The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-16
CITY INTELLIGE NC B.
UPLUCK HILL.

Discovered WITHIN the Bounaartes OF "a
sidents, E1e. "" ~ '''''''
The newspapers of our city are frequently
called upon to chronicle the black DEEDS done
i'm the neighborhood of Bedford and st. Mary
streets The history of this region has been
often recounted. Grand Juries have often
troubled IT, though with little effect. Aspecial
missionary has taken IL In charge, aud with bet
ter success The character of the locality Is well
known to every one.
Bedford street has now ceased to exist, at
least i'm n legal sense. The name has been
kindly wiped out by the authorities and that of
UAlaska" substituted. They hoped thereby to
relieve themselves from all further trouble.
There is however, another region In totally
different section of the city, the principal street
of which might well be called New Bedford.
Perhaps II might be wise to so call It, that IL
may obtain some little of the benefit derived
from Grand Jures and missionaries which its
namesake has enjoyed.
The spot referred to Is in the vicinity of Second
and Filter streets, Kensington. Filter street
runs northeast from near the iutersecton OF
Second and Montgomery avenue. The whole
locality is known among those living near II by
the general name of ''Pluck Hill. Here may be
seen rows Of broken-down and dilapidated frame
or brick houses. huddled together Wlthoutregard
to comfort or to any law OF order whatever.
In some parts the houses present as uneven an
appearance as Ia the worst of London streets.
They face In every conceivable direction, and
numerous courts and alleys run between them.
The principal houses face on Filter street, but
on going around to the rear of these IL is found
that other and entirely independent dwellings
are crowded up against them. In some cases
what might be called a small back yard to one
building becomes the front yard of another.
Parlor windows-if such they can be called, for
many of them are entirely without glass-face
and overlook kitchen windows of neighbors, and
are not more than foot or two distant. People
find their way to their front doors through the
cracks between other houses. Many houses are
weak and tottering, leaning at considerable
angle; frames have settled on one side to such
ton do n hifnn
are almost unknown, but few scattered bricGs
on the roofs point out the spots where they have
been. Windows as general thing are glazed
with old hats and coats 80 as to exclude most of
the light.
In some parts, in some unlooked-for court, a
row of better houses can be discovered, but
the general run is of the most forlorn descrip-
ton. On the main street, Filter, every
other house is secondhand shop, which Is
most probably a receptacle for stolen goods, a
cold. victual shop, or low groggery. Many a
rickety shanty shows the device "boarding" on
its window-shutter, but the extent of the accom-
modations can easily be imagined. In many
places it consists only of lying room on the
floor at night in company with many other
lodgers The price charged for such accommo-
dations is from eight to fifteen cents a night.
Houses OF bad repute of the lowest grade abound,
and the women inhabitants possess that worn
and jaded appearance the like of which only
such women can show.
The streets are unpaved, and abound in i'm
mense dirty puddles in which pigs and children
delight to wallow. The visitor in passing cannot
fail to carry away with him considerable OF the
filth. On the occasion of our visit an open lot
between several houses was occupied by seve-
raj well-grown young men, geese, chickens,
dogs goats, clothes hanging out to dry, dead
cats, two pOrkers of considerable weight with
their families, and children not yet out of baby
hood. Those of the young men who were not
too lazy were amusing themselves by throwing
stones at one another.
Unpromising as the exterior is it is only by
10 hat hn nhfa nnd nf
what is here thrown together. On penetrating
to the yard of one of the houses dog was seen
gazing wist ully into an open basement window
which was devoid of either sash or glass. An
examination showed that the room which the
window overlooked had been only lately in
habted. A bed was on the floor considerably
tumbled stove, chair, and basket OF some
cold proyisions-the attraction probably for the
dog-were also in the room. But the apartment
itself was covered with water to the depth of
about foot Answers to inquiries told that this
was no unusual occurrence. The occupants had
removed temporarily to await the subsiding of
the waters.
A most unhealthy odor pervades the whole
neighborhood. An inhabitant was questioned
as to the cause of this.
Said he, after deeply cogtating for some time,
''Don't smell nothin' myself Guess it must be
the larbotory," pointing to q manufacturing
establishment in the vicinity.
The WHAT" we asked
''The larbotory, where they makes kimcals.
''It don't smell like that" we remarked.
maybe it's the distillery, then," said he,
pointing to another building.
sit don't smell like o distillery either" we
answered.
''Then p'raps it's the guano place. over there
Gle pronounced 1t "gwanner.~
Cant say that 1t smells like that either"
"Wel there's soap factory round the corner
maybe it's that"
This point it was impossible to determine, bu
the very presence of all those places may serv,
to give an idea of the stencil that continually
arises.
Not very long ago death occurred in one o
these houses OF q woman, who met her end ii
the most horrible manner. She was fount
drunk on an open lot, and had been conveyed t
the shed which she called her home, where sh
was thrown upon the ground for the night.
drove of wandering hogs had occupied the plac
during her absence, and being disturbed by he
return, began roofing and tramplng about her
The woman was found them morning actual
trampled to death by the animals, her face tori
by their hoofs and so besmeared by their filth a
to be hardly recognizable.
The region is within half q square of bette
streets. Persons passing along Columbia avenu
are in the immediate neighborhood withou
knowing it, and without sign of 1t being seer
The New York Kensington depot is but a squar
or two distant. Riders in the Frankford DUNN
cars are within sight of it. A skating park, use
to some extent by ladies and gentlemen froI
the city, is close at hand.
Filter street, leaving its execrable footpath
out of the question, is not such place as on
would care TO walk alone in after dark. As il
not in the most thickly built-up portion of th
city, we suppose few but the Inhabitants eve
have occasion to go there It is out of the dire
road, and does not lead to anywhere in partcl
lar, but brings up in an open common at I'll
northeastern end. These things may accouI
e. 2I,okn kIa t. l.. lofs