New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-07


through the City on the cart; h1, Of him more anon
The boat wa small tug called the Jo..oh John.
son; her decks were covered with ice, and the .ss
eepgers were destitute Of sny shelter from the in
tepeely cold blast The prospect was dressy enough
but our duty forbade retreat
The provisions, and other appliances Of the occa-
sion, having been placed on board, young gentle
mar in q jockey csp-the laps Of which, and the up
turned collar Of freze coat hid all OF his features
cave the tips Of serret.nose and sharp chopping
knife chin-leaped upon the rail Of the boat and COM
menced shouting, Vars err ticket-s dollsra piece
"ony a dollar-one dolsr'-aad then every other
s<cord turning to some friend, ssiured him e. the
eternal peril of his eyes and soul to prevent some
sciupulous individual or other from getting aboard
without paying his dollar In brief space this scene
was over, and as the party feared visit from the
Police, the boat was speedily unmoored and Pot of
into the river just the blue coat and brass buttons
Of enc OF the corps appeared on the wharf Aui
what q company had congregated on board or
nearly $50 rsons scarce % had attained TO the age IL
msuhocd The remainder were the sinking scum Of
the moral cesspools of the city, II were vain to GEEK
for single redeeming feature among them. Every
face bore traces Of grovelng passions run to riot
The large majority of the crowd were boys
between 10 and 20 years of age nearly every one Of
whom bore some trace Of nutilation. Some had one
eye blackened more had both, and the Of many
lancet wound told plainly how nearly natural the
color to the individual possessing these irrdeecent
adornments others lacked portions Of their noses or
ears, and scratches and scars innumerable scanned
their foul faces. Our companion, who knows some-
thing of the nature Of such gatherings assured us that
never in all his experience did lie find so utterly law
less set Of dey lis gathered into band as on this
cccasion; ard TO his own phrase it was worth
mans life to keep in their company" On that little
boat were picbpockets and pimps, burglars and
busers short boys rock boys gamblers and gougers.
graduates of the Pententisry and the Prison, and all
the worst representatives Of social degeneration and
moral death that the boated vice ola great City could
heave upon small space.
The cold was sharp and biting, and the motley
crowd could find no shelter from the bleak wind that
swep. over them, as the boat slowly plowed through
ne thick masses of floating ice with which the river
was obstructed. The parties immediately interested
in getting up the affair had this fact in view so they
took good care while hiring the steamtug to lay in
large stock of rum and soon after leaving the dock
couple Of empty barrels provided for the OCCASION
were brought into requistion, and by the aid OF a
pine plank, temporary bar was fitted up on the
deck, and then commenced brisk traffic. glass
of rum and ham-sandwich were cold for 2J cents
Nearly every one partook Of them, and the profane
and profigate crowd grew more blsphcmous and
qusnelsome with each participation. Never, out OF
the reei ms OF the damned, do we think, language
more filthy and impous could be banded from mouth
to mouth, than that used upon the steamship Joseph
johnson yesterday.
The boat was steered toward the Brooklyn side Of
the river; but no persons appeared to be waiting
for them in the vicinity of Atlantic st. che was backed
again. and s.eered around Governor Island.
BY this time the mOst singular scenes were present
ed TO the observer. The noses ears and eItremites
Of the party were seriously affected by the cold, and
it became necessary to take precautions against
freezing. Soon groups might be observed rubbing
each others ears and noses with pieces Of ice, or
bathing them with brandy; and the comicaiities OF
countenance ard gesture elected by the intense pain
which accompanied the restoration Of the circulation
in the berumbed aural and olfactory organs would
have furnish ed Hogarth with subject ussurpassedy
expressive.
The prin .ipal topic of discussion was the extreme
cdntss of the weather. and the assertion tina. every
blow would be sure to draw blood. One Of the party
ersvely assured rs that q great deal Of money de-
pended on who drew the " fret blood" and he po-
ey suggested that be would not object to betting
V on Leese. Such tender topics, and the unlimited
use Of their Makers name formed the staple of con-
versation.
We have already alluded to young lad who
eame down to the pier on the cart that brought the
provender, &c. Subsequently we learned that this
person was woman said to be the wife or psramour
Of one Of the parties who was to 6ght. On learning
this fact we noticed her more particularly She was
rot above four feet four inches in Light, Of fine
Grecian face, with large brown eye, and light brown
hair which was closely cropped. Her small and
delicate feet were encased in neat boots and tight
fitting black pantaloons enveloped her legs. She
wore black body coat, and light brown overcoat.
Around her neck was wound large red wooden COM
folter and her head che wore aunty white wide
awake hat. When she raised her head, . close OBJ
server might have discovered that previous disease
was devouIing her white throat In appearance she
was rather delicate and progressing but she
ehewed tobacco vehemently, and her shril, cracked
voice sounded strange and Neutrality-suspicious. de-
nonae-as che surpassed all her vile companions in
the intensity Of her blasphemous ribadry.
After steering sboutthe river in different directions
for some tine, the boat stopped at Rutgers-slip.
Here il was reported that Leese had been arrested,
end that the fight would not come of. This excited
Tie ire OF the more Iascible Of the crow, and they
swore in oaths loud and brutal that Leese had been
planning this result for some time past, because he
felt afraid to meet the issue Of the battle. few OF
the lees depraved of the company took the opportu
nifty of going ashore, much against the wishes and
eptreaties of those more immediately Interested IN
the sale Of the run, while nearly 100 Oft Catharine
Market and water-st. rsf, who bad been waiting the
arrival of the boat, got on board
At this point, the first that had offered ater a'eer.
,.ir;rc that the 6oht would not come of, our re.