The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-20
Night Scenes in New York.
Saturday Night in the Fourth Ward.

Night Scenes in New York.
Saturday Night in the Fourth Ward.
A dull, showery night, succeeding a clam
my, cloudy day. We have an appointment
with Sergeant Williams Of the fourth ward
for the purpose of making the rounds with
him, as an amateur Inspector of what the au-
thor OF the once famous Tom and Jerry
would have called life in that vicinity. Ser
geant Williams is twelve years resident of
the ward and seven-years old police officer
hence no better guide through it could be
wished for. The fourth ward station house
is in Oak street, jLst out of Pearl (the snu-
Gus course of which always sets one thinking
of those New Amsterdam cows whose wan
derngs, as recorded in Diedrich Knicker-
bockers history, originated the plan of the
future city, within stones throw Of Frank
lin Square 1t stands a little back from the
vile thoroughtare, its front and principal
room being occupied as a police Office, in
which We and chosen companion present
ourselves upon the stroke of eight p. m.,
punctual to a second to the hour appointed.
Pending the appearance of the sergeant, who
has retired for half an hours sleep in antici-
patton of the tatigues of the night (for he goes
on duty at twelve,in addition to our pilotage J
We look about US.
THE STATION HOUSE.
The walls of the apartment were once or
namented by full length portraits Of Wash
ington, Jackson ana Lafayette, but they have
disappeared. One side of it is rallied off. be-
hind which barrier the sergeant on duty sits
in uniform at a long high desk, listening to
the tantol, sical, dscursive and unpunctua;ed
complaint Of an I!i>hwoman against some
person unknown, with the air of one accus-
toned to picking the meaning out Of such
tangled narratives. Disregarding her occa-
sional deviatons into addressing us (tor, like
most Of her degree when in trouble she
seems to consider it necessary to invoke par
tisanship from all accidental surroundings. J
we examine the contents of glazed closet or
cupboard behind the raiied-ott portion, con-
ssting of collection of murderous- looking
slung-shots, knives and dirks of various fash
IONS pistols, ,;brass knuckles, Jimmies, centre
bits, skeleton keys, false weights, and spuri-
Gus money both in paper and coin, all Of
which have been taken from prisoners whose
names and ohenseS are in some cases append
ed to the articles; also shield or badge,
receiving bullet instead of the breast aimed
at, saved the life of officer Robo, who is forth
with introduced to US. And thus we amuse
ourselves until the appearance of Sergeant
Williams.
He is not in uniform. \ sturdy, middle
aged man of port!y presence, and shrewd,
watchtul aspect. Not at all severe locking
man-indced rather placid and gooG humor-
cd than otherwise, as if used to scenes and
characters calling for the exercise of those
traits, no less than for the resolution suggest
ed by his keen gray eye and grlzzled beard.
Just the sort of man who would do his duty
pleasantly if he could, but who would certain
ly do it.
POLICE QUARTERS.
He gives US welcome, and invites US to his
apartment, In our progress to which We pass
a scrt of guard room, where certain police
men Cthere are upwards of seventy men at
tached to the fourth ward) are diverting
themselves by playing euchre, smoking and
singing-all looking very jolly indeed. We
with two beds in it; a print or so and official
garments on the walls. After twenty min
utes conversation, involving information
which will be best embodied subsequently in
this narrative, we return to the police office,
and passing out to the rear premises, visit
the yagabond's dormitory and the cells.
TIE CELLS AND DORMITORY.
Down a stone staircase, across yard and
up short flight Of stone steps we are con-
Quoted to an antechamber, where halt doz-
en- shabby men sit warming themselves round
a stove, while as many lie sleeping on the
bare floor (Or ratEer on Il platform slightly
elevated above it) of an al acent chamber,un-
der the glare OF gas jet. Some sleep sound
ly, huddled together IN foriorn friendship
others, ragged, shoeless and bedrabbled, lie
with their arms above their heads, as if def
antly; two or three sit crouching and wake
ful. The womens room, beyond the ante
chamber, is accommodated with the same
, raised plattorms-no other furniture. There
are but few vagrants in it at present, though
it will be revoltlngiy populous in winter,
looking in its dlmness as swarmlng as Dante s
Maleboige and being resonant with snores.
J We descend to the cells on the lower floor,
taking advantage of the unlocking of the gra-
ted door leading to them by police 0'tcer,
who has in custody a light-haired and vim
, dctive-looking German as he represents
himself, an ex-United States soldier-charged
with having assaulted and kicked from la
gerber cellar a beggar of his own nationali-
ty. He and his dog, which he carries under
his arm, are presently bestowed in one of the
eight cells, four of which We observe on eth
er side Of the whtewashed and gas-lit pas
sage. There is stove here, too, the heat Of
which has cracked its bulging from its sides
But three Of the cells have occupants; in one
: a woman and child are sleeping soundly, in
:, another man crouches in corner like q
wild beast, while at the grated door of a
third stands female figure, tattered, drunk
en-, dirty and miserable.
What's come of that man who came in
, without any clothes? asks Sergeant VIII
liams of the police officer.
Let out, is the response. And the SER
geant tells US how sailor, deprived of hi.
e garments and locked up by the crimpins
a landlord of a low boarding house, had con