The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-23
TEARING DOWN "AFRICA.0
The Destruction OF Block Of Houses rn.sus
In Now Yorh Police Ans.la


africa" at 81 and 50 Thompson street, is
being torn down. The destruction OF this land
mark OF crime and murder attracts a large
crowd Of mon. women and children. who stand
outside watching the laborers on the rookerics.
To protect tho workmen n gate. barred and
locked. keeps the idlers away, while q police
man. kept continually on duty by Capt. McDon-
neil. orders the crowds that assemble to move
on.
The three buildings now being demolished
were erected some fifty years ago. They were
stouuy built; low. and very narrow. They
formed a hollow square. They wore two stories
in height. and had dark. ill-ventilated base
ments. or cellars. When FIRST built they were
solely occupied by respectable colored working
people. Since then tho inmates on several oc-
casions have been nearly swept out Of OK
stcnce by contagious Diseases
During the cholera Of 49," said colored
man. yesterday "moar den fifty men. women.
and chlum dicd in that block"
A visitation OF the smallpox some years ago
killed of many. and not year went by without
the entire block bein.. visited with some dread
full disease. After the war. when money was
plenty and the Eighth ward was full OF crimi-
but the lowest rysorted From that time ART
ca became n terror even to the po.e. Every
night some man reported 10 them that he had
been knocked down and robbed while passing
IT. Tho inmates fought and cut one another
until tho police. when th'y arrested u colorcd
man or woman. IN no mater what part of the
city,. II thry found u mr. on his or her throat
head. or hanis. exclaimed at once. "A niger
On the second floor Of 81 Thompson street
James Jackson. in June, 1873. cut in pieces his
white wife and then cut his own throat On tho
stop OF that house. in 1876. an freshman was
first knocked down aud then del lborately beaten
tonesthi,- shanbllng TX - Tie murderer of
dcrer of n poor Italian: Jcn saunders. arrested
q few days ago by Capt. Byrnrs for stabbng two
Irshm"n. and who. two years ago. stabbed II
man one sunday morning in South Firth ave-
nue.: Clooked-Ioot joe" and Blue Nose
jack" murderers and thieves. all lived in this
since tho advent Of Capt Mcdonnell in tho
Eighth Procnot. Africa has been raided Blk
night Herr Blind Man Oatheld" kept n den
whoever entered it was first robbed and then
thrown into tina street.
The property was owned by prominent
!uWY5y-"S NhD eird 4 lew vars ago. From 1868
dcns averaged $500 year. As hard times
came rents went down, since 1874 the rents
collected have averaged only 800 z month. In
and read estate owner bought the three lots for
$4,000. Tn" now owner sent his az, nt to exam
! Inc and report on has purchase. The agent was
| found later IA Bellevue Hospital with u broken
| bend. Several men were then sent there. and
! they reported that in ono corner OF the place
were twenty loads Of garbage; the drain pipes
/ werr broken, and the sewers OVERLOOKING. The
| last time An Inspector from the Board OF Health
!
crsl " N dust aud told ~ take that ~ the Board
| OF Health AMI clear out.
Mr.. Dimick concluded to tear down the build
| ings5. and on the lst OF May gave notice t. tho
/ tenants that M the Isl 81 Septem her he would
! hegin the work OF demolition The inmates
merely grlnnOd ~ him. Lust week Mr.. Dimick ;
agent went 10 the place " III several workmen
| They b gan ere tlu.l strong wooden barricade.
or Eat', with locks and htrs. When this WAS
| finished. us the inmates stepped out they wcre
| refused rsadni ittanre. \ few were thus quietly
got rid OF, but tho majority rsiuscd 10 leave. AMI
werc determined not to surrender. Then d.
dozen worSmen sprang upon tnc roof Of tho
! thr old roo WIS ripped up T.mbrIs and bri rs
! f"I inst. hut tn" Inmates Of the top stories only
/ moved down stars. Tie iOilowln., day the work
/ o. dtsllu Ton Was begun IA earnest. M"n and
i WON n ruri ~. AMI ono III. coi1rrd man offered
d t. take three years lsgsp and pay cash down
| Dimi- *, hnw.N"r. was determined to keep on.
! and Capt NJ 'Doaneli WAS requested 70 scnd po-
/ hcrmrn. IS a Not was tiuin. nrnt A. the police
/ came NJ the Inmates ours 'd them loudly. The
/ order was given To cl"ar the buil,tin4 sand soon
I Thompson street was blocked with mlacr,blo
/ men w,ihrn.And children carrying their iurni-
ture and traps
Tao foreman yesterday stood on n pile Of
, brl IS wuicuing tho drsiru ton ui tho right
ana i'lt " MS. - never -aW ~u'h buildings.
, sad IL. n - aim. ~ inersllblO tlAt human
| beings could have lived in them. Mr. Dimcl
/ continued ihe rrnau IA answer 10 70 question,
! - hNV found some oUri,,-.tieS aa Ear ~ Nr
/ huND Enn'. " r." mans lower Jaw. fh' rt'
II part ut the skull; ti., - % l'g h1uf. that IS
/ plrt of IN arm. and u"rr IS u sE".ctuu hand.
/ Ilt laborel7 inun go futltr ol KNIVES. forks.
/ anu slOou-. walsh t4r. .naSiu i were silver
q. iiy - IAursls.1 h-t NesII-e VIII remain oi