The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-06

daily occur with mpunity, while STRUGGLING 10 pre-
serve the city from Destruction By IRE, what.
almost nightly the fate Of unofendng and defeuce-
less males and females, when met BY these hellish
clubs, in their midnight prowls through the city9
What il the fate of many family living no town,
and in the suburbs Of the city-aye, and sometimes
in the very heart of the city, when deliberately and
formidably attacked by these irresistible banditl 1t
isrobbery ,rapae .conagration and horrible murder
for which, if had the power, and would oG od had
would hold the captains Of police, the Aldermen,
police judges, and grand ures directly responsible,
these murderous clubs, BY exertng themselves to
hberats them from prison the moment they are ar
rested, when they should exercise all the powers
with which conhding people and God and nature
have invested them, TO arrest and convict the
culprits and thus break up these clubs, who beat
the firemen. break apparatus, create murderous
broils, and those dreadful collisions between the
companies which have brought the department.
into such disrepute for many years, VINO nightly
cut, and beat, and rob defenceless citizens, who
violate the persons OF chaste and defenceess fe-
males. and fire our habitations.
In June last, l made a special report to your
honorable body respecting these banditti, which,
as usual was referred to your Committee on the
Fire Department, where, like most of my reports,
il slept the sleep of death, the committee not even
conforming to the law, which declares that they
shall report back to the board the result of their
deliberations on matters referred to them. The
| following is an extract from my report Of June,
which may be taken as a specimen of the armful
| of reports which i have made from time to time
on tnlS euuJcct, WHICH uOW bluInOeI IN the ndu0ks
of the committee, unless they have been commit
| ted TO the flames
"To THE HONORABLE THE COMMON CouNcm:-
"The Chief Engineer would respectfully submit,
for your consideration the annexed reports, relative
10 difficulties existing in and between fire COM
painless -
| gineer, relative to fight on Sunday afternoon,
May 10, between Engine Company No. y, and Hose
Company No. IA.
| that from the best Information have been able to
obtain, il was of most serious character, calling
| loudly for some action to prevent recurrence oil
| such outrageous aud shameful conduct in the
department. Il is but Justice, however, to the
| companies to say, that the affray did not origi-
| nate with the actual members OF the department,
but BY gang Of Iawess r ,S ana
| and cold Maids Boys" each party running with
one of the companies, for the express purpose OF
getting up fight, and not being content ss to beat
to select the members of the respective companies
| for their base and inhuman assaults:
"a short time since, the party styling themselves
| the " Old Maids Boys" attacked Engine Co: NO.
8. as they were returning from an alarm OF IRE IN
| Market street. The company was stoned and
dubbed from the engine, which was then upset by
| the assailans. This took place under my OWE
| notice. was in citizens dress, and, anticipating
from appearance, an attack upon No. ., followed
close them, yet, well arranged were the plans
| of the rioters that had opportunity to prevent
| it, as it was but the work of moment. As soon
possible, sailed through the shower of stones,
| al a considerable risk Of receiving injury, and
succeeded, after a long chase, in securing one OF
the ringlsaders, who has since been discharged by
| the grand jury. Notwithstanding this, however,
| No. was again assaied and their engine upset..
whilst proceeding to another hre on the same
| evening, probably by the same lawless band.
| "The Crock Boys" ESQ called,) have also made
themselves conspicuous in their base and cowardly
attacks on several companies, which has been the
| subject of a previous communication NO; ss
| company, am happy to say, has informed these
persons (and given public notice of the same that
| their services can be dispensed with, ana thai
| they will not permit any but members OF the de-
partment, or persons peaceaby disposed, to accom-
| pany them TOO or from fires. This course, OF
the part of No. 8, is commendable, but has
| brought upon them the displeasure Of the "Rocks
who now, in turn, assail them with vile epithets
| at every opportunity"
My special report or communication Of June last,
| from which the above is extracted, was very long,
enclosing sundry reports from various companies
for misdemeanor, requiring the urgent and serious
| consideration of the Common Council, but not one
| of which, nor even the volumnous and elaborate
| report that enclosed the reports for msdeneanof
from various sources, ever received moments
consideration from your honorable body, being,
| repeat, Immediately referred to your Committee on
Fire Department, where they are now, never ha-
wing been reported TO your honorable body, which
you should have demanded at their ha Ids, aad
would have demanded, If you had cherished a
rotound regard for the Fire Department.
| Now, il the fTemen Of New York, who sacrifice
so much for the public good, are TO be thus daily
bruised, and murdered In cold blood, with the pub
lie authorities, not simply looking coldly on, but
| openly encours gng these dangerous men TO man
gle and TO MURDER the peaceful citizen, l predict
| that one of three events will soon transpire-
First A combination and general uprising OF the
hremen throughout the city, as In Pans, some
years since, for their protection, and for the
| utter determination Of these hellish clubs. Or,
second The determination, political. at leash OF
| those bad public servants who aid and abet them,
in their persecution and murder Of the firenen,
| and destruction Of the engines, by RAISING
| heaven and earth TO liberate these incarnate
bends from prison, when arrested even under
| the eye OF the Chief Engineer. Or, third; Tbs
| simultaneous desernon OF the engines, by tbs
| fireman, leaving the fires 10 take care oil
themselves. When either OF these events trans
pre-, woi unto the commercial emporium oil
| this nation. Scenes OF srnachy, and blood, an
conhagraticn will assuredly ensue, that will
rock this city, and perhaps this country, TO its
but would seriously warn, through your honorable
body, the people Of this city to beware. 1 warn
| the mechanics and trade snen-the toilng thou
| SANDS OF every pursuit in lfe-the insurance asso-
| cistons-the great Capitalists, and small capi-
| talisis, and all who cherish law and order. aud
| love their tranquil and happy homes, and wives
! and childrtn-in a word, | warn all good citzens
TO bewsre-beware cay, how they suffer the au.
| thOriIes OF this city much longer TO neglect and
irampe in the dust the dearest and mos; sacred
rights Of the most full and selfsacntcing class
| Of citizens among US, the New York firemen.
And IL all else fail warn the well-disposed OF all
parties TO go up TO the polls with their eys their
hands, II necessary, and purge ,he M. MancPai
have scourgcd this great and beautiful city with
their corrupt and selfish and heartless legislation
| for 80 many years.
And, now, inasmuch as these clubs called
"Od Maids Boys, ""Rock Boys" "Shor Boys,
and hundred other similar clubs, comm. their
mErderous deeds against the unofiending hTemen,
/ upset their engines, and destroy their apparatus,
which have for many years, al times, witnessed
myself and often resisted az the peril OF my life,-
Inasmuch as know that 1t is utterly impossible To
\ convict them, however strong and peipaoie the
being generally liberated by the Police CaP.ains,
and Aldermen, especially the latter, before they
get into the hands OF the Police, Judges, Grand
| Jury, nc, where. however, they are, as have
already shown, invariably discharged as soon a.
possible. lnssmuch AZ these club niscreants have,