Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-11
Ana vonn,; II, There was hugTrying to and fro,


And mounting in hot haste"
The week has nearly drawn to a close, and, as yet
the returns of the various Field Marshals offical
bulletins from the seat of war; present as the num-
Der Killed.. The beigerents in this blood ess
business, it is well known, are some 600 Irishmen
employed on various sections of the Croton Water
Works The cause of the quarrel-and a very pref
ty quarrel it is, it stands-is, as the Irishmen
| themselves express it., in their own peculiar, en-
phatic style of eloquence, ist the two shiln the
day. and the athing and the drinking to be better
1t is any way" In other words, they want that
dollar" for the days work, and to be allowed the
common privileges of freemen, to spend 1t where
they please when they please, and how they please.
lrishmen are funny fellows, full of fight, frolic,
folly, fun; with humor rioting, and rollicking
always ready for drink, devilment, knock down,
or drag out; they closely resemble sailors in their
bravery, nonchalance and indifference to the future
or the past and would they but be persuaded never
to allow two men or more to fall upon one, they would
be some ofthe very best fellows in the world. As it
is, however, they work harder and worse paid,
therefore, than any other set of under the SUM-
All last summer, there were about $500 men con-
stantly employed, at 81 per day. As winter APP
preached, 600 were discharged, leaving only 1000
in employ. As the wants ofthese poor fellows were
dependent their exertions for daily bread, they
petitioned the contractors for work, on almost any
terms. The contractors like the hard hearted
Egyptians fold made this excuse for grinding
down the wages of those they did employ to six
shillings a day, which the poor fellows were com
PEELED to submit to, and besides this to take half
their earnings out in slops, food, etc. from stores
kept by the contractors, or their agents.
As soon the LIST of April arrived, however, they
were determined to be made fools Of no longer; and
equenily, 4" struck" for 81 a day. Those who
still continued to work for IS. in a minority,
and the turn-outs" soon drove them of the works
Their mode of procedure in the premises was sim
pie and summary. The men at work between Yon-
kers and Harlem Bridge came gradually down the
line, and asked the laborers to knock off; il these
refused, the others knocked them down. They
then made them get up, fall in their ranks, and
marched off with them. They came TO the New
York side of the Harlem River, and did the same
to the workmen they found there. They even re-
fused to allow these latter go home to their wives,
and made them march through Manhattanville TO
West Chester. And il any Of them out of the
ranks into portcr-house, 10 get driak, two men
Immediately marched in after him, seized him and
brought him " back agin."
This was the state of affairs at the comment emcnt
Of the present week; when, not finding their terms
acceded TO, they broke up the mortar boxes, stop
ped the contractors carts, cut the traces, turned
the horses adrift beat the drivers, and threatened
to whip the foremen, and even the contractors. All
this was reported to Mayor Yarian, on Monday
and he Immediately sent for Ex.Justce Lowndes,
consulted with him, and called out the military
Then, as we said at the commencement, there was
mounting in hot haste, and hurrying to and fro.
Various wiseacres connected with the city coun-
ellis were consulted, no two Of whom thought alike
ON the subject Some were for going out with whs-
KEY barrels some with musket barrels; some with
cannon, some with the olive branch; some on horse
back and some on foot; and some were for not going
at all.
At last il was decided TO order cut the Old
Butcher Cavalry Troop, the mounted troop Of the
Washington Greys, under Captain kyser, and the
Dutch Mounted Troop. These were suddenly call
ed together, to the infinite arrangement Of their
household gods. Many asked their wives for a
clean shirt TO no purpose; some went away without
a dinner, some without pocket handkerchief
Some kissed their wives, as they thought, tor the
last time in this life some cursed Them for no cause
at all With some the parting was like that o.
| Hector and Andromache; with some II resembled
| the separation Of Xantippe and her protector. M
length. mounted and dressed, in some shape OF
other about 10 men drew mp before the Mayor
Office and his honor reviewed them.
Justice Bloodgood was in towering passion, &c
think that any Of the poor Irish should be killed OF
before the election, so he jumped into wagon, and
went out, as he sad " TO mollify 'cm in advance o
the sogsrs." lie drove mp and down the Sth avenue
saw no noise, and wished to noise, and afte
eating good dinner, returned home. regimen
Of the National Grcys were ordered out, and pm
into the rail cars TO ride TO the scene Of action
The Cavalry then went to the arsenal got each
pair pistols. and several rounds of ammunition
and, headed by Mr. Narian, Mr.. Lownds, Genera
sanford. and Colonel wctmorc, took up the lin
of march slsns DroaSway.
The dogs barked, the boys shouted. the men laugh
al tho ladies smiled and the soldiers looked silly
but on they went, leaving Gen Morris behind
write poetical account of the bloody onslaught
The soldiers reached Burnbam's, and many longed