The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-15
BROADBRIM'S NEW YORK LETTER.


Central Park-Romantc History-Disas-
trous Ftres-A Preachers Failure. Younq
Highacay Robber-Ihe Markets. Stocks, &C.
A real genuine dyed-in the wool New
Yorker is probably the finest specimen of
the American cockney to be found on the
American continent. A citizen in Chicago
looks out from the Prairie Queen with SUBJ
lime indifference on all the rest of the
world; a man from Boston knows that
the vast globe revoves around his
own loved home, and that the sacred
associations of American history are cir
cumscribed by Faneul Hall and Bunker
Hill; while fellow from California, study
ing geography, may possibly have heard
that there were such places as Boston and
Chicago, but when you come right down
to the point of how to live, there amt no
place on the earth like San Francisco. To
a New Yorker all the fellows are country
men, mere provincial waits and strays; he'd
have the grass cut off their backs, and the
hay-seed combed out of their hair, before
he would consider them entitled to second
class reception. Manhatten Island covers
the area of civilization to him, and all
without is terra incognia. Brook
Ign, with its five hundred thousand
inhabitants, is looked upon as country
town, and Jersey, on the other side of the
North River, is regarded as foreign land.
For sublime egotism and arrogant self.
sufficency there is nothing like him on the
globe. Nineteen years ago the spot on
which Central Park now stands was an
unsightly, rocky wilderness. From Fifty
ninth street to One hundred and Tent St.,
presented as worthless and barren an ap-
pearance as could be found in any equal
area in the land. Shanties, such as you
might find among the mountains of Wick
low or the boys of Kerry were perched
upon the rocks or hidden in the hollows:
goats, pigs, and donkeys roamed at large
wherever they pleased and found shelter in
any house where night happened to over
take them. There were four distinct quar-
ters-The Irish, the German, French and
Italian, and Negro. The conflicts occa-
sionally occurring between these rival fac
lions frequently resulted in murder. A
coroner's inquest being deemed supertluous,
the murderers generally escaped After
dark no officer ever ventured in there,
unless amply supported by posse; and
policeman on their rounds generally gave
it a wide birth, for it was as much as their
lives were worth to make an arrest. Drv-
ing along the Mall on beautiful Autumn
afternoon, it is difficult to realize the maj
velous change that has taken place. Every
thing looks so calm, so lovely, and SO still.
Right over near the corner of G3rd street and
the Boulevard terrible encounter took
place between the United States detective,
Billy Lennock, and Jot Minor, who was
arrested for counterfeting in 1871. The
year 1871 was famous for the vast amount
of counterfeit money which found its way
into circulation, the work being among
the finest that had ever been seen in Amer
lea. Elves, tens, twenties and hundreds
were flooded all over the country, and at
last suspicion was directed to one Joshua
d. Minor, at that time large contractor
on the Boulevard. 1t was a miserable
rainy night in October of 1871 that the
United States detectives started from their
Office in Bleecher street to unravel if possible
the mystery. A faithless female had given
him away, and this Deliah was to deliver
him into to the hands of the Phllistires.
The part the female was to play was to
receive the counterfeit plates from Minor
and give him sum of market money in
return. AS have said the night was dark
and rainy and the Boulevard was deserted.
About eleven o'clock the woman passed
rapidly along, and was met by a man muf-
fled to the eyes near G2d street; there was
q sharp exchange, and as the man moved
quickly away he was pounced on by Ken
mock the detective. Minor was very
powerful man; Kennock was wiry and
small. The struggle was desperate. There
in the darkness they rolled over and over,
neither caring to hollow for help for fear
he might alarm the other friends. A deep
cut had been made for a sewer, and into
the hole they tumbled distance of ten or
twelve feet. A roaring torrent was sweep
ing through the cut, and there, almost
dead with fright, Jot Minor surrendered.
The case was tried before Judge Benedict,
and Minor was finally acquitted.
The Mall of Central Park may be called
the Rotton Row of New York. Here, of
a fine afternoon, may be seen the wealth,
the beauty and fashion Of the metropolis.
Nor is it the resort of the aristocracy only;
the sons culotte feels that he has share in the
fee-simple, and airs his nobility and rags
with as much satisfaction as if he belonged
to the proudest of the F. F's. Under the
little willow to the left of the landing is the
spot where the beautiful Lille Marion was
drowned death as mournful and heart
rending as that of Miss Canda, who sleeps
beneath the magnificent mausoleum at
Greenwood. Near the large oak on the
right of the Mall, not far from the music
stand, is where the unfortunate Mrs. Stur-
tevant was killed. Her horse took fright
and ran away; the lady attempted to leap
out of her Garage; her head struck against
the fatal oak, and hear brains were scat
tered upon the grass. Within the limits
of the park there have been several roman
tic suicides. A little over year ago, one
bright July morning two young lovers were
found locked in each others embrace, be-
meath the trees stone dead. Central Park
covers an area of eight hundred and forty
three acres, one hundred and forty-one of
which are occupied by the Croton reservoir.
Its admirable location is calculated to make
it the great aristocratic center of the future.
The magnificent Lennox Library, and
other public and private buildings, have
already cost many millions of dollars, and
assure the aristocratic future of the park.
Our National Museum is progressing; our
Geological collection is being constantly
added to: and if l might venture to give
word of advice to my friends on the out
,;Jo ,bo,lJ yor, on,,a 70 Nau,