The sun., 1880-10-10
REMINIscKNcEs OF OLD NEW YORK.
The Mt. Pitt CIrcus-Charistto Purdy--The
Coz MIol-Knte Cla ston's Grnndnather.

f1Uy years ago JnS beV6nJH WHTu, WlUn
its surroundings. was quite hotbed Of oharac-
ter and typical idiosyncrasies. Making paral-
telegram from the present Grand Street Ferry
on the East River straight down Division street
to Chatham square. then across the square ono
block to Henry street. and up Henry street In q
straight line to the East River again. We have q
small district or territory which disclose many
curious roles OF character and incident.
To begin Mt the northeast corner Of tho field.
we lind that some fifty years ago an enterpris-
Ing manager had established there, near tho
site OF tho present ferry to Williamsburgh. n
place OF amusement called the Mount Pitt Cir
Gus. 1t was, Of course. a great novelty in that
section of the town. and was for time quite
successful. 1t romans impressed ON the mem
ory OF tho writer inasmuch as he visited 1t
when a youngster. but mainly because 1t was
there. on tho original sand banks of the site OF
the circus that Richard, or. as he wns familinrly
known Dick Sands. threw his first p-1aps.
Mr.. Sands was in his day ono OF tho most IA
nous OF our circus mon. individually somo-
timos. but generally as ono OF n firm, OF which
the principal was Sands Il Lent. Commu-
nicatng his adventures many years ago. he
gave an account OF his visit to England. and his
rides with the Duke OF Rutland in his eight
horse coach through the English Villages to the
Rutland estate 1t was afterward that Sands
performed his famous feat. In Paris. OF walking
on the ceiling with patent shoes. fly fashion.
| and carrying his head down. Incidental to the
vicinity mentioned. 1t may be said that it has n
street tho only one in New York. which has not
sufficient vowels to spell it WITH namely. Goerck
street. time out OF mind pronounced Gorick
street. Travelling down Division street. we
after while rench the etore of John Poasc pro-
jector and proprietor OF Pease's Horehound
Candy."so famous in that day in all the news-
papers. On oil the dead walls. and in evorbodys
mouth. Mr.. Pease. 1t is said. employed several
special poets OF his own.
Another celebrity. grocer near by. in famil
lar nomenclature Greasy Peterson. acquired
great renown on the east side by his purchase.
| under cover Of his shabby and thritless ap-
pearance. OF a sloop load OF butter at six cents
the pound. at which prico the bantering vender
had offered 1t to him. not dreaming that he
S2ud S IIs money to buy at any PRICE,
pouch filed with bright gold pieces. Some dis
oh" h"racter, man OF sturdy build. with Indian
complexion and great length Of black Indian
teacher afterward for long time first Judge OF
the Marine Court. then held in the old Aims
House the .9G s s e pSek bs
writer once heard the venerable Judge read.
at the meeting OF learned society ono or more
books OF an epic poem he had written.
And now we come TO the great feature OF the
street. the milliners shops a continuous string
for nm entire block. owned and kept by pretty
women. and in that day as much resorted to as
are now the fash sh;onablo modistes OF Fourteenth
street and Fifth avenue. The lady millners
were noted for their beauty. and made great
havoc among the bachelors and beauX OF East
Broadway. especially one Charlotte Purdy. the
into the Bowery for moment We shall come at
No. % upon wild beast show OF the antique
the fruit shop kept by a little Frenchman.
Mr.. Chanfrau, the father OF our present Dopu-
lar actor. Mr.. Frank Chanfrau, To re:
Division street and the Bowery. n most extraor-
dinary thoroughiare. II it may DO so called.
comes out at the other end it is perfect zigzag.
Every house stands on line by itself, that at
almost every step you are turning tho corner:
This is Doyer street. the principal occupant of
! an infant school Of her own. held in triangH-
lar room in building on one OF the many cor
ners Of the street. Tho street takes its namo
from Mrs. Dover the grandmother. | believe.
present firm Of Shipman. Barlow. Larocque Il
MacFarland. Counsellor Larocgue's father was
In those days dry goods merchant, Just below
Doyer street on Chatham square. Henry Doyer
was IN 1913 merchant at l6O Chatham street.
We have now reached Chatham square-not
the play ground Of the east side boys and now,
was the favorite game played on the square fifty
years ago 1t was then simple pastime with
yarn arm balls and fiat sticks for bats Occasionally
the ground ball with heart Of surgeons
nose. procured in the street. near the racket
over the wall by rash blow. The SOU square 'sSs was
on ono occasion the scene OF q riotous demon
stration known as the Gas Riot. growing out OF
an arrangement among the merchants doing
business on the square to shut down upon the
gas company whose rates were considered ex-
tortionate. One merchant, n man OF character
and resolution. did not concur in the closing
movement. and, keeping his store, open in the
evening. was assailed by a mob with showers
OF eggs and other misses. The writer recol-
lects seeing Philip Hone. then Mayor. on the
whose presence GueIied the excitement "A'
II We now cross the square toward the East
River we come to the famous Oliver Street Bnp-
tist Church. remarkable for years in the annals
OF our city as great centre OF religious inhu-
ence and interest. The original structure was
binary country barn. Then followed moro
prete1tious structure 81 Of stone and brick That
Cone who was appointed in is26 coadjutor to to
the Rev, John Williams; MIR, Williams was a
Welshmsn by birth. and the Welsh seemed to
the neigh ghborhood. The late Marshall o. Rob
erts was born at the lower end OF the street. No.
Williams. and there was. according to the
writer's recollection. member of tho
may have been the merchants broth.
er. Owen Roberts, the father OF Marshall
e Roberts: wGsnmPn mad his Siis9 in
bus ness. including among others the offices OF
professional men. Among tho number were
q
daughter OF Commodore Vanderbilt; the late
James Il. Whiting. District Attorney and Judge
Of one of our principal courts; John Lever
idge lawyer, 80 much noticed as resembling
Gen. Lafayette. who is now living, at an ad-
yanced age. and may be seen daily entering n
law Office opposite the Post Office. There. also.
was to be found Capt. ,SSiddy. father OF the
late famous merchant, Francis Skiddy. The
Skiddy family were noted dancers. and main
tanned a spirited and friendly rivalry in saa-
tion with the RobortsOns. who lived further up
the ward. Here also was Henry Brooks. the
clothlng merchant. who has been so long and
SO wor'hily succeeded by his sons. Brooks
Brothers.
To return to the Oliver Street Church. Its
new pastor, Spencer H.. Cone was a man OF
varied experience. lie had been teacher. sol
dier. editor. aud actor A. u preacher he was
truly great; his style was pictorial, vivid, ear
nest. and of electrical energy He was vehe-
ment in his opinions and decided in their ut
terancc. His two Objective" points were Ro-
manism and tho theatre; yet, strangely enough.
ms y0unEer SON. MallnGe Zone .mnrrled a
daughter OF Spencer II. Cone, Kate Claxton. is
now before the public on tho stage as an actress
incidentally it may he montioncd that the
writer has heard Mr.. Cone, in his discourses
refer more than once to his theatrical career
and particularly the circumstance that ho was
in ln attn q fba Ripbpn1