."
But to resume plain English. Old Bro
mo Is Mr.. Coffeen. superintendent Of the
Lyman School at Westboro. Mass. 1t Is
training school that endeavors to cure
the wanderlust of boys.
The date was August ). Bill had $14
and a revolver and a bird's-eye mind pic
h. ~r- h~1, Dc ne N
nocent babes and women by the terrific
red-skinned devils of the western plains.
"Revenge.' to quote the opening word
in "Old King Brady on the Rampage
Bill went to Boston. enjoying the luxury
en- route of a side-door Pullman. There
he engaged passage to New York on
coastwise steamer and washed dishes for
forty Eight solid hours in lieu Of a ticket.
He did not mean to wash dishes. but the
first mate found him masquerading as
coil OF rope.
At New York all thoughts Of Indian
Territory were put aside until that Sl4
was spent. Bill saw Coney Island for
the first time and went the limit-as far
as S14 would permit. He took one ride
on the shcot-the-chute and Immediately
bought 81 worth OF chute tickets and
wore his trousers thin using them UP.
Bill then went to Jersey City with the 3
cents he had left and Immediately asked
man for some food.
Sure" said the man who happened to
be pt1ilanthropist. "rH not only give
job. Come"
Good Appetite Was Bills.
Bill ate 81 worth Of food and then slid
out OF the back window while the man
was looking for lawn mower. Camden,
N j., is a town full Of commuters. and
Bill found it full Of women folks only
by day. Easy meat" says Bill. Lady,
my mudder's got fourteen children and
me ladders dead. an we Amt gotta piece
o. bread in de house.
-. Eight square meals a day was his aver
age in Camden.
Then on to Elizabeth. and thence to
Philadelphia. where a kind-hearted po-
liceman let him sleep in the station house
all night. but wished he had kept him
longer. when the desk sergeant discover
ed a libelous likeness Of himself drawn
by Bill in red ink on the blotter
Good by, jelly belly" was all Bill
wrote-but it will be the signature to
Bil's warrant if he ever steps into Phila-
delphia again.
How he got to Washington is long
story. He travelled mostly in freights
and walked only little. He stayed at
a place on Missouri avenue, which the
policeman who arrested Bill called Haven
ner's rest but which is in the directory
as the Haven Of Rest.
Fails at Chinese Embassy.
Bill slept there nights, but he wanted
variety of food, and worked the mud
der and fourteen children for all they
were worth. 1t did not work at the
Chinese embassy. though Bill knocked
at the portal and asked for just little
food to help him on his weary way to
the next house.
Like fish, asked the cook.
You bet" said Bill.
''Allee lightee. Come next Friday.
That's fish day."
That happened on Monday, and Bill
could not wait. In his tour of the city a
sixth precinct policeman arrested him, but
it is a safe bet that Bill did not see him
first.
Judge De Lacy talked very kindly to
Bill and Bill did not mind it even a little
bit. Now Bill is at the house of deten-
ton. while the clerk of the court awaits
letter from Mr.. Coffeen, stating whether
or not he wants to see Bill
Bill says he wishes he had a kit of
tools. He'd cut hole in that house Of
detention and keep on his way west.