The New York herald., 1869-06-20
A BOARDING HOUSE AFLoAT.

How the Harbor Police Fed-startIin9
Revelations-TEe Men starved-One Dollar
and Half per Pound for Butter-ssSea
Pie,, and LObscouse''-Uicerated Ham
Served Up-Examinati0n Before the Police
Board.
In the HERALD OF Friday there appeared an ex-
elusive report OF one or the most amusing and
important examinations that has ever been held
at the Central Police once. For long time
Captain Hartt has been in charge OF the Harbor
Police, whose HEADQUARTERS are aioat on the
old shell that passes for a police boat under the
name OF the metropolitan" and whose duties are
supposed 10 be 10 patrol the river and harbor, pre-
vent the robbing OF vessels at the docks, arrest
river thieves and In case OF fire at
the docks render assistance to the Metro
politan Fire Department in saving property and
life. For many months complaints Of the mal-ad-
mnistraton Of the Harbor Police have poured in
upon the Commissioners from various quarters-cit-
liens, members Of the force and officers OF the Fire
Department. Among these were the charges that O
recent fire on the Jersey Shore Captain Hartt COM
mander OF the Metropolitan, got his vessel under
steam passed the scene of the fire on his way up the
river rendered assistance ordered the vessel to
Fort Washington, where he dsembarked, and then
instructed a subordinate to return and assist in
quenchng, the fire. 1t is alleged that in consequence
OF the delay caused In esc0rtng the Captain to his
home at Fort Washington the vessel was unable to
render necessary assistance at the fire. and conse-
quently serious losses were sustained. The second
complaint Is that at q recent fire on the
Brooklyn shore the vessel and its force were
promptly on duty, and rendered signal service. The
captain beng absent handsome present was sent
to the HarbOr Police to be divided pro rata among
those who assisted IN saving property. The Com
missoners allowed the present to be received, but
by some means the Captain compelled his share to
be quietly deposited upon his table. The other and
captain, who has been the contractor for providing
the messes of the vessel, has fed the members
ferior food generally, charging from SIS to $40 per
month foy tins inferior fare that others offer to inn
prove upon it for $l4 per month per man, and give
the best OF fare.
On Thursday last at the preliminary examination.
ten or twelve members OF Captain Hartts command
were examined nearly all OF whom sustained the
allegations regarding the character OF the larder.
Sergeant UOyle's evidence has already been given In
the HERALD as above recorded.
On Friday. at ten O'Clock final examination was
had as to the food when the first witness called
Sergeant Kelly, who, on being sworn. stated,
IN answer to queries by Commissioners Manlerre
and Brennan-l have been on the boat ABOUT three
years; on Monday the fare Is for breakfast beef
steak OF very inferior quality; for dinner corned
beef hash, which is hashed up cold for supper;
on Tuesday morning we sometimes have ham
and eggs each man having about half an
egg pounded out nat to cover great deal OF
space and make show. On tuesday we get beef.
steak and potatoes; sometimes but very rarely,
they are good The hash Is made Of beefsteak ana
potatoes. On Wednesday we have stews, very tough,
Tor breakfast for dinner pie made OF potatoes,
dumplings, water and onions; for supper pie
warmed up. On Thursday for breakfast beefsteak
and potatoes; for dinner we get soap that is very
day we get mackerel for breakfast, also potatoes;
for dinner cold hash and bread, and pudding occa-
Saturday we receive beeisteak and potatoes, and
bad ham and potatoes for dinner; for supper cold
ham and m0iasses. On sunday our 1are Is beeisteak
duff. ''D '' " "' '''D,'' ~
Brennan-What is DUFF A. II is made out OF
-four and ralsins but very seldom raisns put IN.
! have very often heard the men complain OF an In
suffcency OF food and its Inferior quality. have
never complained to the captain for the reason that
1t IL understood he Will order all c0mplanants to be
transferred.
Captain iIartt took the witness and succeeded in
ectng the iact that his relations with the crew had
always been friendly and that other parties had
offered 10 supply the mess at Sl4 per month with
better fare The sergeant swore that hams filed
with ulcers had been served to the men, and tnat
frequently they had refused to touch and had gone
out TO get some food to appease their hunger.
Roundsman jeffrey gave similar testimony, de-
caring tnat most OF the time the food had been Of
very inferior quality, and sometimes served IN such
small quantities that the men went out hungry. tie
had failed to complain to the captain, 1t well
understood that all men complaining would be
MahsieIreu va asn9re: ~ seSerM LINES o'ie efavngs VI
Patrolman James Hogey also gave similar testi-
mony. He had heard the men complain Of an
suce1cy OF food and its bad quality. His evidence
confirmed previous witnesses that rotten potatoes
The steward OF the vessel, Charles Hagemen, was
next called. His evidence, gwen In very lucid
manner, showed that the supplies for the boat were
furnished by grocer who had private arrange
ment with Hart. it was his custom, by order
the ree to per give week ne
Frequently he would order four dozen eggs and the
grocer would supply two and half dozen, charging
the messes full rates for the same He had weighed
beefsteak after giving order to the grocer, and II
was not unfrequently five or six pounds short in
weight. He had reported these discrepancies to
Captain HART, who ordered him to economize as
much possible and keep the cost OF the messes AT
a low figure On one occasion he ordered from the
grocer six pounds OF butter, for which he charged
81 so per pound, and II was entered on the book or
the Information Of the messes, ''butter nine
showing up the schemes and tricks rcsorted to 70
deceive the men, which were very damaging to the
oI ,he MeirSp1 % tan seaooa o seroeor,
Kelly, gave very damaging evidence, In which he
sustained the charge that the men were fed on dis
eased meats rottea potatoes, and IN quantities In
sufficient to alay hunger.
PatrOlman W. 4. Eastwoods evidence was equally
OF 4ae ood was horSe and e quantity greatly R
sufficient Those who came to the second table often
secured nothing.
positive. Time and again the food was unit TO eat
and he had gone on o SIX hours detail so faint that
was henrg Shaw Kelly ans others
similar testimony, all going to show that the
Were but oil Sdm,ng sh on cross
An honest man. One Of the witnesses described
one Of the dishes served regularly '1obscouse,"
which he said was made out OF everything. II was
q sailors dish exclusively, and In answer to query
by Commissioner Manierre he stated IL was desg-
mated by the crew OF the boat IS -" which
they refused 10 touch when served. Other witnesses
were called for the prosecution, all OF whom sus-
tanned the maiu charge as to the police Boarding
h0nse.n
Captain Hartt called for the defence three men,
bers Of the force. who months ago were detailed for
shore duty, all of whom testified as to the good
quality OF the food when they were In the messes
year or so ago. One OF the witnesses swOre that the
was IN the habit Of preaching to them
and at the close Of the sermon discussing
the merits Of MS larder.
At the conclusion OF the examination, which was
very lengthy, an adjournment was had until next
week, when the other charges Will be taken up.
Nearly every member Of the Twenty-fourth precinct