New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-23
LOW LIFE IN NE W YORK..
SOME ASPECTS OF CHERRY HILL.

SOME ASPECTS OF CHERRY HILL.
HOW TIE CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT HAS
CHANGED SCENES IN ALLEYS AND TENEMENT
HOUSES.
Strictly speaking the name Cherry Hill applies
only to small locality: but usage has gwen 10 u
wider signihcanco.- The main part OF the lilll is
embraced by the part of Cheiry-st between Koose-
yet-st and rear-st.-a dingy and iil-kept block
almost in the shadow of the bridge anchorage
which maintains during the greater part OF the year
n melancholy activity. number OF years ago.
when the number OF TRANSATLANTIC sailing craft
coming into the East River was much greater tnan
il is now and sailors with salt spray stu cllnglng
TO their clothes were everywhere seen Tusnlng
ashore nautinp for the excitement and new life of
fbe civ this Cherry Hill district, which includes
all that is set down upon the maps as the curtin
Police Precinct presented some what Striking con-
trast TO its present aspect men sailor % dn,
houses with greasy wooden Denches at the GOODS
swarned with Portuguese and other foreign Sailors
who spent their money as freely as circumstances
permltted stevedores, ship-carpente1s, caulkefs,
showers and others indigenous to the wharves
formed the greater part OF the population tne
tenement houS35 were CROWDED w loueh
class diverse in nationality and occupation
drunkenness and crime permeated the whole
region, which the police regarded as one OF
the most dangerous localities in the city patroimen
trayersed their posts in twOs; crles OF murder.
would frequently be heard, and many parts OF the
district fairly reekcd with infamy Like tne once
lannon's Five Points, this troublesome corner OF
lower New-York has undergone q change IL Is no
longer looked upon as in any very pronounced
degree a criminal district Petty crime is born
district Drunkenness is as common, however, as
of old On a Saturday night IN summer when
everyone is ont of DOORS and there IS no reason ior
closing windows and shutting IN the sounds, the
brawling drunkard swells the noises OF midnight.
and half-dIessed children run from the clutch OF
drunken fathers and mothers. - $500
Crime has left its finger marks upon Cherry HILL
Old women point TO where the 'longshoreman was
murdered by the italian sailor to the spot where
the pedder after killing his son. resisted four police
men and stabbed one Cf them IN the neck TO the
window out OF which man tred 10 push MS wlle,
hon
features of this region have always been such as 10
attract the fugitive from Justice. Mhen a criminal
has sought hldlng-place IN tne alleys the ponce
have REGARDED the capture of the offender as some
thing involving nice display OF ingenuity III is
not long since a bank robber, pursued up one of
the darkest alleys, turned III desperation when he
found escape cut of, and shot down two policemen:
Here is Mullens Alley" piercing the vitals OF
the block bounded by Cherry-st, New.BoweTy, OAK
"Connors Alley" opposite Vie sIllGcating Place
with triangular court; "Murphys Alley be-
wilderingly snarled IN netwHTk 81 @ nons
Alley" adjoining each other The two last named
are, perhaps, as striking in their way AS any III
New-York A fye-stOIy building, running back
more than half the depth of the block, fronts on
both alleys. " Single Alley" or East Gotham-place
as i. is set down on some maps Is open on lhe east
side The other is shut in on the west Dy a high
gaunt building. making the place dark ana gloomy.
These differing characteristics give the aieys ther
names The large building IS DIVIDED ihtoagn ahe
middle parallel with the alleys, AMI also at rlght
angles forming eight houses. Each house has
rafting staircase, with landings from which the
lOw-ceilingcd looms open on either hand. Each
family however large or small, has only two rooms
in which to live and move ana have lts being On
the left one man may live in comparative comfort
with wife and infant. Another on the night,
however, who makes eight or nine dollars week
alongshOre may have a wlie-wholn he thrasles
when empty pocket leaves HIM III Waht OF 3ther
Measurable eXctement-and seven children, large
or small: but he has only two rooms, ana must
stow them away as best he can when night comes.
Little, dingy apertures III each anding IKE WIN
10 ci,,n ltolI
from one alley tt the other. -Four dollars and a
half n month is the highest rent, and is paid for
rooms on the second floor, where the air Is better
than on the first floor, and access TO Tic street
easier than from the rooms above len years ago
this bui ding is declared to have hcId $40 1ahleS,
or rather that number OF different rent payers.
NOWADAYS, however with the house somewhat
reconstructed, MANY rooms untenanted ana some
apartments given up for general use as laundrles,
and two for sewing rooms, there are about 100
families OF less in the two alleys Inc sewing.
school is an institution established by the VIE OF
the owner of the houses; who every Hatnrday aitfr
noon teaches the girls to sew providing me
material and presenting their parents with the
fruits of their labor. The owner OF these combined
houses is a physician who gives hlSbcfNccs "lthOut
charge 10 all the families therein.
Every alley or large tenement house is IN charge
Of n housckceper" a man who keeps the place III
good order, and whose cmOlument comes III the
form of free rent, with small additional cOnsld-
Grafton lie invariably inspires with awe the
numerous ragamuilins who play baseball on the
sidewalk. impale themselves on nails and ratings,
give convincing proof OF the theory OF hercdlly by
fighting In the cutters, squeeze themselves through
small windows, and emit profanity with an un.
checked volubility tia. is almost bloOd-curdling.
A frequent visitor to tins region says that he has
found much to interest him here. lie has almost
come to have nOddng acquaintance with certain
queer old women who become family visible IN odd
doorways; and some OF the street boys, marking
his repeated presence, have commented quietly but
prOfanely on the circumstance. One OF the most
melancholy characteristics of this district, and
other such districts in different parts OF the merOp
oils is the forloTn and neglected condition of the
old With all the foul air, s3anty food and expo
over four score years and ten YTinklcd yellow and
stopped old women perhaps tOtfcTing about with
stick holding dirty infant III their bOny arms, or
heaping curses on wrctched Youngsters who annoy
woman. somewhat respected granny -; bat most.
with their Oaths and dirt and rags, seem rs II they
had grown Up and had some mysterious ASSOCIATION
i'm character with the crumbling soOty and unsav-
orv walls about them. The old men are seldom
seen in the immediate locality. In the morning
dIseppear into the din of the city Or perhaps they
ore dO1ring the coal wagons with ShOVelS over
their shoulders selling lead pencils or brOoms
or announcing in sOme busy thorOughlaic the
snneriorty of certain articles OF merchandise, by
means of the popular cOntriyancv which shields
them ~ with arMOr before and behind, and hides
ali INT their heads and feet from The vulgar gaze.
There arc many suggestions OF low LoEdon about
Cherry Hill especially at night, when mulued
sounI comes from the alleys, a. occasional foostep
ci,tters ON n creaking stair, distant doors bang.
greasy streams trickle here and there into the
gutter and the sound OF clicking grasses ana
drunken mirth rises from the dismal bar-ro0nls.
The whole district is doubtless destined 10 ne re-
built before great many years. j lie success Whch
has attended the speculation in improved tenement
houses. II is thought, means death 10 these Iook-
cries. which year by year become more uhht Ioi
human habiiatinn.