The New York herald., 1873-06-19
IN TIE DENS OF FILTH.
The Raid Of the Health Officers on the Dens in
the Lower Part Of the City Yesterdays
Work in Mulberry, Hester, Canal
and Mott Streets = Human
Beings Wallowing in
Filth and Dirt.

ana mott Streeu - human
Beings Wallowing in
Filth and Dirt.
The Sanitary Inspectors OF the Health Department
continued yesterday the raid the vile dens In the
lower portion OF the city. The law requires that
the cellars which are used as bedrooms shall be
seven feet high, half above the sidewalk, ana thst
there shall be good ventilation, light and drainage
In many OF the Easements in the lower part OF the
city the ceilings are on level with the street or
below it, there Is light, no all and no drainage
The occupants OF all these places received three
months ago notice TO leave, and a few weeks ago
those that had not left were informed that II the
police should nnd them the 10Th inst. still occu-
pying their noisome dens they would he turned
into the street. On Tuesday the sanitary ponce
BEGAN THIS WORK IN EARNEST,
and II was continued yesterday in the sixth,
Seventh Tenth and Thirteenth wards.
At halfpast nine O'Clock yesterday morning 8
force OF some forty officers or the Sanitary Police
marched out of the building OF the Health Depart
ment They were headed by Captain Yuie and
Sergeants Lenerts and Holman. A few PAGES in ad-
vance Of these were the inspectors, Drs. James,
Tracy Post, Styles, Lockwood and Viele and lew
reporters. or course, this force approached
Canal street the excitement among the street boys
became intense, and large number OF them
voluntarily accompanied the squad on the exped-
tion. The first place at which DR.. Post
stopped 125 Hester street. Fhe base
ment was low, wretched place, scarcely
six feet high, and in the rear was little bedroom,
the atmosphere in which was sitting. There
seemed TO be not a breath Of air; and in the close
dark room lay baby in the cradle. The child was
pale and thin, and its eyes had a wan stare that
was sad indeed. The woman impl0red DR.. Post
"t0 have some pity, but he ordered the officer TO
CARRY TIE BEDDING AND THE CRADLE
mp to the sidewalk. III we had not compelled
these people TO leave this child would have died."
one OF the inspectors observed.
The next place that was cleared was 70 Canal
and was evidently used for improper purposes. Right
OG the front room were little wooden boxes just
large enough to admit q bedstead. The doors,
which seemed to be falling from their hinges, were
close to the bedsteads, SO that person, in order
to enter, must have jumped upon the bed. These
boxes were close, filthy, dark and not fit for human
beings. 1t was relief to think that they were &c
remain unoccupied for some little time at least
The woman who kept this low place said she paid
$50 month rent. She seemed to be very sorry tC
leave 1t, and burst into tears when the officers
hOsted the beds to the street
Nos. SO, 81 and 6S Canal street were all found
vacated. The basement OF Al Canal street was Oc-
cupied by man who made canvas slippers. In
the rear was little area reeking with filth and
garbage, and when the inspectors came near II
they had to turn back, for the stencil was some
thing frightfuL The man was called out and
asked how he could
go that's nothing" he said shaking his head The
bed was moved out but he was allowed TO use the
The basement OF II Canal street was also used 70,
improper purposes. There were the same rotten
many pigsrcs on small scale. One OF the women,
who cried and sobbed in the most heartrendng
IN Ss m eye ain " nSs aS
which was stuffed with fOul rags and musty straw
and dirty bedclothes. All these were thrown into
the street. where crowd OF boys received them
with loud laughter. The smell IN this place was
something terrible. The closet was to the left OF
the door as you entered The sewer was obstructed
and the hopper was overnowing with tlth. 1t was
disinfected with chloride lime and some rags were
thrown over 1t IT, But or these precautions the
In the basement OF 62 Mulberry street the
Inspector found q Young Polish Jew, a cabinet
ordered to remove his bed and did so at once.
His wife said they paid IS 30 month rent. This
place was
LITTLE CLEANER THAN THE OTHERS.
AT b Mulberry street there was a lodging base
nere she moor m was % Ok "a many pSGe
meath, all the noxlous exhalations Of the earth
added to the extreme dampness OF the room. The
woman who kept the place assured the Inspector
that che would remove the beds Tomorrow -
He said she would have to do it now. and with
tears in her eyes she gathered up ner dresses and
trinkets and helped the officers in carrying the bed
ding 20 the sidewalk. In front OF the door leading
one Of the mattresses was fung upon it. Tne bed
steads seemed to be nailed together in curious
manner and were 80 old and rotten that they broke
pieces the officers took hold OF them. There
large holes in the ceiling and walls and the rot and
damp had lett peculiar taint upon the atmos.
the officers said, as he pointed to the gaps. The
price OF nights lodging in this place was fifteen
One OF the worst places cleared was the base
mcnt OF 13 Mott street. on the way TO this house
the Inspector and reporters saw a curious
spectacle. The street SwarJned with children
WHO WE'RE RUNNING AFTER THE SQUAD.
How scantily dressed they were. Some OF them
and one little child, with pinched up features. who
sat IN the lap OF its elder sister, was naked. Many
OF the children looked sickly dirty and prematurey
DID, but u few had rosy cheeks and ali the bright
hooks OF childhood. There was little girl who was
aperiect picture Of rosy health and beauty. She
happy, eyes that were SO clear and sparkling, and
such pretty form, that it was pleasure to look at
her. But few OF the children seemed to be suffering
from actual want, although the reporter saw one
or two wno he thought, were hall starved. 1t was
street. The place was as dark as pitch. AS soon
as the Inspector entered the landlady impored
aear V Doeo she m Won w iq m
longer. will bless you May Heaven bless you II
you will let me stay longer, Doctor" DR.. Tracey
said :-"You have had three months notice and
now must remove your beds and lurnture.r
The womans little daughter began 10 cry piteously,
but II was OF no avail the rooms were soon
CLEARED ALL THE wRErcuED FURNITURE,
so that nothing but the bare walls remained IL
was queer sight, how the officers staggered un-
der the weight Of immense heaps of ioul rags piles
Of dirty straw and the broken bedsteads that were
covered with hideous vcrmln. The furniture OF
these premises formed . perfect barricade on the
sidewalk. There were tiers and tiers Of faces in
The windows OF the adjacent houses, and all the
peOpe in the vicinity seemed to look with curious
eyes at this scene OF destruction Brooms stove
pipes bodstcads, lamps. slovels, chests quilts,
Blankets spreads, mattresses, stoves. straw hats,
radishes, looking glasses, holy pictures soup signs,
torn books and bottles Of perfume were all ncaped
together.
AT the basement OF No. u Madison street, which
was used az a lodging house, were a number Of
bunks OF very curious construction. They were
turned up one side against the wall, and were
lowered by means OF a swivel. The hunks were
smnshed to pieces and thrown out into the street,
while the women were swearing, cursing and cry