New-York tribune., 1869-01-02

EXPLORING WATER-ST.

but unlike its predecessors ii is intended by no
means 10 be a faceiious one; the contrary it is
intended To convey sad truth IN plain sober
language. To those Cf my readers who may Je
inclined to dispute this proposition say; Go and
SEQ these places study tlo phases OF human, or
rather inhuman life 70 lc witnessed any and every
day in the purlieus of Wacr-stp and then conscien
tiously say whether you think 1t possible for man
to remain a man. OF for woman to remain n
woman, when subjected to tie evil influences OF
that Infamous locality.
The neighborhood in which Water, Cherry, and
anes-ets are situated is notorious for deeds Of Vo
lence nagant vice, and scenes Of debaucheiy. It's
population is for the most part connected With The
docks or river. 1t abounds in lodging-housrs Tor
sailors liquor stores Of the lowest class dance-bouses
and various other low places OF amusement Bothels
absolutely swarm there, and their wretched inmates
are permitted to flaunt their sin and Emery and ply
their hateful trade openly 10y day and night, without
let or hudTGncc. The mixture and rccilts5uess OF
vice, the unblushng eGIOntery with which 1t Is car
ried Oh, the .arciaced employment of loose women to
entrap sailors and the apparent carclcssucss or in
terestedness OF the authorities in not suppresSlng
these resorts. Is standing disgrace to Tie Cly oI
Ncw-Y0rll The Infamous propfietoIs OF these dance
and sailors lodging-bouscs seem to consider that
staff of prostitutes necessary part Of their stock
in trade; stock, II anything, more remGneruye
than the saieof yillainous whisky. Atmidnght
in this neghboihood tie quarrels, fights and noisy
disturbances aro Of such character that mono can
hope for nights rest, until they are Injured by
habit Sailors, canalmen, dockmen, and landsmen
are continually fighting about the women who
are attaches 20 these establishments, and IT
is not uncommon to SEQ tho most desperate
encounters between the women themselves,
who become perfect demons under such crcun-
stanccs and to see the looSerson encourage the COM
batants instead Of separating them. These wretched
creatures have arrived at such pass that they are
actually compelled TO madden themselves with drink
in order 10 become sufficiently immoral and disgust
ing In such ncighborhOod II Is not to be expected
that any person Of respeotabilty will reside; SO,
with the exception Of n few professional men, such
as doctors and Others whose ties conhne them TO the
spot these disciples OF vice and immortality have II
all to themselves How many men have been for
tuuately kept from the commission Of sin and crime
by the want of opportunity But IN TINS spot that
devil opportunity. is ready made TO hand.
Attlo suggestion Of THE TRIBUNE, recently made
application to the Captain Of the Waterst. Precinct
Station House for a Detective to escort me and one
of my friends through these terrible slums The
Captain received us most couIteously, and immedi-
ately told off an experienced man 70 accompany us
and protect us man." he said whosesespecial
duty il was 20 look after these dens Of vice and im
morality and who would showRus. some sights that
would mike ones hair stand on end Though"
he added things have improved little Of late, IN
consequence Of the business what businessl being
blown upon"
We were treated TO q spice OF Water-st life while
awaiting in the Station House the few preparations
the detective thought it necessary TO make. The
inspector on duty was hearing charge brought by
tl,aI
against boarding house crmp for assault 1t ap-
peared that the crimp had been endeayoring TO fleece
the sailor, and finding that bis rapacious demands
were not likely TO be- complied WITH had coolly
Knocked him down and then brutally stamped his
left eve ont with the heel Of his boot. At this mo-
ment poorly clad wretched looking woman entered
the Station House and in nervous, agtated tones
charged her husband, who she asserted had con
siderable SUN of money about him. with refusing to
give her the means OF obtaining tho necessaries OF
life. After much mutual recrimnaton the inspector
ordered the man 10 be searched This was done most
rigidly, but nothing was found in his many mystic
riously placed pockets. On unacing his boots. how
ever 800 in bills was unearhed from one, and sllO
IN gold from the other
But the detective was now ready and wishing the
Captain good evening" we started TO do New-York
After Dark. and study that abyss Of degradation
As the party left the staton-House inquired Of our
detective whether this neighborhood was more
densely populated than other parts of the city. !
soon received an Affirmative Of the most prac
tcal kind for we close TO the entrances of two
perfect hives OF humanity in Cherry-st., known as
Single and Double Alleys. Each Of these alleys is a
single tenement house. Single Alley, so-caled. be-
cause il has only face is capable Of holding mot
about 20 families; Double Alley.
which has two faces and two entrances, will hold
almost $40 families. Many of these families which
average five in number take in dodgers and boardcrs
On this occasion tolerabe degree of peace and
quitness reigned throughout these dark and dingy
buildings, but they often the thcater Of most
fearful scenes These two enormous tenement houses
are only about five feet apart consequently when
drunken fight takes place between its inhabitants
and the police it is very serious affair. Even III
the Winter, the odors from its cutters are anything
but pleasant what must they then be in the Sum
mer time.
At the corner Of Cherry and Watcr-sts. we met a
veteran female candidate for admission into the
Inebriate Asylum She was at least fty-yc years Of
age and bore her face all the marks of forty years
war with whisky. Her face was bespattcred with
mud her hair streamed in all directions her tatered
bonnet hung down on hcr back, only prevented from
falling by the twisted knot in which the strings had
become entanGled; shoeless stockinglcss, she hung
with one arm lovingly entwined round the amppost,
the other was solemnly beating time to her maudlin
music. She was evidently the imaginary victim of
misplaced attachment TO some gay Lothario. Sub
bmcly innocent of tho original tune she clanted to
sort of low drge the wel-known old French ballad:
"They Marched Through tho Town with their Ban
ners so Gay" As we passed her she had just
reached tho chorus. and was declaimiug with
drunken emphasis e An she Capshn wish she whish-
kers cor a shly glanshe me-" Poor Captain lie
little know Of the devoted love so ardently burning