Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-12
SOME SHOCKING .srArEuErrs.
Facts Alleged In q Meeting Called nv
the Rev. Father B0yYY,
THE OPIUM DENs OF NEW YORK.


THE OPIUM DENs OF NEW YORK.
From the New York Herald.
The rooms Of the Catholic Young Mems Asso-
citation Of TRANSPORTATION Parish are at No. 90
Mott street, In the very heart of the Chinese
colony. The Church Of the TRANSPORTATION Ia
on the opposite side Of the street. Last night
the association held Its monthly meeting and
adopted the following resolution:
spot n e nf 81 ps sSe
&c o. me poor brothels and houses Of
pie who have homes family ties Of their own; and
whereas the growth Of this evil been rapid and the
euort 70 prevent IT 20 feeble that 1t becomes
for B. lection to ado IT some eca
possible to these who respect virtue and decency there
RESOLVED. That special Committee Of 1--WE member.of
thorties Of the city and the OF the societies
ey as iSs tine hr
n t s 1re q the os revolving evils that has existed
The president. Mr.. William H. Smith, said
that while one of the priests of the Church of
the TRANSPORTATION WAS walking through Mott
street on the previous night he was struck and
grossly insulted by an abandoned girl from one
of the Chinese dens. He called attention to the
wholesale ruin OF young girls by Cinnamon in
that neighbOrhOod, of which the members of the
association were well aware and declared that
there was scarcely house between the associa-
ton rooms and Chatham square that was not
either an opium den or house of il-fame
Father Barry. the honorary president, made
an elaborate speech, in which he said that eyery
citizen ought to give his assistance in extermi-
mating the evil which was undermining the
morals and destroying the virtue of the commu-
nifty.
- 1t Is an insuppOrtable idea," he exclaimed
~ that these pagan barbarians can carry on their
horrible orgies right among us, corrupt our chill
dren, and convert our peaceabie neighbOrhOod
into q hotDed of crime and debauchery. They
are destroying the daughters Of respectable pa
rents by an organized system. We will call to
our aid all the power Of the existing authori-
ties and root out the evil at once. We will say
nothing now Of those who We know must aid
and abet these dens of iniquity. for 1t might
Illustrate our purpose. But Il the authorities
fall to move, and If those whom we believe to
be the supporters OF these crimes do not help us
and do their duty, We will Investigate from the
bottom to the top, and we will give their names
to the world
The committee appointed in accordance with
the resolution are JnO. A. O Bren, ThOs H. Morse.
Michael Frazer, Patrick H. Mcdonnell and Pat'k
Callahan.
One Of the members Of the association said,
after the meeting that he went to Police Cap
tain Petty In the Elizabeth street station. and
informed him that scores of young girls were
being decoyed into the Chinese opium shops
and there ruined. He said that Capt Petty
used profane language. and threatened to lock
MIN up IL he did not leave the station at once.
WHAT FATHER BARRY SAYS.
"The hand of every mother, father and brother
ought to be raised against this terrible evil. -
the Rev. Father Barry, honorary president of the
association and one of the priests In the Church
of the TRANSPORTATION. said to Herald reporter
II know as priest of this parish that In the
neighborhood hundred little girls have been
In flrn lott ctr
year. The iniquity is SO great that the organs
OF public opinion should keep silent no longer
Some OF these girls are mere children, ard thew
are nearly all OF respectable parents, who seem
to know nothing of what Is going on. If any Of
the priests OF the parish happen to be passing
along the street when the little victims are
coming out of their rendezvous the girls hang
their heads guiltily and stink away. Is this
right? Is 1t not shameful! that these lecherOus
wretches are permitted to debauch the daugh-
tiers OF Christian men and women In the very
heart OF New York city? Idont care whether a
man PROCESSES religion or not, his cheeks must
burn with indignation when he is confronted
with these facts.''
But, surely, ths-ea go on without the
knowledge OF the girls parents. Do they never
complain to you?"
Every seldom. The whole thing is conducted
with the secrecy which characterizes aud pro-
tects all the girls existing in Chinatown. But
the priests of this parish and the young men of
this association have watched 1t helplessly for
over year. and we will SO watch it no longer,
with Gods help"
FACTS STATED.
II know many of the women who persuade
young girls into these dens. The principal one
Is a pale-faced female with glittering black eyes,
who is knownto US. These women are Of the
very worst type, even of their class, but they
seem TO make acquaintance with the girls who
live in the tenement house districts. The girls
are induced to visit the opium shops, partly
through curiosity and partly though promises of
large amounts OF money which they are told can
easily be made. Once In the dens they are
cOaxed into trying pipe or two of opium A
few repettions OF this are sufficient to make the
girls victims to the opium habit, and then their
self respect, moral courage and will disappear.
They then become regular habitues of the
gard and trembling after their debauchery, they
hurry around the corners and into the alleys,
afraid to face any one they know.
VAIN COMPLAINTS.
"The Cinnamon have become aggressive in
their iniquity, and sometimes they accost girls
while l am talking to them. They have insulted
not only the priests but their femaia relatives
also, and 1t has come to pass that caspectable
woman can scarcely walk along Nett or Pell
street without being insuted by a Monaghan
The members OF the association are constantly
making complaints. and all our neighbors are in
arms. Why, next door to the associations
rooms the most horrible practices are carried
on, and the people who live on the opposite
side of the street are compelled to witness
scenes from their windows which are a disgrace
to our civilization. A few days ago our associa-
ton rescued young girl from one OF the Chi
nese dens, but we had hard work to do it,"
When did this state OF things begin2' a - 70 70
"Over year ago. Wien we first noticed it
went around getting signatures 60 petition
asking the legislature to, close the opintn- dens
by law. At the union af ali the GathsSiel Il sung
Mems associations In sthis archdiocese (which
took place in Westchester at Tie tiil&s com
mittee was appointed to secure the passage s0f "a
law prohibiting opium shops. Asyaeek 7ofetwo
afterward the legislature passed a law to that
effect. This and the petition which got up
frightened the Cinnamon and the evil was lin
some measure abated. Since then 1t has grown
to giant proportions. | remember that once I
accompanied several members of the association
into the house next door, and there we saw q
large number Of young girls in the rooms 1
cannot tell you for publication all know, it is
so horrible.
PROFITS OF THE OPIUM DENs.
You can see how profitable this iniquity is
to the Cinnamon who are responsible for it when
some Of them pay as much as $50 and $40 o
month for couple Of rooms in q rickety house.