The New York herald., 1877-08-26
IHE GATEWAY Or MISERY.
One of the Most Remarkable Places
in New York.
DARK PHASES OF HUMAN LIFE.
The Startling Experience Of the Keeper
OF the Morgue.

There are few places in the world where In tho
course OF brof DAY much OF the neither side Of
humanity, 8 much OF the grim and pathetic the
grotesque and CHASTITY, may be under tho high
open porch building the foot OF Twenty sixth
street, Eos. River belonging to- tho Department Of
Charities and Correction. Through the wide portal
OF this unpreendng structure pass daily 10 the citys
institutions the islands In the river quite host OF
wrecked and disorderod lives-abandoncd drunkArds,
dissolute women, thieves, tramps, vagabonds and
paupors, ravna maniacs, hopeless spleptcs and
countless number OF other members OF the dark and
gloomy fraternity ot crime and wretchedness Through
the same portals, and jcstling the others. pass all
sorts OF people visitors to the islands.
somc arc decent poorly clad women, With baskets
bundles their in which they are taking TO
a restive IN tho prison. workhousc hospital or asy.
lum some necessary article Of clothing luxury OF
food. Others more showiy dressed, and evidently OF
css respectable type, bound on tho same errand
TO some OF their unfortunate male companions.
, THE VARIETY VISITORS
Then thcre are ladies' dressed with all the rc1nc.
ment Of Filth avenue, whose purpose Is evidently one
OF mercy ana benevoloncc. 1hero Sisters OF
Charity and female missionaries OF various dcnomi-
nations There Catholic and Protestant clergy
and largo parties Of people who have como from
0DrOuQ
;ions OF which New York is proud. These parties
arc Of every degree OF consequence and
no consequence Ono may 10 composed Of
distinguished foreigners chaperoned by Commis-
sIouer Tom Brennan; another, OF city poll
ticIans and their friends; anothor. of troop Of
militia soldiers visit to the city, another. Of
gang Of medical students, headed by professor who
Is about to hold clinic in OF the hospitals or asy-
lums: another, q beyy OF female pupils from
seminary tho country and In endless variety.
rRE BUSINESS OF rHE ISLANDS
The average number OF visitors throughout the year
Is 800 dny The average number oi prisoners sent up
from the various police courts Is 15o There arc three
steamboats, employed the pier and the islands
the Bellevue Captain Bird the Minnahannock, Captain
steelc and tho Fidelity. Captain Sykes The pier and
IT'S approaches under command Of Captain Willis
The business transacted the pier is brisk
and constant Every thing furnished 10 tho insti-
tutions is brought down hero. and q force OF
men nearly ll.good conduct prisoners from Black
wells Island, is kept constantly employed hauling
and rolling on board tho various supplies Of one kind
another, dragging ashore empty boxes and bar
res In the morning, when tho supplies OF mcat In
great red sides brought down for shipment along
with Q hundred othor kinds Of provisions tho scene
lively II Is IN the morning, too. that the prs
oners from tho police driven up In tidy,
little steamers hug the dock closely and appear be
almost portion Of it. There constant passing and
repassing ON board Of men In penitentiary uniform
somc wheeling trucks laden with boxes OF and
danties for tho SICK carrying their shoulders
hugo loads Of beef mutton, bundles Of clothing.
&c Finally, when the little steamer bound
Tor Backwelps Island is loaded down forward
und is nearly ready to start the rooms where
the male aud female temporarily confined
opened, and n motley brigade Of bummers slipshod
anu shiverng. somo with symptoms OF mania-a- potu
como shufing tho rough wooden panking and
70 board
MANY TYPES wRErcnEDSEss
among these always seen icw men Of respect
able dross and appearance, and from tho way they
hang their heads evident they feel the situation
keenly. Most OF the bummers, Lowever, har-
dened looking set who have long been strangers to
shame, and they take the coolly " they
had been 10 tho manner born. Coming from the cold
cells of tho station houses and not yet emancipated
from tho effects q recent debauch the misery OF
these poor wretches, more especially In the win
ter, as they leave their voyage for tho bleak
and cheerlcss workhouse on the island Is ab-
solute On the steamers they huddlc together
near tho boiler, and If there among them
many who havo been accustomed to the experience OF
Blaokwel's Island they manage to become quite
going there for the first timc prefer to commune
with their sad. reproachul thoughts All classes
OF petty offenders are sent tho Island tho sneak
thief being conspicuous element In tho lot Fhc wo
differently from tho neu Inc lattcr 90 on
board without u word, but the former I'LL the uir with
wild laughter and indecent language tho momcnt they
get out upon tho pier. They placed Ia q different
part tho boat from the men, and those who old
offenders among them treat the trip Us lightly as II
bound for Coney Island or Rockaway.
Tue SAD GATEWAY
To sit on the bench underneath the high archway
and watch the crowds us they come and 60 gives
curious and abundant food for study. A policeman
stands middle OF the passaseway TO keep order
and Official Of the Department of Charities aud
Correction stands near hin, close TO narrow wooden
walk, along which visitors pass onc by ono and show
him their tickets, or. having none, pay thrty cents
ap,ccc and get admitted WHAT u varied crowd this Is
tnat presses forward tho outrancc! Hero s
woman, bent with the weight OF years and clothed in
faded aud threadbaro black, who wants to sec sioved
but errng daughter before she Dies Tho light of glad
long lett her eye, but with tho maternal
instinct strong upon her, albeit hope aud JOY arc fed
who, perhaps, was The pride ana solace Of
hor heart, though degraded 10 prison CELL Hero
and sen chsae ulask calico rrcssos with pncnod
faces, speaking of poverty and sorrow. They want
10 see their ia'hcr who has now been on me Island
nnc months. He their chief support, but their
mother struggled still keep body and soul together,
but she unequal TO tho burden, and bed oi sick
ness and Of death received her Her little daughters
20 as bearers Of the nournful news TO the ather In
prison. and what thoughts may be MS Is needless 10
imngne Hero Is u woman a tattcrcd bonnet with
deep traces OF suffering her lace. Two boys, her
only SUPPORT tho Island over SIX mouths
aud she has sold all tina. she possessed TO Keep nerse,
hand and In that, doubt, she carries some small
| token Of mothers love Here IS an old man with
thin white hnir aud leaning on stick. Ho wants TO
see his boy and know that his mother died the
previous week, broken hearted woman. THO iathefs