The New York herald., 1879-12-10
"SHANTYTOWN" INVADED.

HAVOC WROUGHT BY CITY MARSHAL AND
DIsPossEss WARRANT AMONG WEST SIDE
sQUArTERs-BRIcK AND CEMENT sUPERsEDING
sHINoLE ALONG THE LINE OF THE 81" ROAD.
On the west side. between the Central Park and
the Hudson River there are on the rocks high above
the streets and which intersec that part Of
the city number Of clusters Of shanties composing
separate and exceedingly characteristic villages
Most of these along the line of the Metropolitan
Elevated Railroad, the largest extending for several
blocks below Seventy first street. In respect
it is unique settlement, the style of architecture
being primitive one would expect to find in the
backwoods. while the Inhabitants evnce all of the
vices and of the virtues of metropolitan city.
Perched on the rocks high above the roadway
these "homes of the poor reached by
rude starways from the street. and they
are built closely together that nsress and egress
are obtained only by means of quaint and narrow
passageways. intricate almost as q labyrinth. In
spite Of their rudcness and squalor there is some
thing picturesque in their appearance. No two OF
them are alike. Some are single story in height.
built of perpendicular boards. while others two
stored structures with greater architectural preen
sions. One has q narrow porch not two feet in
width which invariably provokes q smile from "L"
road passengers These shanties are. many of them,
old and some Of them have been in the posses
OF = century. Just now. however. there are agita'
ton and trepdation in this model village The ex-
pusion of it's denizens at distant day is openly
threatened and. indeed. In Of the villages the
work Of dispossession has already begun.
THE WAR OPENED. M
On Monday morning City Marshal Bierne armed
with writ Of dspossession from Civil Justice Inger-
soil. and supported by posse of his selection,
appeared among the "squatters'' to begin the work
Of dspossession and demolition. The occupants Of
the shantes served with notice last May to
move their buildings within six months. but most
of them took heed Of it. Then the usual dis
possess warrants were applied for. and after the.
necessary notice allowed. This caused some of the
occupants Of the novels to their effects and
yesterday morning when Marshal Biernes force
appeared at Eighty second street and Tenth avenue
they found two unoccupied shanties on the prop
erty OF Mr.. II. II. Cammann ready for axe and ham-
mer. row OF fats has been built in Eighty second
street in close proximity to the site Of these.
desirable to tenants that it was determined
to remove the unsightly structures. Only
short time required to reduce them to kindling
wood aud then the force moved on to Mrs. Dorsey's
cottage. on Eghtysecond street. between Ninth and
Tenth avenues. The good LADY had moved out. but
to stand. and that as soon as the storm blew over
she would be able to occupy it once more. In this.
however. she was disappointed She had taken
temporary refuge in Seibertvle. cluster of houses
in the middle or the block. called after the Ger
u
Of the cabins. and looking out upon ber long cher
ished home she saw her house totter beneath crow
bar and pckaxe The sight was too much for
human nature, and she vt once showed herself among
"what are you doing. you dirty blackguardY' she
exclaimed. 'Tearn down poor widdy's house
over her hesdl Bad luck to your seed. breed and
gneration. and may you niver die till yours with
out . shelter to your bloody carcass"
A GERMAN SETTLEMENT. :.
These anathemas. however. did NOT have any inn
mediate effect and the work was Continued until
n ty.niU n
street and Ninth avenue, where there Q cluster
Of shantes. also on the property of Mr.. Cammann.
which had been doomed to destruction. Four of
them removed last week by their owners, and
some will be allowed to stand for month or two
day. These were built by German named Behring's
who occupied himself and let the Others to labor
something of landed proprietor and was very averse
to yielding up his possessions. But fate against
him. and at last he promised to move il time was
given him until yesterday morning This
granted but 1t was feared that Behring's might
change his mind and endeavor to remain after all.
When the officers returned yesterday morning. now
ever his house empty. and 1t was speedily Lew
elled to tho ground. HERALD reporter or
hand to notes of the battle open hos.
tlities. but he found sanguinary indications anys
where In the neighborhood. i
'Isn't it cruel to dispossess these poor people in
this summary wayT the reporter asked Of Marshal
Beirne. whom he found on the premises.
"Cruelp Not at ALL was the marshal's answer.
"And besides, most of these people not poor.
Some Of them worth $4,000 or $4,000 There
is Dexter. for instance. He has lived here long
war; he says, he was 0 teamster in the Second Army
corps; but he came here to live before the war-as
early 1882 He has farm OF 160 acres near Buff |
falo. small farm on Long Island and two houses
Westchester. Come and see him yourself. and then
you will know whether he pleads poverty" -
OLDEST INHABITANTS.
Mr.. Dexter was found at home. The reporter did
the sympathetic. but the response was what he had
been taught to expect.
Talk about being poor" said Mr.. Dexter; "be-
cause I don't wear o white shirt?"
Dexter is nearly seventy years old. but he is not
nd
vidual IL an Irish woman, who has lived there
eight years. and has the history of the settle
ment ut her fingers ends. Unfortunately she
absent when the reporter called But he found Mrs.
Hoaley at home. and this lady having made il her
home for twenty years exceedingly loath to
quit her quiet cottage on Eighty-frst street. She
speaks very little English. clinging with much
tenacity to her native Irish she clings
adopted home.
"Do .ou anticipate any trouble in executing your
writsr the reporter inquired OF the officer. ~
mot here. where most of the squatters are
Germans" was the answer; "but when begin on
the Irish at Seventy first street suppose they'll
make 1t pretty lively for u.s."