New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-29
uaLTREATMENT OF TRAVELLERS.

We are glad to see the Grand Jury for the City
and County of New. York in their closing present
ment for the June term of the Court Of Sessions,
calling attention to two nuissnces which seem to
have GIed themselves permanently upon US, and
which the municipal, JUDICIAL aud police arthori-
ties appear to treat chronic evils inherent In our
social constitution and for which it is useless to
attempt any remedy. These nuisances are the out
rseeous frauds constantly practiced upon strangers
by ticket swindlers, and the crowding Of steam
boat wharyes and railroad stations by hackney
coaches and their drivers, ready to fight with each
other. with the crews of the boats aud the employ
ees of the stations over the bsdes and the baggage
Of the passengers.
A lively and forcble description of the scenes
which ordinarily occur on these latter occasions is
TO be found in Mr. Dans's lste book on Cuba, in
the last chspter of which he gives an account of
his return voyage and his arrival in this city ia the
steamer Cabawba. AS the steamer came up the
harbor and approached the dock, he and his Amer
icsn companions had been talking " high patriot
I" ism" to some Of the Cuban passengers They had
found namber of highly favorable contrasts in the
general aspect of things the style of the vessels,
and the bearing and conduct Of those in charge Of
the health boat, the revenue boat, and the news
boat by which they were successfully visited. The
steamer was brought into her berth silently and
surely, in way to make her American passengers
proud of her handling. But the moment she
touched the pier their pride had fall, and not one
word more had they to utter about the way in
A.. = A Of
hackmsn were gathered on the pier, looking &C.
cordiDg to Mr. Dana's graphic description as if
they had stolen their coaches and horses, and as
if they meant TO steal the passengers baggage. No
policemen were any where to De seen, aud there
was syery appearance Of fight. The absence of
the police, however, did not appear to be regretted
by the officers of the bost, who remarked that, If
present, they were Of no use-in fact rather en-
coursgiDg the fighters BY their Indifference and
refusal TO interfere What follows, We will give in
Dir. DaDs's own words:
"For few minutes there is no other inconvenience
than noise and crowdng for passengers and baggage
but soop they press on tbe decks-are ordered of
hang bsck-the cr,w Try TO force them ashOre-then
comes a gathering upon the gangway. snn hight II
you ear says quartermaster, ana they - = a. blow
for blow. As sosn AS the hackmen on the wharf see
the fight they make a breach into the boat and the
quartemaster is driven, with blows and curses, into
the engine room. The crew rally, ard Rogers the
second mate jumps down into the midst, spreads out
his arms Away with you all, out OF the sup
Capt Bulloch steps down from the wheel house, pas
sengers gather round and the hackmen fall back.
Still afew resist and of them is knocked over the
hea by marine spike, falls fairtng on the guards
and is lif,el ashore by his companions. The hack
men are slswly but firmly forced ashore But on the
whsrf and leaning on the vessels rail, they openly
threaten the lives of the crew, and especially of the
mar who used the marline-spike, if they catch hia
on shore. well wait for your Y Ju must come
sooner or later Ii will be the last ship you II take
Your time is up &c. The officers of the boat are
used this and expect TO protect ship and passengers
by their swn force and al their own peril"
A beautiful state Of things truly No wonder
that the female Cubaa passengers looked upon it
with horror as sort Of instruction aud hesitatsd
to trust the conveyance of either their persons or
property to those who solicited it in such style.
There 10 another danger to which ignorant trav-
elsn are subject, also wSTthy Of attention, which
the Grand Jury appear to have overlooAed-the
existence of spcDgiHg hotels, TO which passengers
are carried by haekmsn in league with the keepers,
and from which the are only allowed to depart on
the payment Of exorbitant charges. There is not,
We will venture to say, another city IN the world
where the convenience, comfort, safety and security
oftryeers are 20 little attended to by the authorities
a. in this; and yet there Is not city in the worid
which has 90 great an interest in perfect system
Of police as to all these Particular. We hope tht