The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-22
1000 CRIPPLES AND
ORPHANS SEE CIRCUS
Special Performance Is Given
in Morning to Delighted
Audience.
FREE POPCORN AND NUTS
But Gompers McGooley Misses
Exhibit Of the "Terrible
Plunkus."

Gompers McGooley. who Is going on
years old and who clnnot walk with
out crutches because a furniture van
ran over one of his legs when he tried
to dart in front OF It two summers
ago, said between mouthfuls of popcorn
yesterday AFTERNOON that while he re-
GREETED that the management OF the
Ringing Bros. and Birnum Bailey
Circus at Madison Square Garden hadn't
been able to put of for another week
the party they gave yesterday for more
than 1000 orphans and crippled chill
dren from various New York city insti-
tutional homes he nevertheless had
thoroughly enjoyed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
or no plunkus. But OF course. he added
lie would have liked to see IL.
Patrolman Pat O'Rourke, whose post
is on Amsterdam avenue. frequently
helps Gompers through the traffic when
the lad is on his way to and from the
Crippled Children School. at 104th
street. When the news OF yesterdays
circus party first reached the children
ten days ago Patrolman O'Rourke told
Gompers of the success which has
crowned the efforts Of the special ex-
petition sent by the management OF the
Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
show into the wilds OF Labrador to
capture what is now regarded as quite
the rarest animal known to science.
The plunkus," explained Patrolman
O'Rourke. "infests those parts and 10 a
terrible scourge to the Indians because
he spoils their winter fishing through
ha ica lxaa in
OF the peninsula. He Is between a me-
dunn horse and small elephant In size
and he has n tail about fifteen foot long
with a hard horny substance--like a
cannon ball-on the end of 1t.
That's why they call him a plunkus
because he plunks 1t down on the ice
and smashes holes in 1t to fish through.
OF course the Indians can't catch a
thing when a dozen OF so Of the critters
are roaming over the ice every night,
as they frequently are in the long winter
months"
Every day after that Gompers asked
Patrolman O'Rourke for more details OF
the animals capture and as TO whether.
in Patrolman O'Rourkes opinion. II was
likely that the expedition having the
plunkus in its custody would be back in
New York before the party for the Grip
pied children was given.
Patroman O'Rourke thought II would,
but early yesterday morning, so he ex-
plained to Gompers, word came that
the special pen built for the journey
to New York had been found to be fully
FIVE feet too short and that. in order to
avoid twisting the plunkus tail. back
under the animal in an awkward and
uncomfortable fashion the pen would
have to be heightened or. perhaps. an
entirely new pen built. All this would
take time, Patrolman O'Rourke said
SO II was doubtful II the menagerie
would be enriched by the latest speci-
men for anyhow Il week and perhaps
longer.
And so, while Gompers enjoyed the
other animals and the special perfor-
nance arranged for the children and
clowns, he nevertheless couldn't help
feeling a bit sorry that the whole affair
couldn't have been put off until little
later.
Although the circus programme didn't
begin until 10 o'clock yesterday morning
Madison Square was blocked with motor
buses and taxicabs full OF youngsters
two hours earlier. Most of the institu-
tons sent their children in a body and
some of them had bands. Several Of the
buses were chartered. but most OF the
large Meet OF taxicapS We're donated.
The circus management distributed pea
nuts and popcorn in fitting quantities and
gave performance specially arranged
for the children. All the performers do
mated their services.
Among the" guests were 200 children
from the Catholic Protectory, 700 from
the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin,
$50 Randalls and Blackwel's Island
zoo Association for the Aid OF Crippled
Children. $50 Hebrew Sheltering Guar
dian Society. $50 Colored Orphan Asylum
200 Little Missionary Day Nursery, 100
Presentation Day Nursery. 100 St Bar
tholomews Parish House. 100 Five
Points Mission. 100 Roman Catholic
Orphan Asylum and smaller numbers
from a score of other institutions.