New-York tribune., 1910-04-28
CENSUS OF PARK SLEEpERS.
Enumerators Make Raid Upon
Homeless Late at Night.
WOMEN GIVE TROUBLE
Little Too Early in Season, So
Population Shows Up
Rather Slim.

Last night was a strenuous time for the
census enumerators. under the direction Of
Supervisor Albert Fack. when they un-
dertook to secure the figures Of the popu-
lation which lives out Of doors in the
various parks of the city. Besides this
they secured the participants I'm the But
falo Bill" and "Pawnee Bill" show now at
Madison Square Garden.
The out-of door population was far
smaller than had been supposed At least
the number who admitted that they be
lonced 10 the park brigade was compare
lively few The great majority were men.
There were a few women among them.
however. and they were the ones who
save the most trouble.
In Madison Square the first trouble was
experienced with a woman. who. when
asked her name. replied: What IS that
10 vou7"
The enurneratcr insisted and a plain
clothes man, Of whom several accom-
panied the enurerators, advised the wom-
an to give the desired information As
she was still obstinate the officer threat
ened 10 place her under arrest. 4 man
who had been chatting with the woman
started in TO take her part. Here. bo.
he called 20 the COP. Keep your hands
OF ms i HplT VI Sohi blAN--iNe-. -
fx you
The nerve Of him" exclaimed a stout
woman who was sitting on A bench Just
opposite TO where the scene was being
enacted. as she turned TO Tribune re-
porter who was following the work of the
enuinerators DO you see that man but
ting in for her? That's my husband
know her all right. When I worked up al
Bellevue she used to be in the alcoholic
ward there often. The nerve Of him"
Women "AIready Counted"
Another woman when asked the ordinary
questions replied;
WHATS that 10 YOU? I'm from Brooklyn.
anyhow. SO you've got nothing on me.
What're vouse trying to do. anyway-get
the population Of the world? I've been
counted already
The men in the parks gave no trouble
whatever The total found in Madison
Square was between sixty and seventy.
The number in Union Square was very
much less as the usual lecturer had been
around distributing lodging and meal tick
cts and thus many of the denlZens of the
benches had secured 2 shelter for the night
Many young men and girls in both the
uptown parks were accosted by the enunler-
ators. but explained that they were merely
ont for a quiet chat in the park and were
ABOUT TO hasten home
The work Of enumeration was started
shortly after 10 o'clock. Supervisor Falck
considered that IL would be useless to 60 TO
work before that hour. as the habitues Of
the ber-ches do n6t settle down for the
night until after that hour. Battery Park
looked promising at the first glance, hut u
vas soon found that the bulk Of the crowd
there was made NJ of soldiers and their
best girls who had homes to 40 20 when
their ccurting vas over. There were a few
men and women who lived in the neighboc-
hood. but as the patrolmen on duty in that
section explained There's not a bum
steering in the park vet. but there will be
lots when The weather gets wnrrner."
There was a migration from City Hall
Park when the enurnerators put in an ap-
pearance There were some fifty people
there. but many Of them were young men
who work nights and were out for an aic-
ing. Eleven people admitted that they had
no homes 10 go to and had not been
enumerated in the census. Everything
passed of quietly.
! When the enumerators struck the wild
West and Far East show in Madison
/ Square Garden they we're met by black
the indians. Cingslese, Bushmen and other
strange Eastern members OF the show.
I Colonel Cody sent them word, however.
/ that everything was al rieht. and that they
/ we're to answer all questions. Then they
gave sn the desired information with great
/ willingness.
Iron Tail. chief of the Sioux. proved re
/ frsctorv for long time. He had recog-
nized among the census men Inspector
Frachtenburg. who was formerly connected
( with the Indian Bureau Of the Smithsonian
| Institution and had visions of a return 10
I the reservation. he ''duched
! II was only after being assured that the
I Inspector had no longer any connection with
the institution that the willy chief consented
! n come forward and answer the questions
| put 70 him. The enumerators took nearly
/ half an hour n enumerate the camels.
/ hufaloes. elephants and other animals 20
/ the number Of eight hundred. connected