The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-03

SCENE AT THE PUBLIC POUND.
STRATAGEMS OF THE KILLERS,
60. &C., &c.


scrbed race and find their murderers Watching for
them in every section of the city. On the 26th of
June the mayor issued his regular proclamation, Of
fering reward of fifty cents for every dog taken
uumuzzIed in the streets, and brought to the public
pound. Immediately, hundreds of the unwashed
and unterrifed of the metropolis found an occupa
ticu both profitable and congenia to their nature.
The dog killers of New York appear to embrace
certain GLASS; composed of street loafers and dock
ioafers young and DID, VIII, look forward to the time
for their dog hunts with much anxiety as the old
Romano waited for their carnivals. 1t not only
brings to them fun and folic, but it "puts money in
their purse" and brings wildly before their vision
excursions to Coney Island peanuts and soda water,
evenings in the pit Of the theatres ind all sorts Of
.short-lived revelry.
But the poor dogs are in the position Of the frogs
IN the fable, and can feengly adopt their response
-"Boys, 1t is fun for you, but death to u.s." Up to
this time about eight hundred dogs have been
drought TO the depot for their reception, at the foot
Of Thirty first street, East river. and most Of them
slaughtered. On the first day, 40 were brought in;
the second, $50 the third, 200 On the fourth,
l60; and Friday and Saturday enough to make the
aggregate amount we have given. According to
the regulations of the pound, any dog brought in
may be reclaimed by its owner il called for before
shutdown on the day it is taken. At that time,
from the company on hand the best looking and
most valuable are selected, and the rest doomed to
death. Those that are saved are kept for only
few days. if not called for by their owners bought
up BY countrymen and Others wishing to obtain
good animals. Large numbers are carried away by
country farmers who can here make selection from
large stock and it is very frequently the case that
dogs great value obtained for trie. The prices
charged those wishing to purchase, is the killers
fee and the expenses of the animal while kept in
the pound, varying from fifty cents to two dollars
On the day Of the capture OF the dog its owner is
allowed to take him by paying the fifty cents fee
only, but after the first day, if his animal is yet
alive, he must reclaim him upon the same terms
as any stranger.
THE SCENE AT THE PUBLIC POUND
The pound, as we have stated, is located at the
foot of Thirtyrst street, the East river side Of
the city. It was formerly further down town, but
not having any particular attractions to recommend
it for location in quiet, respectable neighborhood
it was last year removed up town, on the shore Of
the river as much as possible removed from city re-
sidences. The pound is piece of ground about
fifty feet square enclosed by board partition about
fifteen feet high. On the inside all around it, is
shed Of weather boards the centre being open to the
sky. On the ground, under the shed, are small
stables, two or three feet high, each capable Of
holding about dozen dogs. When the animal
is brought in he is chained into one Of these stalls
where he remains until the keeper passes sentence
upon him, and he is either transferred to the
I" chosen few" or handed over to his murderers. In
forming full suggestion for the pen of the
romancer Each dog has history, and their constant
yeiping from morning to night seems to indicate
that they are aware OF the awful fate awaiting them
and as well as they can are pleading for mercy.
Everything here is conducted upon principles purely
democratic, and side by side, the patrcian poodle
and the plebeian mastif lie down together and await
their end. Some keep up constant barking. Others
maintain o su1ten silence, and each new vister is
received, with grand salute Of bow vows as If
every animal was inspired with the hope that their
aiberAtOr had arrived. Sometimes lot chime into
one grand chorus, keeping time with each other, as
singing their own funeral knell. Here noble
looking animal turns his eyes upon you in
mute appeal, and if near enough ticks your hand
and wags his tail, as much as to say, " Get me
out OF this fearful place; save me from the horrid
death that awaits me; deliver from the hands of
these monsters, and forever Ill be your most obedi
ent and dutiful dog Poodles, settlers greyhounds,
terriers, Newf0undlands, the King Charles, bull
dogs pointers, and those of every other Species are
here to be found mngling together They daily
receive large number Of vsiters-owners in search
"
During the first day they are taken they arc given
nothing to eat drink, but all that kept over
thereafter regularly fed and attended to. What
fall is this to many Of them, who were captured on
the Fifth and other streets of its kim and ac
customed all their life time to the best of good living
and the greatest of care The keepers lash is some
thing new to them, and their dainty tread within
their limits shows that they feel they are in
some vile, uncean place. 1t was once the rule for
the killers to receive the reward for the dead ami
mails; but this led to so much brutality in hunting
and the dogs in the streets that it was at
length made necessary to bring them alive to the
keeper Of the pound; and there in private the work
OF death is performed.
THE KILLING.
The most important part of the story of the dogs
the killing; for the question is asked every side
Glow are they all made away within BY what pro-
cess are they despatched" "Where can men be
found hardened enough to perform this work, be it
spatching the dogs is very simple, but at the same
time very siCkenDg and revolving TO those not har
dened to it by association. Two or three men are
engaged for this purpose and go through their
work with the utmost nOnchdlance imaginable. At
shutdown all the animals who have not the advantage
OF sleek coat or prepossessing personal appear
ance, and therefore given over to the executioner,
are singiy taken from their chains into small
apartment in the pound, and while one man holds
uP the head another swings above him heavy
bludgeon tipped with iron, and lets it fall with
deadly effect upon the head of the ANIMAL smashing
In his skull, and sometimes scattering his brains
uiVuhu VIC opottucnp. luc hIst UuW SeHcT-
ally sufiices, and the brute dies, without
a bark q farewell, and sometimes without a kick
or struggle. 1t was formerly the custom to des-
patch the animals with strychnine, given them
their food and drink, but this has been discarded
as being more brutal and sickening than the pre-
cent mode. The poison not sudden enough in
doing its work, and the dog sometimes lay kicking
and struggling for long time before life was ex-
tinct. Brute after brute falls beneath the fatal
bludgeon with great rapidity; in fact so expert
are the executioners in their vocation, that nun.
dred dogs may be despatched in an hours time.
carted up TO the foot OF Forty-ffth street, East
river, where they placed board the vessels of
the offal contractor OF the Corporation, under
whore charge come all the dead carcases about
the city, and by him conveyed to Barren Island.
Here the body Is turned into soap fat and the skins
tanned for gloves and other purposes, thus per.
forming one of those circuits of substance that