The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1863-02-07
The Miserables of New York Interesting
Description Of Five Points.

lhe editor or the n atonal Police Gazette
paid visit to the celebrated Five Points"
of New York on Christmas day, and gives
an exceedingly interesting description of the
misery and suffering he Witnessed We
published last week succinct sketch of
Five Points" as it was in former days, but
the following portrays reality Of the pres
ent. 1t is interesting and will repay peru
sal
Mnch has been said and written upon the
locality known in other days as the Five
Points in this city. We doubt if tie tale of
lis utter misery and wreichedness was ever
half described or realized. Whatever the
character and condition Of this place may
have been in former times, when celebrated
for its rows, robberies, murders, and its pow
erty and depravity in general, we doubt if
ever this historic spot-this center of motion
for all the spheres of vice--ever contained
within its noted boundary a more revolving
picture Of despair and woe than may be wit
messed in certain portions of its neghbor-
hood to day; and this may be said after all the
attempts of various humane associations and
individuals for the amehoraion of the den
zens of this locality. AS this is the season
VI leSllNItN, "hcu an Sh'cPI luo ubiO' tuhoto
and lowly are enjoying the luxuries of Mer-
ry Christmas time, we thought a description
Of life and existence among the beings OF the
above class of humanity might afford some
little interest to many of our readers. Act
corlingly. with the kind assistance afforded
by Capt Bowling, of the Sixth Precinct, and
in company with Officer Wooridge we pro-
ceeded to make tour of the neighborhood.
Perhaps much of this ancient locality and
many places of note are hardly to be ienti-
fled now Streets are cut through, old rook-
cries torn down, and noted characters are
dead, or occupy positions in the prisons. or
almshouses; but enough still remain to per-
petuate to this generation at least some idea
of the disrepulabIe character of the neighbour
hood. After threading some Of the intricate
lanes and byways, and visiting few of the
model lodging houses and dance cribs--to
accurately describe which would bring Chas.
Dickens or Victor Hugo to a sland.stiIl for
collection of thought and perhaps the vain
endeavor would send their ideas scattering
through the brain in despair Of settling upon
choice of spots. So, after emerging into
an open street, and hating few moments
to recover from the almost intOlerable stencil
affecting the whole vicinity of our expIora
tions, we concluded to take survey and
minulely sketch portion of the premises
known rs Ryan's tenement, in Baxter street.
a few doors from the original Points 1t is
famous place, and is motel as a retreat for
the most abandoned and desperate characl
ters. 1t is not possible to give description
Of this bulding and no imagination, how
ever wide or comprehensive, can for one mo
ment conceive even a glimmerug perccp
tion of the startling reality of its misery and
condition. After Lighting candle Qor the
darkness of Egypt surrounds everything) the
officer conducted US through a long entry or
alley way, lea ling from the street, when we
ascendel flight Of steps eighteen inches in
width, and SO broken aud diIapidatel that
we could with much difficulty maintain our
balance. We reached a turn and worked
our way through a passage SO low, jagged
and uneven as to cause us to stoop continually
AS we proceeded. Stumbling over piles Of
broken plaster, old rags, baskets, one legged
stools, dogs, cats and general rubbish, we
reached an apology for door 1t was bolt
ed and barred, as is invariably the case, prob
ably to prevent the inhabitants of other
rooms from flying in, in case of rows, which
hourly seem to occur. Indeed, we could
hear them on all sides ranting and swearing
The officer knocked several times loudly
assuring the inmates rs to who he was, when
we were permitted to enter. After taking
survey Of the room we turned to observe its
occupants. In corner near the door, half
enveloped in dirt and filth, and cured up
in a heap Of old carpets, old clothes and rags,
lay four piiiable objects, the sight Of which
was revolving in the extreme. An old wo
man and three children, pale haggard, ema
ciated and shiverng with the cold, were en-
deavorng to slumber few hours of misery
away. Near them on tottering bedstead,
lay the mother Of the two little ones Just
referred to. She was in the agonies of death
and wrthing in spasms. Beside her on the
bed sat a wretched creature, bestowng such
attention as the poor thing could extend.
Three or four pitabe beings drew near the
bedside as we approached and endeavored
to explain matters; but as all we're half i'm
beetle with drink. and especially as man
with villanous looking countenance, who
pretended to be blind, was loud in descrip
tions of her misfortunes, it is only necessary
to add that none of them can be believed
1t is always the same story such as husband
gone to the war or dead. sickness, or land
lord turned them out" and similar excuses
for their poverty; everything except the sole
cause of all their ruin, namely, strong drink,
is urged in extenuation of their condition
In different corners Of the floor, AS bare, uni
even and rough as broken pavement, lay
similar objects of human degradation. One.
an aged woman, was discovered insenslbly
drunk. On removing the rags and strips OF
saiIcloth, sorn flannel, etc, that enveloped
her, she appeared nearly naked, and so dis
figured with filth as to be hardly recognlza-
bic from the black specimen of creation, a
huge negro, who occupied position near
her. There are no Determinations here;
blacks and whites are equal, and perhaps un