The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-31
Raid ON the Chicago BrOthels,
rom the Chfcd0o Times October26

The most extensive raid ever made on disor-
derly houses in Chicago took place last evening.
Deputy Superintendent Nelson conducted the
raid. One hundred policemen were ordered by
the Superintendent to report 70 the armory at 8
O'Clock, there to await orders.
Between eight and nine O'Clock the work COM
menced. The police were divided up into
squads; each squad was provided with a tenn
poraIy captain, and the combined force marched
out, each squad taking different direction. 1t
was but short time before the armory was
crowded with men and women of the lowest
and most degraded type. The females, espe
cally, were distinguished for their vulgarity,
their profanity, and theirscomplete lack OF any
thing which had the appearance OF decency.
liar faces to the police, having for months and
years been subjected to frequent arrests
on account OF the vicious habits which
have made them what they are. For
three. hours there was continuous pro-
cession in the direction of the armory and
at eleven o'clock the rooms were so completely
jammed that it was found TO be ineXpedient to
continue the work which had been commenced
with such remarkable success. The number of
women arrested will astOnish those who are not
familiar with the haunts which abound III the
southern division of the city, and which are
principally centred on the streets mentioned
above. One hundred and fifty courtesans were
collected in single room and there would
certainly have been as many more had 1t been
convenient to find them accommodations in the
station house. The sight presented, as these
women were huddled together within the limits
of single room, was indeed sckening one
if viewed morally or even humaney Nearly
all of them were at one time beautiful women,
loved and respected.
Besides the women there were something
more than Que hundred OF their male friends
and companions arrested. These constituted
thieves and loafers-men who are not entitled
TO the most remote particle OF sympathy.
There was an occasional rustic among the num-
Der, and one or two men whose position in
society ought TO be sufficient safeguard against
their being found in any such locality.
Some OF the excuses given would be refre III
ingly ludicrous If they were not "played out.n
An old man claimed that he came from Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania, aud that ne was in search
of an eIIiDg niece. He was found in Van
! Buren street bTothel, one of the 10 west in the
city, and az the time OF his arrest his arm was
! placed affeciionately around a paintbedaubad
Iemaie's waist. The story abont the niece was
not Tor 9. moment credited, and the grey-headed
! OLD leprobate was forced to take his place i'm
The line or march, lumber inspector. very
decent man, as the word goes was also lonnd
! in trdgrdnte detictu. Tue poor fellow shed tears
as he was called up TO register his name. and
would undoubtedly have given a large ptIe ot
lumber il he could have been Permitted to 90
home to his wife and family. One yilIanouslv \
appearing rascal had $1,000 in his possession
He was undoubtedly burglar or a thief ano
! all the facts connected with himself and hi.
money win be thoroughly investigated
AN Australian colonist has harnessed up 3
Kangaroo and put him to labor-turning ma
chneIy with hal horse power. If gets lazy
pin stuck In him makes him Jump up