The New York herald., 1873-12-29
SECURING THE CITY.
Six Hundred Young Men and Girls Arrested in
Dance House by the Police-Dismay at
the Dsscsnt-0ns of the Worst Haunts
in the Metropolis Broken Up.

Between nalfpast ten and eleven O'Clock last
night Inspector McDermott. Captain Irving and
the entire force of the Detective Office made raid
on dancing place in Grand street, known
the Assembly Rooms. The detectives were
sent on IN pairs in advance OF Captain
Irving and Inspector McDermots, and posted IN
Grand street at different points. platoon of
policemen was ordered from the Tenth precinct
station house. and, headed by Inspector McDermott,
the police dashed into the place. There were
about 600 young men and girls in the room,
and the excitement caused by the entrance Of the
police was bewildering. A large body of the men
combined and pushed towards the main entrance,
but they were met by the officers and driven
back. AS they returned, running into the
hall, scream after scream went up from
hundreds oil female throats. Some tried to jump
through rhe windows and get out on the roof;
others rushed into the cellars and hid them
selves in barrels and cuppoards. Detectives
Field and Elder found man lying
psne sss a his He Saa IN psto aqt IN unqs Ss
hand ready Tor defence. but the detectives over
powered him and dragged him out Some so or 60
crept out the back windows, and were Just ready
police waiting them below, and, thinking
ss's the han again Detective Fapey @ SsHe Gscovered @
a well known thief, VINO had secreted himself in o
S to 1e an as Tne @oen a. dEng
the poce hew In body to the iarthest corner OF
the hall,
Some OF them were mere girls, and the eldest not
apparently above 20. The greater number were OF
the worst OF their Glass; but many were work girls
accustomed to such scenes. The very hardened
ones laughed and sung ribald, songs
but the poor things who had been
ed in there, supposng the place one OF ordinary
and were carried into the street by the police. AS
soon as anything like order could be obtained
Captain Irving arranged his men along the side OF
the room from which the entrances to the street
gone. Inspector McDermott stood at the principal
door and issued orders to the sergents and rounds
men as to the management Of the prisoners. The
per end Of the room and singled
thieves. Those we're searched and at once sent to
Police headquarters in charge OF officers. Pdtoons
Fifteenth, Thirteenth, Sixth and Fourth precincts
shortly after the first batch had taken
charge OF the hall, and each body Of
outbursts OF terror from the women. Detectives
Clapp and Bennett took charge OF the box office
and the man in attendance there, and took him,
with the money he had received to the Central
office. At about eleven O'Clock the despatching of
the prisoners to station houses began and it con.
tinued until nearly hali-past one in the morning.
This place has been the resort oil the worst char
acters In the Tenth, Fourteenth and Sixth wards
tlnue unmolested until last night. 1t is
in the Fourteenth precinct, but the Captain
OF that district seems never TO have thought IL
worth his while to break it up. More than two.
thirds OF the young men arrested there last night
are said to be thieves BY the detectives, and their
faces certainly would seem to confirm the statement.
worse assortment OF the human countenance
could with difficulty be found. The red-faced low
and TOuyn W was him mere n
the n,.11o more presumng shtcoated Bowery
for man with any money in his possession. ana
tine police say that ii such an one got among the
crowd he would part with his wealth pretty quickly.
The inmates and surrounding OF the place Justified
this assertion. Smoking and bringing were induged
In at the same time as dancing and the state
OF the atmosphere breathed by 600 persons all en-
gagged IN this way may be easily immagned The
women, at least some OF them,
SMOKED AND DRANK
as well as the men, and many OF them continued
their cigars during the dancing. Yhe nall is very
large one, and appears 10 have been built on pur-
pose for dae worE gong on there ia, last night on
and In front OF them, on the main noor, was a
piano A gallery supported by pillars was con-
accommodation OF visitors. Eacn dance was an
nounced rom the platform by a large placard
which announced to the assemblaRe the KIND of
figure 70 prepare for. They were enjoyed In the
ntricacies OF waltz to the tune OF 'the Mulligan
Guards last night. when the authorities entered
and promenaded them TO prison. One OF the de-
tecuves described the scene at the moment OF the
raid as resembling number OF rats In pit
the rats IN the Assembly Pit were considerably
worried when the police presented themselves last
night and IL Is doubtful II they have got over It
planned and carried out In mastery
manner, and the police deserve credit
for the manner In which IL was conducted Not
the slightest suspicion entered the mind Of any
OF those present OF what was going forward until
the strong hand OF the law was laid on all
together. The occasion was a fruitful 10
Captain Irving and his detectives. They became
acquainted with many faces new 10 them in the
walks OF crime, and they met some old friends
quietly waiting for chances. Many OF the people
living in the neighbornood OF this place have COM
planned OF IL nuisance and their hearts will now
be gladdened by the intelligence that 1t has been
broken up. Similar descents are TO be made py
Captain Irving and his detectives ON places
in the Eighth ward, out the time when they
are to be effected has not been decided
on. Inspector McDermott s thoroughly ac-
quainted with the character OF all such
resorts that side OF the town, and he has deter.
mined the present purging Of the haunts OF vice
shall be thorough.
The prisoners from the dinerent station houses
viii be conducted before the ponce magistrates
this morning to be dealt with according to
low. Photographers Will be in demand at Police
Headquarters during the day a. a large batch Of
10 "a ha AAoHf N ho ao7p ppl