The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-11

their visits may be txksn proof
Nearly two hours have elapsed since entered the
Lookout yet In that brief space New York has UNDER
gone transformation wonderful those read Of
in Eastern tales The Park beneath and the whole city
illuminated with innumerable gas lights Broadway
has put q aspect-its thousand baxasrs almost
dazzle the spectators with their renewed brancy the
theatres, the concert rooms, the operas-whte and
black-have been thrown open, and the doors bs
seged by eager crowds Of pleasure seekers the spirit
rspper too have formed their circles and receiving
important revelations from the world billiard
rooms and bowling alleys beginning to do thriv
ing business the different meetings that take place
nightly ymeetings OF benevolent associations, clubs Ii
terary institutions ~okingmen out of work. employed
workipgmen and religious societies will be organ.
iIed gambling houses just commencing the business
Of the night the faro bank is opened and the cards and
dice brought forth for the newly arrived players tho
drinking saloons and the dance houses Of Water street
and similar localities have already commenced opera
tions and fast filling with the dssipated and the
depraved New York. in all the varied phases its social
life can now be to advantage, and he who would
behold it in Of its most favorable and unfavorable
aspects will have abundant opportunity between this and
two in the morning.
Eight O'Clock brings another change in the vary
ing The lights in many of the stores have been
e1tngushed and Broadway deprived Of half its splen
DOR the shopkeepers have balanced their for
the day, and returning to their homes glad to be
released for the few brief hours that yet remain Of the
evening from the Of business the restaurants,
the ice and oyster saloons the liquor stores and
the segar shops s open for this is the time at
which their customers make their calls.
The programme OF nightly performances in New York
undergoes very little change, except in few details.
To the bell ringers it is the same, and 1t only
when fire that their interest is aroused. They
actuated by the feeling OF rivalry among them
selves by which the Aremen distinguished although
they have not the field to exhibit 1t in He who
nrst sounds the alarm receives due credit for his
perior vigilance and full record Of every Ere Is kept
in the look out u the City Hail. his is entered
il is Ascertaned 1t would be wrong to suppose,
however, that the nremen always receive their infor
nation from them it not unfrequently occurs that
they the first to communicate it. Only those who
initiated into the mysteries of the Fire Department,
that each company has got videttes posted
every day In the most favorable positions throughout the
city, and whoever first discovers the fire. conveys the
intelligence secretly possible to his company,
which is thus enabled to be @ on the ground' in
advance of the rest, and even before the bell
strikes This fact accounts in great measure, for the
expedition displayed by them such occasions. Some
times however the vdettes discovered before they
have informed their companies, and the bell ringer s
Immediately notified Mr. Owens, the indefatigable ope
rator Of the police telegraph calls up through the speak
lug trumpet which connects the Office of the Chief with
the look out
"Mr Bevins, take look down Broadway and see il
you Gnd thing there2l has just gone down on
the sly"
Mr. Bevins accordingly looks down Broadway and dis
covers light smoke, indicstins tho uommenosmeut Of
Gre The bell Immediately strikes the alarm, and the
members Of 81 defeated In their attempt to steal
march the vigant bell ringer and the other compa
MES The telegraph ntsreres greatly with ths
ful operation Of the vdette system, for the moment in
tegence OF fire reaches the police station OF the dis
trcs in which 1t it is communicated at TO
the Chiefs Office, the wires, and Immediately after
by the speaking trumpet to the bernser. There are
also wires connecting the lookout with Of the bell
towers and Information often transmitted them
by bell ringer to another But this arrangement Is
not perfect it should be, and the bell ringers
Of the City Hall have justhAbe grounds OF complaint
against the Common Council for the Indifference which
they have shown in this particular. The wires so
placed put the lives OF those in the lookout in tn
greatest danger during thunder storm Although tho
constant apprehensions which must feel ct such
time would render exposed situations like this rather
unpleasant yet the effect OF thunder storm, particu
sry at night in and from the cupos Ia said to
be truly magnificent The bell lrngers little room in
rendering even smallest objects visible and the nex,
becomes as dark as Erebus The duty a bellrnger in
the lookout though simple is not OF the most peasant
nature For eight hours he 10 keep ncessan
watch over the city every district Of which he must be
thoroughly acquainted with, so that he may at once be
enabled to tell the exact locality OF fire. A none,
however but remen appointed TO the post there 10
seldom II any complaint about their ineompeten.
cy. There are three bell ringers to the City
HaI-Messrs. George Bevns, John Hopper and
William Crowell--eAch Of whom watches eight hours
At time the day being divided into three watches.
In the long cold winter nights their situation Is most
unenviabe one the wind beats with unrestraned fury
upon the windows and the and rain hnd an
entrance through nnumerabe ereviees. The cupoa A.
FIRE tower is inferior in many respects 10 any OF the
other eight although ossupies commanding view OF
the city In the summer time, however many OF its
Objectionable features disappear AID the view from II il
truly magnificent At morning. the risins throws
food OF golden light the city and ascsnds the
dew is transformed into silver mist through which the
emerald green OF the grass v as through veil.
The vapors that rested all night the waters OF the two
rivers that wash island city rapidly dssolyng,
and the shipping s gradually revealed to vsw the
white sails on the bay which at FIRST dimly
visible are becoming more distinct, and Governors
Island gradually rises from the waters like q new
creation. But the cold wind which whstles around the
cupos making the FIRE in the little stove grateful
reminds that IL Is winter and the that
the earth like shroud IL too substantial for mist II ID
the hour which the fashionable world has appoint
ed for the opening Of balls and parties Al nine the pro
mensde and by three four in the morning
the end OF ths programme reached. In that crowded
bali room, too distant for the music 70 reach here
the gay throng appear have been transformed the
moment into unatcs they rush forward and grasp
each other By the hands they form into ring, and
dance about Is in magic circle and now locked in each
others embraces, they whir in rapid gyraons round
the Yet vihal there Is a method in their mad
ness, and although from where we stand they
look like maniacs, let us but erter the room and
the music Of the orchesrs removes At once any false i'm