The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-03


the hotel, he set out on his journey on his
hands and knees through the dismal pas>
sage-way. He had no sooner got well
under way, the powerful light from the
| dark lantern affording him plenty of light,
when he came face TO face with one OF
| the largest dock-rats that be had ever
seen. The power of the light seemed to
| staggcr the rat for a moment, when Her
| mann drew his pistol and shot him dead.
He then resumed operations, and sifted
after mud and filth as he went along
! The first thing of note that he fonnd was
the body of still born, about three or
four months old. On lifting it, it WAS so
| much decomposed that it fell apart 4
little further, he picked up silver watch,
with common cord TIED to it, and it had
evidently been in the sewer some time.
Keeping On, he coon picked up two table
spoons, cne bearing the word National"
and, evidently belonging to the hotel of
the same name, which Is located On the
same street he also picked up part of
| an old silver urn. AS he lifted the piece
Of urn, lie felt something heavy against it,
which he AT first imagined to be a piece
of board but when taking it out, 10 and
behold it was the identical lost pocket
book. All was found safe within; but
wet through and through. Being unable
to turn in the sewer, he was forced to
back out /; and in short time he was at
the opening, and in few moments found
himself safe on terra firma. Returning
home, he dried the bills, notes, and pa
pers and the following morning handed
over the book and contents to their owner,
who fairly jumped with JOY at their re-
covery. When told how it had been re-
covered, he could hardly believe it. The
81, $50 was paid over to Hermann, re-
ceivipg, besides, an order for a new suit
of clothes from the proprietor of the hotel
A SECOND ADVENTURE.
The most extended journey ever made
by Hermann was through Vesey street
sewer to Broadway, thence to Barclay,
and Down Barclay to the outlet 1T the
river. On Vesey street he picked up nu-
merous spoons OF every description, eSpe-
cially in the vicinity of the Astor House,
and the case of gold watch. He also
found broken bracelet, dirk knife, and
a pair of gold spectacles. On Broadway
he found a neat cross branded dirk, and
on Barclay street picked up over $40 in
money. Some two years after The above
journey he made another tour over the
same route, and found lady's purse con-
tanning Sl07 in gold, also an old pocket
book with eighty~four cents in it.
RECOVERING WEDDING RING.
In the Spring of 1864 he was called
upon to recover a heavy gold wedding
ring that had been dropped down a sink
by lady, and Who seemed almost dis
tracied over its loss. Money was no OBJ
Ject if the ring could be recovered. The
sink was cleansed, but no ring could be
found. The sewer was accordingly visit
ed that night, and after diligent search
of the passage~way leading from the dwell
ing to the main sewer the ring was found
after nearly two hours hard work. He
was made present Of two hundred dol
lars for his trouble, besides what was
awarded his associates.
OVER THREE HUNDRED BODIES FOUND IN
TuE SEWERS.
During the ten years that Hermann
followed the above life he states that, at
times, he found over three hundred still
born infants in the various sewers OF the
city. AS general thing, he would bring
them oct at the opening at the river, end
would receive certain amount from the
Coroners for such bodies, while they
would be benefit to the Coroner finan-
cially for holding an inquest on the same.
The press seldom took notice of such
trihing cases. In fact, it was very rare
that publicity was given to any of them.
Chambers street, be states, was the great
est on record for finding still>born infants.
He never visited it bat he WAS sure TO
come across one Or two, and sometimes
as many as five or six. The only reason
he accounts for there being so many on tho
above street was that there was located
on that street one of the most noted abor>
tionists ever known in this country, and
In whose house hundreds and hundreds of
females have been operated on, and abor-
tions produced. The sink was, of course,
used to carry off and conceal that which
would have once been human being
The woman who then occupied the build
log now resides in one of the most costly
mansions on Fifth avenue, where she car>
ries on the same business, but only caters
for those of wealth, and who can pay her
the highest prices for her services. Any
pleasant afternoon Shc can be seen riding
out on Central Park In her carriage, and
often accompanied by some delicate young
woman who has been a victim to her
heilish practice
TRIP ACROSS THE CITY.
One night Hermann determined to
make a tour from river to river. He en-
tered one of the large sewers on the North
River side and came out at Maiden Lane
sewer at one place he came in contact
with hot steam from boiler. but it being
Sunday it did not amount TO much, and he
passed it with little or no trouble. Dur
ing the tourney be found any quantity of