New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-19
DISREPU1ABLE PICNICS.
WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY LEAD TO
WHO PROMOTE THEM-FEARFUL DEBAUCH-
ERY-NIGUT SCENES on THE CARS.


ERY-NIGHT SCENES on THE CARS
II is quite unnecessary to define the imme-
date line OF dcmaroation between harmless and vicious
enjoyment in discussing those peculiarly American In
situations, pc-ncs; for while in many cases, such as
church pie MICS the object is good and the means above
reproaeh the most OF the excursions which are 80 o
orally advertised around the streets subscrvient TO
the worst ends. Ostensblya political, complimentary,
a social reunion, many picnics in this city are really
nothing else than coaks and OF the hnnest material
for drunkenness debauchery, brutality and too Often
Of irrcparabe in e. to previously untaned ana Vrtu
women. They are too often planned In the par
room Of political cubIOOs and broken heads and broken
hearts the characteristics OF their fun development
In many instances the smartly dressed men and girls
who constitute the majority at these gatherings are, I'M
suspected by the innocent people who accompany them
'no better than they should be-" The minority or re-
spectacle young persons who indulge in the amusement
under the influence OF excitement aud bad example,
often tempted to indulgence in strong liquors. 10
which they are unaccustOmed losing themselves in an
imaginary gayety Of spirit and before they reach nome
have imbbed into their moral systems strong dose OF
the poison OF vice. even II they have not crossed the
goal which he repassed. The person whom as
rule, the dsreputabe pleasure delight TO honor
worthless corneroafer who, on the suength ol an
INSCRIPTIONS subservency TO certain interests ana inc
acquired character OF ruan and bully, has Impressed
the local politicians with the notion that he Is power IN
useful in election times. When once he has achieved
such unenvable position, his notOrety follows as mat
ter course. broad gaudy banner floats across the
principal street In the Ward which he assists In brutal
zng invitations are sent round calling his neighbors
TO assemble at picnic in his honor, and the surround
ing Gin mills" for two or three weeks so many
boxoces where tickets sold for his coming political
benefit But he works hard He the proprietor Of
the uptown garden the Coney Island resort where the
picnic Is 10 be held; he makes bargain with the
hack drivers, railway Managers or barge. masters who
are to transport his dancing and drinking admirers to
the Of the proposed debauch he takes commits
sion from the leader OF tho band and handsome per
cenage the gross amount Of eatabe5 and drinks con-
sumed during the afternoon and evening; in fact, he
takes every precauton that the occasion shall minister
to his pecunary advantage. The police could tell,
they would OF numerous instances in which they have
made all the necessary for the attendance
OF gangs OF thieves and have cOoly pOckeed the lions
share Of the profits of their predatory labOrs.
The present lie the fayore FOR holding pcncs.
At the various landing great dOubedecked barges
call at stated hosrs and 90 increasing their cargoes
of humanity at every pier, till spare inch Of stand
ing is left and the band is crowded that they
have scarcely sufficient elbow room TO handle their In
struments But the outward yOyag nothing compared
the rowdyim and indecenCy OF the return. On the
beach crowds Of men and women battle together after
fashion highly reprehensibe and vulgar actions and ges
greater freedom after the clam-bake has been washed
down with much beer and whisky The return home
after such excursion may be easily imagined. Elk
cited insued, sometimes fancy they are,
by some drunken man; their still drunken prQtec-
tor or escort interieres pistols hastily drawn aud,
unless the captain OF the barge s man OF nerve and
command free fight ia precpitated Al the vari-
picnic gardens in the upper part OF the city the state
OF things il far worse. The crowd IL disseminated
through the woods and the entertainment Is continued
long after dark The propreots OF these places never
ask for any ehGent force , % pence 70 f keetP
Disorder which, OF course, implies drunkenness,
is the source of al their profit Tie police would not
allow them to serve with drinks men who are already
ntO1icated and IL is these who the best customers
never count their change. Thus two policemen
lounge around the dancing platform or the door o the bar
and drinking his filthy whisky do nothing. But there
are features Of these garden pc-ncs which are
dancing platform and dinlngToOms are admirable
covers for crime. 1t has not unfrequently har-
pic-nics have been alive again. IL still
frequently happens that Young girls named with beer
ragged their cries unheard in the clash Of the band their
illusage concealed rom ler lehGs Ior very
tOn and certain inward feeling OF degradation aud loss
Of selfrespect which TOO often leads them the down
ward path and they soon reeklessy join the company
only last weeks reporter overheard two rualans at
OF these gardens planning the destruction Of two
spectabeookng young girls OF the working class, who
platform they succeeded in getting into convsrsatioh
with the girls danced with them. persuaded them to
drink several tines and then, when the liquor was be-
ginning to tell them, proposed walk through the
grounds. The girls consented 10 take stroll ald the
reporter who had all the while been watching The pariv
at once went in search Of policeman. He could not
find He then started through the grounds,
mined ifpOssiDe, 10 save the young women. lie was
too late. When he again encountered thcm there was
little doubt that the scOuDdIcs had succeeded N carry
ing out their villainous intention.
Only two nights previous this same place, Suffers
East River Park was The scene OF similar outrage
The young daughter OF highly respectable parents,
d ~. "a
TO attend picnic there under his escort Late in the
evening, the poor girl after being well and artully piled
with intoxicating drinks induced by him to leave
the dancers ana 10 take walk Ia the PARK. There she
was at the villains mercy. He outraged her aud q On
left her to find her way home best Sue could On the
evening Of the lOti inst. the annual picnic OF the
Female PaTasol and Umbrella Makes Union was held
at Lion Park at Oue-hundredInd-te nth-st and Eighth
ave About 600 persons were present, the dancing
platform With the exception Of two personal encOun
tcs tOerab BILE order prevailed but the grOuuds accord
Ing to eye witness. were the scene OF debauchery
without parallel. Men aud women seemed TO have for
gotten that there Is such word dccency aud gave
the rein TO unbrdlcd Pason, without the slightest effort
at cOnceament Nor Nas There the sItes attempt at
interference on the part OF the police
Every night, about u O'clock the street cars the
returning these picnics, al more less in state
curses, and threats from both men and women whose
audin aspect and dsordered and torn dresses render
the still more lldeOus, compel respectable people
to leave the ears The conductors never interfere unless
a fight begins or pistol or a knife Is drawn.
willing TO put the brawlcrs of the cars A
few nights ago an alteration ensued on a
InliuaNe car between YOUNG rough and an old gen
tleman, who demonstrated with him on his behavior
The gang drove the old ont of the and followed
him, Of their number drawing pistol and swearing
that he would shoot him. Very recently four drunken
young rfiians were arrested for attempting to Remove
some of the Undertaking OF two girls while riding on
the same line Of they returning from pic.
mic, where the girls had become intoxicated as to be
lost TO all sense OF decency.
Such places these picnic gardens require the most
rlnd supervision OF the police. Not only should the
barroOln aud platform be watched, but the grounds
patroled, and all persons mbehaying themselves mme.
alatey removed properly conducted picnic T. an in
nOCent and harmless scene OF enjoyment; but the
modern New-IOrk picnic at these uptown gardens is
the nigh road TO ruin for thOugAtless young girls
large proportion or the prostitutes who night fnest
our principal tnoroughfares trace their rum one
or anOtheI OF The nlc-nics ,leX nlNe aiLenled Y -