The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-11-16
50 SAINT PAUL, friday NOVEMBER 16, 1860

'OA1lNI FAUL, @f'hlDA
coo lDlndlrG0 .T2dm9YoL III Yi1gs dGl
/ % 100 BAD II -T77--7 --Ci7-73I7 a T-7T7
as made US recoil as before q blow, creating
indescribable sensations breathing, it might
be, infectious diseases. ~ -.''Io '1' -''n1p
1.-The first sight that met our eyes was a
baby, calmly asleep in its cradle, watched
over by blear eyed and drunken mother,
who greeted US with laugh, and pointed to
the inner chamber, where was sight that
only the pen of Dickers or the pencil of
Wilkie, could describe. a ,oou,9oq .niaar
The evening was not cold, but the keeper
of this airless hole had lit fire in a dilapi-
dated stove, which seemed to increase the
stencil that filled the place as with aicloud.
Piled on benches, packed upon shelves, lay
human beings happily, up to this time all
men-some asleep, some glaring upon us like
wild beasts, and all apparently miserable.
The proprietor sat between the hunks. smos
king his pipe and answering questions. oo
In another of these catacombs flor so they
may be well called, the living bodies ex>
haling an odor as putrid as if the bodies
were as dead as the sensibiIities they feebly
surrounded) there was still more hideous
sight. Here husbands and wives-for so
let US believe them 70 be-lay together. A
sick dog whined in corner, keeping up an
unearthly yell, and making us shudder before
the superstition that greets such sound as
the forerunner of death and between bis
agonizing wall and the curses OF men and
women around me, thought for moment
| that was in lesser Pandemonium. .54
"Gentlemen, are you satisfied p said our
kind guardian. .,-~-.5f -.-.,, % g..
eyes, more than satisfied" said Phila-
delphia friend by my side who only stuck to
me because should have upbraided for bis
desertion. f, ... ...ut.
Following our "star," in single file, we
began to ascend building of some three
orr four stories, along dark entries, up
creaking stairs, and through gloomy passa-
ges, until we came to room at which the
officer knocked loudly. For some moments
there was no answer, but at last a gruff
voice cried out
"Who's there?" oe i-a 81 7.i
can of6cer."a .,....a.a.L .:i
"What de- you want ?" ..,.. ..-~..
II want to see you. I've got company
for you" - = i"'o l'' o.
"TheY shall not come in; they have no
business with me. tell you I'll not open
the door," -....,r. .....
The officer turned to us and said: " Here
is an old customer who knows his legalrights.
wish I could show you his crib; but will
not break open his door," +,tu r.,
/ On another story we had less difficulty.
At single rap the door opened, and there
stood before Us negro more hideous in his
ugliness and more terrible in bis appearance
than can describe. A mingling of what
one reads of Fagin and Bill Sykes com.
bination OF craft and of sensuality 5rut-
allied idea of vulgar Shylock and an inhu-
man bully.
"Well, Tobe," said our guide, how are
you tonight, and how are your wives ?"
Pretty well, thank you, SIR" be re-
sponded, bowing, and pointing to corner,
where, on single pallet, with an unoccu.
pied space between, lay two white females,
who had once been women, and now were
brutes. 4..
1t was now verging upon the small hours,
and we turned our attention to the station
house of another ward. On our way the
officer picked up little boy, with what
seemed to be q cigar box slung over bis
shoulder-a boy not more than five years
old. He was without father or mother,
bad been peddling his candies and begging
his pennies since morning, and seemed to be
glad to be captured because, all guiltless
as he was, be might thus secure resting
place for the night. Our officer informed
US that it was no uncommon thing for chill.
dren, from ten to fourteen, to be accom-
plished as pickpockets, and to make q bust
ness Of asking aims but this little fellow
was not of this class. We carried him into
the station house, and made ample compen.
sation TO him for our indifference because
that we had just seen seemed to care for no
human sympathy or assistance. .. v,l ,.ile
The lieutenant at this station kindly
threw open the doors Of the lodging rooms,
and of the cells for prisoners taken up DUR
ing the night. In one of these rooms we
counted fourteen women-homeless and
frlendless creatures, who had there sought
shelter. Some were asleep, and those who
waked drew their shawls over their bare
heads to avoid the gaze of the visitors. One
held in her arms child about two years
old, whose little pale face and attenuated
limbs indicated that the sands of its life
were tast running out and that Providence
intended to rescue it from the fate of the
poor wretches around it.
Outside OF this small and close cell, on
benches, were stretched other women. Not
few OF their countenances showed past
beauty OF no ordinary character. The
black, glossy hair Of one, her white teeth.
and her fnely.chiselled features were eyi.
dence that, young as she was; she had
Haunted her brief day as queen among
| her class. 8 But she, too, was not long for
this life. 5ieic 9dI Il iiWU-9Tl's Z o II
| At the end Of the coaridor was a room
somewhat larger, occupied by the men
lodgers. Here the degradation was more
apparent. The bruised and bloatea faces,
the shoeless feet, the filth, and the noisome
smell that exhaled from their bodies. created