The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-29
TWO CENTS.
Incidents Connected with the Great Dog War


Incidents Connected with the Great Dog war
OF lS4s.
The last week will be long remembered by the boys
Of New York, that is to say by the boys of the
lower or losfer order, who have entered into the
dog killing business under the proclamation Of the
to any 80 csns for each ,S
dead body at the nearest police station. Under
this authority, the boys In each ward mustered in
years up to 49, bare footed dressed in every form Of
tattered clothing exhibiting Chat by those who had
any portion OF shirt hanging from their pantsoons,
giving them altogether kind OF neghgs appearance.
The 9th Ward mustered about as strong force
OF juvenile dog killers, any other ward, and pos
| from the ages of years up to II, all armed with
the implements of trade consisting of billes wood,
from the size of lath up to the size Of piece Of
timber or heavy fire wood weighing some IL or Is
pounds these matter of course carried by tho
larger boys, who are called the settersn being gen.
orally called in to give the nishng blow Che larger
dogs who refuse to die from the light blows inflicted by
which is worth relating. A gang of boys numbering
over 100, the march in the OH ward the look
for loose dogs turning up one of the streets
a cartman had just dumped load OF frewood, con-
sisng Of small round sticks mostly about the Of
ones arm and little smaller The cartman had just
entered the house to receive his pay and while thus
engaged good sized dog made his appearance around
the Of the street running at full speed the
loado wood The order for the chase given by
the leader of the gang and away they went in full
but passing the wood each boy, able to manage a
Larger bIudgeon, picked up stick from the load and
missed his wood immediately, there were not more
than five or six sticks left On casting his eyes up the
street, he saw his wood in full chase after dog,
In the hands Of the young democracy of tho 9th This
the poor cartman had to grin and bear for attempt
to regain possession of his wood would be foolish
After long chase the dog was captured in an area,
beaten on the head and body by almost every one aa
wishing to have a blow at tn. unfortuuate animal un-
til he supposed to be dead rope was then at
tached to the neck of the fallen enemy, and OF
boys each side Of the rope dragged him to the 9th
ward station house, with much pleasure and triumph
a number Of fremen draw favorite engine. On
hating at the station house door, and the dog exhi
bited to the captain of police the of the animal
demanded before the certificate for SO cents
given, in order that deception the city be
tised by conveying the same dog to another station
and thereby receive double pay. rusty butchers
knife was then applied to one ear Of the dog, which
was after little exerton, taken off; but before they
had time to turn him to take off the other the
dog demurred to the proceedings by jumping on his
legs, and commenced swapping at those near him. One
boy cried out: "Oh thunder! Tim, he is mt dead; give
it to him again and at it they went, bang, wang with
the clubs. One boy with long stick, the end covered
with the dog blood threw it back over his shoulder
in order to give "settler, when young stand
ing near, eagerly looking to the erect received
the end of the club in his mouth; this caused con-
siderable fun for all the little scamps the fellow
splitting and spluttering from the blow at all ad
miring the doggish isver. The dog finally, after
many blows dispatched; the other cut off, and both
trophies carried before the Captain of Police, who,
upon these vouchers gave ticket for fifty cents paya
BILE at the Office eff the Chief of Police. On receiving
this ticket he again showed himself the street. and
from the smaller ones, some Of whom were scarcely
able to walk to the largest all shoudered their blud
geops and followed to the Chiefs Office to witness
the drawing of the fifty cents During slack of bu-
siness these warriors could be at the corner Of
Centre street and Franklin, "resting their arms
bludgeon covered with blood end placed before
them watching for the next dog to along like the
Mexican banditti in search of plumber. 1t was quite
amusing, on Saturday afternoon when the sight of
dog became rather scarce,to see about twenty oil the
most evil looking boys armed with heavy budgeons,
place the old apple woman's stand on the corner
of Franklin street and Centre in complete siege,
the old woman having favorite little red dog with
| the regular dog killers but since the Mayors pro-
camaton the poor little dogs life has been several
| times placed in the most imminent danger These
young rascals endeavored in every way they could
devise to entice the dog from under the old
stand One boy would say to the other Jim go to the
other side of the stand and ask the old woman the
price her nuts In this way they got the old
to rise and the other would throw piece of cake
in order to tempt the under the stand Thiswas
CO. the little dog well aware of their designs
and kept himself closely curled up under the stand;
with one eye open, Watching their murderous move
mens This siege lasted for about hour, several Of
the boys Offering the old woman shilling to let her
old woman refused the liberal offers and endea vored
to drive them away. Yet she realising some
profit from the boys, who were pretty liberal in
their demand for hot corn; as on the delivery
of each dead dog, all those Immediately concerned
took an ear each by the way. of a refresher.
This bounty Of fifty cents being paid for the
death of each dog running at large, has been the
means Of exterminating some 700, from Thursday to
being 80 cents head. The Mayor has abolished
the Office of regular dog killers US the system
Saturday evening called upon the Chief Of Police, and
wished to know if he paid 80 cent tickets for dogs
Sundays. Upon being answered in the affirmative;
and asked the reason why, they said that they had
three four dogs they intended to get during the
night and If they could get the money in the
ing, they wanted to go to Coney Island The boys
generally paid respect to the Sabbath and refused to
kill But during the afternoon we saw several gangs
Of boys with dogs tied to string saving them up for
slaughter on Monday morning.
On that morning the work commenced afresh, and
there quite a number of new recruits, among
whom were several white men, who leagued with the
big whiskered darkey, in the work of death At tho
18TH ward station house, on that morning, the darkey
appeared with tremendous New Foundland dog, the
Of which he handed and called for his cert
cate. The captain made out the order and handed it
towards the fellow. when white topped up took
possession Of it. and they all together SO great
has been the work in that ward that dog is be
Passing through the more densey populated
portions OF the city, ever and anon eur might be
seen stealing and crouchng from every one he saw.
At the corner of Washington and Chambers streets a
very pretty spaniel made his appearance in the street.
but Immediately snatched by fellow, who started
for the Chiefs office. Arriving at the office aud sup
posing that fireplace of slaughter he called put to
some standing at the door, say, where do you
kill ?" He told that the dogs had to be returned ut
the station houses, when certificate would be gven
that he might draw his money. He started for tho
Sixth ward station house, when he discovered by
two others, who Immediately set to work to divet him
ofhis prize. They pursued him but the fellow took
the hint gathered up the pup in his arms and seated
himself on the grass, in the Park thinking he would
hold on until they should leave But they
getic and perseverng and after having frequently ex
pressed themselves to the effect that it pity to
kill such pretty puppy the sympathy of the catcher
aroused, who agreed to let it go for shilling pro-
yded they would not hurt It, The bargain struck,
the money handed over and the dog discharged from
custody He had not left the place, however before
heavy budgeon from of the two lads, dashed his
brains upon the ground. They then picked up the
puppy and marched of to the station house, much to
the chagrin of the poor fellow who only received q
shilling after carrying the dog in his arms for an hour
two.
Thexc was another incident on Tuesday morning,
which was quite rich, though poor fellow will,
doubtless, suffer by the prank played upon him. A
German sausage dealer in the Bowery, had fsvorte
dog which he committed to the SPECIAL care of a boy
ia his employ, and in whom he had every confidence.
But, witha he was not to be trusted for he so"u
one half Of the fee, which duly done snd
the proceeds divided. While the sausage man la
menting the death Of "Wellap he called IT, ne
informed that the boy had been accessory it's death
He became enraged that the boy was Immediately
discharged Determined to be with his "boss," he
found eat, which he killed and dressed in work.