The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
TIE BRIDGE or DEATH,
Mysterious Disappesrsnors-How Polly Rich
nrdson Lost her Ears,


Looking Mt the Broadway, the Dowerv.
the 0una, and Centre streets of 1915 1t is not
easy to believe all the stories that old New
Workers tell about them. Yet some, at least, VI
these stories are borne out by documentary eyi.
dencs still existing and accessible.
on Christmas evening, In little family party,
It was my good fortune to meet one Of the IA.
nous bellies Of the Bowery-a belle Of 70 wears
now, but as bright. cheerful. and laxative an
old lady IA one need wish TO meet. The CONVEX
sation turned on the New York Of her youth.
81 notice." she said. that every body has h I'd
something to say this Centennial year about the
old times. They have revived great many
things-the old markets, the old churches and
theatres, and the old fortune teller Francis
Drnse) Of the Dowery. But I haven't seen a
word about the Cole (CollectO as 1t was
cilled, on Canal street, or about the Black
Ishmaelite who fed It with the blood OF the In
Doccnt. am one, or, rather, 1 used to be one,
Of the Bowcry bellies. so ! know a great many
things that happened In those days-over sixty
years ago.
rhis Cole was a deep, muddy ditch. which
was said to have no bottom. whythey called IL
the 'Colic j never heard. There was wooden
bridge Tor people to walk across on. II was at
the corner W what IL now Canal and Centre
streets. II remember right. IL was the terror
81 the whole region. Broadway was tho ol
main road. nut people often had to cross the
Culvert bridge to 90 to anu { ON work, day aud
night. There was an old deserted brewery near
by. In which an anvil aud ri her blacksm,th tools
d been placed. he blacksmith was negro,
10y the name Of Ismael FRASER. He was large,
powerful man. and established this shop. ns It
afterwards appeared, to disguise his real occu-
patton. Down under this old brewery or bl OK
shtth shop. there were dark cellars, wncfe black
and white ruhians llvsd with their miles.
FOR long time cltizcns kept dsiDueir ring ne
after anOt her out no one cOul discover now they
went or what became of them. the negro had
"a say age Jog th,t ne ha1 trained until IL knew
hcirl rs muci a a man and this dog was l.
WAYS bv MS side. FRASER would wlit for his
victims in the dprk ON that old bridge. The
mud and slime beneath ~ VIVA Of that quicksand
nature nat the BODY 81 u insn or wuu ~ thrown
pole h lnty ~ the shadow 81 the bridge with
wnicn To push the body ueep under.
For iuii- II ne no one suspected him. He
satded as IN honest. industrious man But at
last the mys,ery Oi these frequent disappear
ances was Gle rcd up by thu nding % the body
ot poor haruworking viri named Polly Rich
ard-On.
1T was dark, stormy nigh, when poor Polly.
the scamsticss, arted across that cism bridge
on the way back o. her nuniul home, where her
Odd parents w,rc anAiousis awaiting her sud
Ceni. "a Wild shrek wss heard IOye all the 10 r
u the ten pest. The whole neigh rhoOd was
alumed. Ia those days there were only "a lew
watchmrn In the city. Lanterns were procured,
ami tue men rushed out to see what was the
IA tier The Waterman Joined them.
A. thev turned to the bridge a large. dark
DgDre was seen to run fiOm the pool ana diSap-
pear INTO tie OH blacksmith shol. Tie men
buried to the bridge ana Their they found tho
il""~- houN OF poor fniiN IN p1oi OF blood
lie VILLAIN alter sirking her down. had strip.
pei her 81 everything. H. had ac;u lN cut IN
her enrs TO get the earnings. ~ he h d no, tine
u take them out liet body WIS quickl re-
moved - a place Of safety, and hen 1t was
found she was not dead. hc men returned to
the bridge ami there found the pole.
Alter a desperate struggle the negro was
captured. Tue party found on his premises
Poly : watch. IN in, ears and earrings and her
clothes, money. and "A bundle OF work she had
rolled M To take home. Pony nnally recovered
aud toiu all she knew. \ search OF tue pool wa,
resolved upon. Body after body was dragged to
the surface. Friiser was tried, convicted, and
sentenced to be hanged. People from all parts
o. the city and state Hooked to see the hanging.
his accompiices.
In those days 1t was tie custom to clip the
ears OF dishonest people. so that thief might
be known at sight PolNs father asked the
Court to have All the faces put Ia tne court
records ana this was done"