The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-26

This is certainly sad exhibit but does not tell the
whole story for there several who are unable to pro-
cure lodgings some nights on account Of the crowded
state of the houses The shelter which afforded to the
unfortunate applicants is called lodging, but that our
readers may not form wrong impression to what is
meant by the applied to station houses we will
give them result Of visit to two of these institutions
While in the Office of the first station house at which
called an applicant made his appearance accompanied by
man who had kindly undertaken to show him the way
for the poor fellow had but lately from the country
and was ignorant the ways of the city. He was exa
mined by the Captain asked him the prescribed form
Of questions the following being the result Of the In
quiry:-
"What's your name"
tsJacob -"
"where were you bcrnf'
Gin Germany"
"What is your businessS"
~ work q farm"
GLOW long are you in this countryr'
"Threo years.
"Havc you any family"
"Only myself"
"Where have you been workingf"
al have been working out at Newark"
GLOW long have you been out of workf"
Give weeks"
GLOW did You come to get dschargsdf"
AZ don't know; suppose because they had no work."
"When did you come to New York;"
"Thc day before yesterday"
.Wherc did you sleep last nght?'
az slept in the Fourth ward station house"
"where you going tomorrow
al am going TO look for work"
This terminated the examination, and the man
shown TO his "lodging" place, whittier in company
followed to take look both at IT and It's occupants And
such lodging and such do not ever to
basement floor, emerging into hall either side Of
which four five cells with iron grated doors,
while at end was the dodgers apartment to which,
and its occupants, shall Immediately refer Before
doing So however there is another OF which
wish speak At side Of huge stove, which is
ployed to heat the cells and the lodging apartment were
seated poor who out of npoymcnt. They
both natives OF England and had been out Of work
for weeks although they were willing as they said,
20 engage themselves for the lowest wages, but
they found il impossible far TO get employ any
terms They had home and 10 pay for other
lodging, and were only too glad TO get this shelter
from the streets, IL was sad sight TO them they
eat there and to know that there thousands OF their
IN this city in hardly better condition, although
they have what may by doing violence to the English
Language, b. cal..,,i a nome.
Ara nov Tor the lodging apartment into which we
@tre introduced by the Captain who informed US as
of precautionary that must look out for
Whatever doubts might have had as TO the
meaning Of ms warning we had none when the door
opened, Tor such smell % issued from that room we
have rarely, II ever, perceived There ventila
tion, and idea be formed Of the effect Of the
cltfe confinement d about thirty persons in room not
larger at the utmost than forty feet by forty. IL
like the stencil that might come from charncl house,
from the black hole Of Calcutta. The room dark
when we entered, but the gas lit as give a
fun view Of tie interior. There 4 large bench which
intended to represent bed, and which was raised
about two feet from the floor were stretched about
twenty men, lying side by side and 50 closely packed
that with difficulty they could turn Close they
lay, they we've, however, Obliged to lie stu closer, TO
make for the conner who took melancholy
yey o Il scene evidently doubtful 10 whether he had
improved his condition by accepting the hospitality Of
alton house. some Of the men had the appearance Of
tacesmen, some 81 laborors while tew looked "a If
uiey we're habituatei TO this life by ntemperance The
respectful part Of the logers shrank from observation,
apparently ashamed Of the ccndit To which they had
Teen reGu ed, which that To their sensitive
feelings more hksome than almost any degree Of
s,tNlude could be d Southern save In the morning
ttct would be all started OF to get their breakfast
wherever they might be fortunate to find IT, and
~ III Should they succeed IN procu ing employment
10 Ngn Sex refuge ~ tie same place, in OF the
other suttion houses.
In III sccoud station house visited the dodgers were
placed III cells, the floors Of which they slrpt II
VITA, better arranged than the first, although IL had
ccrt5rl, ~ the best rather Vtng appearance In
ono - ,il,ee cells were two women, one OF whom
meaning IN her sleep rs If In much pain, while
the ,h.r vas complaining bitterly Of the cold and
p,out!s akbg for some clothing II i needless, how
tNet, tnsIy that In the lodgings Of the station houses
Too c'' h,S 40 an unknown luxury, and az Tor mat
tr scct ngs entirely out OF the question An
~ Na,.d wtoun bench the floor " the only bed
winch statiDu house dodgers permitted TO stretch
thnU, yos. AUD II they don't sleep upon either u these
tte rn,r iN con accustom themselves them the
,artcrar.y If they arc forced IRE ,ucnt these
cipt 'udgnr houses. In cell nearly opposite TO
tLut ~ which ID ee poor women we're lying was man
Who had been arrested a charge of attempting 10 muir
cor. His besmeared with blood, and bore the
marks ot desperate struggle while hrs hands were
actually clatted With gore. lie came TO the door
If hs col protecting his innocence, and with
hs blood bt,meaioa face and hands he pre-
sfnt,d ho'fd appearance. Mingled with his
CSC anatons Of his the complaints Of the
poor woman and the means Of her sleeping companion,
the effect q all which was enough 70 Cypress the most
buoyant with the most melancholy Feelings licre were
two unfortunate forced by extreme poverty into
the same station with charged with the crime
OF murder for tho Is no respcctor Of persons and
makes little distinction between crime AMI restitution
Those who think We have slavery IN our city would
do well to have their minds disabusod of that BY
visiting ne OF our city station houses and seeing how
the nipht dodgers al accommodated.