Red Wing sentinel., 1860-11-28

up ~ CiilS IilHc Ill ucH
some asleep, some glaring upon us
like wild beasts, and all apparently mis-
cradle. The proprietor sat between
two hunks, smoking his pipe and
questions.
In another of these catacombs (for
so they may be well called, the living
bodies exhaling an odor as putrid as if
the bodies were as dead as the segsi'
bilities they feebly surroundcd) there
was still more hideous sight. Here
husbands and wives-for so let us be-
lieve them to bc-lay together. A sick
dog whincd in the corner, keeping up
an unearthly yell, and making us shud'
der before the superstition that greets
such sound as the forerunncr Of death;
and between his agonizing wall and
the curses of men and women around
me, l thought for moment that l was
in a lesser Pandemonium.
"Gentlemen, are you satisfied" said
our kind guardian. -....
Eyes, more than satisfied" said a
Philadelphia friend by my side, who
only stuck to me because l should have
upbraided him for his desertion.
Following our "star,'' in single file,
we began to ascend building Of some
three our four stories, along dark en-
tries, up creaking stairs, and through
gloomy passages, until we came to a
rooin at which the officer knocked
loudly. For some moments there was
no answer, but at last gru1f voice
cried out:
"Who's there?''
can ofticer.''
"What do you :;,ant?:"
81 want to to see you. I've got
company for YOU"
"They shall not come in; they have
no business with me. l tell you ll'll not
open the door,
The officer turned to us and said:
"Here is an old customer who knows
his legal rights. I wish I could show
you his crib; but l will not break open
his door, ..-
On another story we had less diff
Guilty. At a single rap the door OPEN
ed, and there stood before us negro
more hideous in his ug]iness and more
terrible in his appearance than I Can
describe. A mingling of what one
reads Of Fagin and Bill Skykes; com
bination Of craft and Of scnsuality; a
brutalized idea Of vulgar Shylock and
all inhuman bully.
"Well Tobe," said our guide, how
are you tonight, and how are your
wiyes?" ........
"Pretty well, thank you sir" he re-
sponded, bowing, and pointing to 2
corner, where, on single pallet, will
an unoccupied space between, lay two
achitc females, who had once beer
women, and now were brutes.
It was now verging upon the small
hours, and we turned our attention te
the station house Of another ward. o.
our way the officer picked up q little
boy, with what seemed to be q cigar
box slung over his shoulders boy no
more than five years old. He wa:
without father or mother, had beer
peddling his candies and begging Iii
pennies since morning, and seemed t.
be glad to be captured, because all guilt
less as he was, he might thus secure
resting place tor the night. Our Off
Ger informed us that it was no uncom
mon thing for children, from ten t
fourteen, to be accomplished IS pick
pockets, and to make business O
!, asking aims; but this little fellow wa
not Of this class. We carried hin
into the station house, and made ampl,
compensation to him for our indiffcr
ence; because that we had just see,
seemed to care for no human sympa
thy or assistance. .@ s4
:, The lieutenant at this station kindl,
. threw open the doors Of the ]odgin:
rooms, and of the cells for prisoner
taken up during the night. In one o
: these rooms we counted fourtee,
women-homcless and friendless crea
turcs, who had there sought shelter
Some were asleep, and those VIII
; walked drew their shawls over thei
/ bare heads to avoid the gaze of tn
J visitors. One held in her arms
!, child about two years old, whose littl
!, pale face and attenuatcd limbs indica
i. ted that the sands of its life were fas
running out and that Providence in
> tcndcd d to rescue it from the fate OF til
;. poor wretclAes around it.
Outside of this small and close cell
on benches, were stretched other VIC
f men. Not a few of their countenance
: showed past beauty of no ordinar
b character. The black glossy hair G
| one, her white teeth, and her fincl
e chisellcd features, were evidence tina
y young as she was, she had flauntc,
D her brief day as queen among he
5 class. But she, too, was not long fo
e this life.
: At the end Of the corridor was
room somewhat larger, occupied by tn
: men dodgers. Here the degradatio,
}, was more apparent. The bruised an,
/ bloated faces, the shoeless feet, tn,
/, filth, and the noisome smell that OF
haled from their bodies, created
2 sensation Of indescribable nausea
: They were packed in like herring, all
without exception, the victims of drinl
2 and its attendant vices. aud crimes.
, Down stairs were the cells whcr'