The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-20
SKETCHES BY A COSMOPOLITAN.
Night Scenes in Washington Marleet-Fes-
tive MetropoIitans' Dreary Nights
A Trio of burglars, etc.

Night Scenes in Washington Marlset-Fes-
tive "MetropoIitans' Dreary Nights
Trio of Burglars, etc.
We have said somewhat about moon
light nights in Washington Market, but
who shall describe those dark tempestu-
GUS watchnights, when the rain poured
down in torrents, when vivid flashes of
lightning blinded the eyes for mo-
ment, shedding lurid glare on every
object, revealing with painful distinct
ness all the surroundings, only to leave
us again in darkness that could almost
be felt2 And then
THOSE CRUEL WINTER NIGHTS,
fifteen hours long (from 4 P. NJ. to I A.
NJ, that seemed an age to our weary
limbs, benumbed with cold, for, dress as
you might, the piercing cold winds from
the river would find their way through
long ere the morning, and it was at
times almost unbearable.
No person can know aught of what
utter loneliness and solitude is until
they shall have passed the long hours of
weary winters night on solitary
post, scarce seeing soul from eve till
morn the wind sweeping in fitful gusts
through the deserted avenues, and
soughing mournfully, and shrieking an
grily by turns, and bowling like unrest
ing spirits contending in mid-air and
as the tempest sweeps across the river it
rattles the blocks on the vessels, and
whistles strongly and weirdly through
the rigging, while every half hour the
watch on each vessel Gf he is awake
cries in their peculiarly despairing tone,
"half-past twelve o'clock-and-aWS-
aoeU Z"
The regular force had the advantage
of us in this, that they were changed
three times during the night, while we
were on duty from night till morning
without relief; but the poor fellows
were under the strictest surveillance, and
what with captains, sergeants, rounds
men, and inspectors, there was but little
lest for them. They were obliged to
move about continually, must hold no
communication with each other, or with
citizens, only SO far as imperative neces-
sity demanded; must not enter d res
taurant or saloon, neither smoke while
on duty, or be caught without their
gloves on, etc. "For any such delin-
quency, they will be reported, brought
before that august tribunal, the Police
Commissioners" and dismissed the SER
vice, suspended, or fined, as the gravity
of the charge demands. However, many
of those very excellent regulations were
evaded. We had one officer in the 9th
Precinct that was not only very fortu-
1,,,t ho
manage to steal enough from me to sup
port his family almost. Many dollars he
cost me, but at last he overdone the mat
ter, and "killed the goose that laid the
golden eggs" 4. e., was detected, and
broke, in disgrace; and the last 1 saw of
John Gurney he was common street
loafer. At the end of Dey street pier
lay an old condemned propeller of the
Albany line, that was used as store
house for the propellers to unload their
ale upon, and great quantities were Of
ten on board, i'll charge of a watchman.
Now Gurney had a weakness for ale, and
as the roundsman's visits could be cal
culated upon, somewhat, as to the time,
he would often sneak off his post and
visit his friend, the propeller watchman
and his beer barrels. One morning, af-
ter the o'clock change had been made,
it became pretty well known that proba-
bly, no other inspectors would be about
that night. Consequently Gurney and
four or five other officers boldly left their
respective posts and betook themselves
to the old propeller, and there remained
until broad daylight, when they came
marching up the pier, shouting and
singing, having no fear of the rounds
man cor any other man" before their
eyes. They turned into the wood yard
between Vesey and Fulton piers, and
there furnished free exhibition OF some
half a dozen Metropolitans in full
uniform, blazing away with their re-
volvers at their costly regulation caps,
stuck up on sticks OF wood. Fortune
favors the brave, also the fool and the
drunken, for believe they were never
reported, and managed to get to their
posts by seven o'clock to be relieved. At
another time, for the most trifing Of
fence, they would be dismissed the SER
vice.
Those dismal nights were the most
critical times for thieves; if ever we had
need to watch it was then. They pre-
sumed upon our being housed from the
storm, but housed we must not be. The
more piercing. the Geld, the wilder the
storm, the darker and more tempestuous
the night, the keener must we watch
and guard every avenue; and many
were the losses we met with when we
were doing our best. came near MAX
ing seven hundred and odd dollars out
of pocket on one occasion, which would
have been tolerable nights work; it
was in this wise: do not remember
why, but was alone that winters
night, having seven avenues to look af-
ter most of the stands, however, were
closed and locked. 1t was bleak and
dreary night, and, as l had walked my
self tired, and everything being appa-
rently snug and regular, l thought to
rest little; accordingly, taking book
from my pocket, l crouched up in 8
sheltered place; opening the dark Ian
tern just sufficient to throw ray o.
light on the page, not sufficient to at,
tract notice, and thus reading ano
watching by turns, l endeavored Il
while away the slowly passing hours o.
the tedious night. Each time patrollec
my beat l threw the strong light from
the "bull's eye" into every nook ani
corner, through the glass windows o
every Office, and thus satisfied mysel
that no one was lurking about. Thu
the time passed on until the early hour
OF the neutrality-suspicious. two or thre'
o'clock-when was betrayed into |
longer rest than usual; how long,