The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-02


START IN LIFE
John Morrissey was the only sou Of Timothy Nor
rissey. and born at Templcmore, County Upper
airy. Ireland, in 1881. Timothy Morrisssy, who was
ordinary day laborer, came TO the United States
when John only three years of age, and took up
Ls in Troy, N. Y, where be continued TO
live ana work as iaborer TIL his son was in posi-
tion TO support him. So late 1874 the old gentle
man was alive aud hearty, never having known
days sickness, without gray hair In his head,
and not requiring 10 use spectacIes, though eighty
i've years OF age. John Aorrissey's school cduca-
ton comprised In the attendance OF q common
school for ono year. during which time, he himself
admitted, he learned more mischief than letters. 1t
seized with desire TO learn read write, IL
will surprise many to learn that he taught himself
Tho older Morrlssey, having little girls to sup
port well his boy, and only earning 81 or ten
shiings day, was necessarily compelled 10 put his
son to work carly In lie as possible. When twelve
years old, therefore, his family having moved over
tho river from West to East Troy and takon up their
residence In yoirey street, John Morrsssy began tho
battle OF life in Orr's wall paper factory at the hand
some wages OF 81 25 a week. In those days the
printing OF wall paper was all aone by hand,
and Norrissey's employment consisted In brush
ing the color on TO the cloth on which
transfer the color to the paper Morrissey worked
Orrs factory for two years and then went into the
rolling mill OF the Burden Iron Works. whore ne had
to SEIZE the red hot bars with nippers they came
finished from the rolls and draw them away 10 tho
cooling place. Morrisscy worked for one year In tho
iron works. receiving 50 SO week. John G. Heenan
worked In tho shop with HIM. In 1S46, he went
into tho stove foundry Of Johnson, Cox & Co., where
he worked as helper in the moulding room for two
years. While thcre no assisted IN making bomb
shells for the government to be used IN the Mexican
war. In those days the stove foundrcs OF Troy
always lay Idle during tho thrco winter months.
Johnson Cox 4 Co., therefore. filled up this vacant
part of their business year during by taking
u contract Tor BON bshells from the government
BEGINNING LIFE.
BY this timo Morrisscy, who was, even in those
days, built like young giant. began TO take an active
part in tho local faction disputes OF Troy and IN 1S4S
he ono Of tho most prominent "rounders" Of the
city. There we're at that umo two parties among
he young roushs and rowdies Of Troy, known as up
Town" ana "Down Town" Young he was Nor
rissey tho leader no used to express IT, tho
sschicf dcvil', OF the ..Down Town" party. John
O'Rourke and John Mackay, aged twenty -four and
twenty.six respectively, wcro the leaders OF
tho "Up Town" gang. The quarTeis and lights BE-.
tween these two gangs were ncessant aud very
O'Rorrke was we'll known among his class through
out all that section the State and the adjoining
counties Of tho Now England States powerfully
built and terrific fighter aud as having whipped
every ono In tho surrounding country. In tho fall
OF 184S John Morrissey accidentally encountered
O'Rourkc In tho square which there then ut the
lower end OF Fourth street. and O'Rourke, who was
partially intoxicated and 10 quarrelsome franc
OF mind, struck Morrissey without any provo
cation. They Immediately clinchod for q Dght.
but O'Rourke's companions, knowing that no was
drunk, and would, consequently. be badly beaten,
separated them. few days aftcrward the two again
accidentally met Lawrcnco's saloon In River street.
Both had some OF their respective gangs with them.
O'Rourke ut once flow At Morrisscy, a regular aght
crsucd between tho two; O'Rourkc soundly
thrashed, ind John Morrisscy was Tho hero Of shc
hour the lower quarters OF Troy STILL O'Rourke 3
party were not content to submit unconditional
surrender and Morrissey had 10 light all Of ourke .
chosen comrades, one alter another. These fights
eight In number wcrc all fought during tho
ensuing year. Morrsscy was triumphant In oil; and
though only eighteen years OF age, his name and
tho subject vi discussion and noto.
rioty the sporting circles Ia every State III the
Union. John Morrisscy was iairly established as a
nghting man. During the Two yoars. lS4S and 1910
Morrissoy deck hand The North River steam
boat Empire, plying between Now York and Albany,
Of which Captain Smith, whose daughter Morrisssy
married 10 1854, was tho commander. While deck
hand hts wages were $l5 month, but his pcrquises
from parcels, baggage, Sc (tnero were no express
com pan those days raised this up 70 $50
500 month"; according 10 weather and season. John
Morr,ssey made his advent IN Now York In a
perfectly In keeping with the whole tenor Of
his career pug:list. Alexander Hamilton. for
mer New York "buifer," during visit TO his metro
poiitan auns, badly beaten ut tho Empire Club
then 10 full blast next tho Old Park
Morrisscy camo down from Troy 10 avengo tho in
juries Of his employer and entering the den OF tho
Empire gang ono night, inquired politely OF Isaiah
Rynders, then famous political loader, .'Whether
tnerc werc any lighters in the house, OF course
there were numerous responses In the Affirmative and
Tho respondents gave John some very unpleasan
memontocs Of the nights work. Hc pummclisd right
ana left and there was every chance Of his clearing
out tho place, but he WIS rendered unconscious by
Captain Ry nders hammcring him vigorously
on the head with an eartnon spittoon. Tho
this process, aud when he at last got vol he had
all desire or returning TO Troy. "Awfui' Gardner,
grant runner' about tho wnarves, and John dcciaod
10 GO into business with him. However, no did not
like the trade. and gave y up after boarding single
vessel win his partner On the vessel tho two
attacked by Tom Burns Nike Murray ana others OF
tho gang runners tnat had Its headquarters the
Battery, and wished ~ beat OIL the new comcra
Morrssey went into tho battle with wilI aud after
denolshing or two OF the enemy looked about to
SEQ what hcadwny his comrade Gardner
making. Tho glimpse nc then got OF sInc
AWFUL mover ialled 10 excite Johns risDes when hc
recalled II Not seeing aiin upon tho deck Nor
risscy raised his eyes and saw him lying up the
sprouds with the agility Of u monkey. 'There never
was a chipmonk climbed tree iastor than he got up
What with mariinsspikes ami supgshots IN the hands
OF MS opponents John had his hcad pretty we'll
swciied aud hammered out OF shape before ne got
ashore, aud the partnership was dissolved then and
there. "Aiter my row with tho Ryndcrs and liver
crowd" said Morrissey, once recalling this
portion OF his career, 81 laid Tor them
said he:-'Gontlemsn, l will lick
your crowd, ana make you acknowledge me, u Il
takcs ycaraL was ms poor ms u wharf rat, and
could barely pick up MY food; but kept on the
wharves unloading steamers, working with long
shorcmcn and getting beaten SO often that 1 was
hardly evor right we'll. AS long as l poor
body would de- me tho favor ~ hight me Ia ths ring,
and finally went 10 California Ia tho mining times
to make u stake
OFF TO CALIFORNIA.
In 1850 Morrsscy gave up steauiboat.ng, having
become inoculatcd with tho California lever OF 1Sl9,
aud California determined 60 search Of thut
fortune which nc did not see his way TO making IN
Troy. young man named Daniel Cunningham,
uitcrwnrd we'll known III New YORK "Daa" Gun
bingham, aud notorious Tor having shot anu killed
one Patrick Mclaughlin, better known as "Paugcan,"
determined 10 accompany him. They made = JOINT
purse OF thor funds, amounting in all TO $l3, and
Win tho sum the two proposed, by hook or by
crook. TO reach san Francisco. Thor nrst step
TO steal u rido 10 New York y
freight train; their second to SLOW themselves