The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-17
A Reign OF Terror In New York.

1t was said in the newspapers little while
ago that the people OF New York contempla.-
cdthe organization of Vigilance Committee
as measure of deience against the reign of
terror which now prevails in that city. 1t the
following statement OF affairs is correct, some
thing oil the kind is needed:
1t seems as it the dssperadoes of the conti-
nent had taken possession of New York. 1t
would be bad enough if these bloody deeds
were confined to the low pot houses and dis
reputable portions OF the city. But the pub
lie convey ances are infested and the most fash
ionable portions Of the city are more unsafe
at night than Five Points or the Bowery. 1t
Is very common practice tor gings of row.
dies to leap on to a car at night or IN the even
ing, rob tie conductor and passengers, and
escape. Parties regard themselves fortunate
II they are not shot at or assaulted. The
Third and Eighth avenue cars ara especially
dangerous in the night. The arrival OF the
Eastern and Hudson River trains affords fine
field tor the operations OF despeI ADDE'S. Men
and women are assaulted and robbed Of their
money, watches, and baggage in Their tramp
from the depot to tue cars. The police know
these plunderers but dare not arrest them Tor
fear OF violer ce. II passengers take hack
late at night they are not safe rom robbery.
The fashionable part oi New York, kn )wn as
Murray Hill, is Just now the unsaiest part Of
our city. 1t is badly lighted, and being desti-
tute OF shops, is as dark and lonesome as can
be conce we'd. Few persons walk the street,
and the heavy porticoes OF fashionable houses
afford fine lurkin. place for thieves An
entire row OF houses was cleaned out, as the
phrase l., the other night. One OF our leading
merchants sold bis e,eeaht mansicn on Fifth
Avenue and took his family to boaId a. ho-
tel. lie gave this reason for selling: Il built
nv l0lSp at GREAT tr
nish, it in the best style; it was all that
could desire. But an fond of society, and /
| Ike to call on my neighbors in the evening.
dare not go out; after ten O'clock 1 walk
down the sde streets with the Utmost terror,
| looking this way and that, lest should be
knocSed down suddenly, often running Tor my
lite, aud twice within three weeks have been
chased to my very door, 1 am too old tor this
style oflie, and have given it up.' man
a9er OF one OF our theatres last week got iu,o
a car. and was followed bs three rough-look-
ing fellows, muIiled up as if to disguise them
| selves. They watched him cosey, aud h.
had no doubt they had designs upon him
Twice he started 10 get out oil The car to les.
them. Toe rowdes started al the same time
1t was twelve o'c ock at night, and lie ie that
bis only safety was in his tleetness. On re9 h
ing his street he spfang from the car, ran
along the street, and with night key entered
his houseJust as the despafadoes reached his
doorstep. His wife saw them plainly from
her window. One of our oi6esr merchants
was struck down on his own door step, the
other night, and robbed of large sum o. Hlo- ,e,
ney. A gentleman crossed The BrooklyI ie.
ry and took . ear to go home. a ou.chel
van, containing three men, fol,oweu .ne car
up. The gentleman lett the car Within nall a
block of his house. tie hVes III the most
densey populated part OF Brooklyn. The
passengers saw the van turn INTO the stree
after the gentleman. In sight OF his own doo
lie was knocked senseless, robbed of $4,000
and though hall dozen men saw the assault
the robbers decamped, and the man is still
,yins at The point oil death. Such is life il
New York just now.