New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-19
THE FILLIBUSTER DESERTERS IN THE
PARK

The most pitiful picture that the citizens of New
York have looked upon since the arrival Of the New
York Volunteers from Mexico, was the congregation
of returned Walker fibusters in the Park yesterday
forenoon. Two hundred and sixty of these deludcd
beir gs were placed by the Costa Rican Government
on beard the Tennessee about twenty of them stopped
at Key Wet, and the remainder came to this city.
OF the number who arrived here this morning, one
hundred and eleven having friends in the city to
give them shelter and assistance, and not means
enough to procure passage across one of the ferries
came 10 the Park in ,dy and quartered themselves
upon the steps of the Hall of Records. There is no
power in pen to correctly describe their personal APP
pearance-the artists camera only is capable OF doing
justice to the sckly, .alow, ragged and tbreadbare
picture of despair. More than half of them were bare
footed, many of them hatless, and not one that we
saw had complete suit of clothiDg-snd even the
scanty rags which covered their diseased and ema-
cinted forms repul,ively foul and dirty. Almost
every degree Of age represented from the beard
less youth Of sixteen to the silver locks OF sixty and
with their unshorn faces, sallow skins sunken eyes
and cheeks and decrepit limbs, they presented most
piifol picture OF misfortune.
A large crowd Of people gathered about them IN
front of the Hail. and their restitution having excited
the sympathy of one Of the bystanders he proposed
the placing of hat upon the steps TO receive the con-
tributons of those who felt disposed to assist hem
Ths move was success beyond expectation. aud in
about thirty minutes the shabby old beaver was the
custodian of $751; 1t was then suggested that the men
take up their positions upon the City Hall steps, which
was Immediately acted upon. Here number OF
speeches were made by gentlemen present, appealing
to the crowd for assistance to enable the unio'unates
to get to their homes in this and neghboring States,
which pretty freely responded to by contributions
TO the hat. Mr.. James w. Barker, while passing mp
the steps, was loudly called upon for speech. lie
mounted the steps, but declined to make speech say
ing that ne thought, if the needy appearance OF these
did not excite the sympathy and open the purses
of the people present, no eloquence that ne couia
command would effect it. The only speech
he had to offer was a so gold piece, ano
he hoped that others would follow In the saiie
strain This was received with 3 round oil cneerS'
and this contribution with others that followed H. IN
creased the funds in the hat to $3.50, the distribution
of which was taken charge of by committee Oh gen
tlemen who volunteered for the duty The hlou''eis
were then formed in line aud marched to saoon N
Fulton street, in charge Of the money comt'ee anu
we're there furnished with that which they nave not
had for some tme-a wholesome and substantial GIN
ner The dinner cost si2, and paid Tor out OF the
contributions.
Some gentlemen visited the Exchange curing Tue
afternoon TO solicit aid from the buls anu 0eaf'' ou'
not as successful they expected 10 0e' OIL!
raising about sl6.
Another meeting was held in tfon. Oh inc S.'' na.'
between the hours of and o'clock, ana the money
then raifed added to that collected IN ,ne
amounted to between $500 and soo wnich was AFTER
ward equally distributed among the oe'eHer'' we
VI derstood that tie amount given 20 eaeu man was
nearly s., VII ich viii relieve then n"e'a.' necess
ties but viii not accomplish that ~hch the most Of
ttem dssire--.he pr.cbaae OF q paes'se % 'he1
hom.s-as tie ftiefis e. Deo'iy o. mem I'VE u
"a. Wes.s.o az So2ta.wes!sSa a'a.s~ Ic' &''. q