The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-12-19
THE SLUMS OF NEW YORK,
NOTORIOUS QUARTERS OF THE
GREAT METROPOLIS.
"BottIe AIIey'' and Its ISccori-riyc-
Cent Lodging lHOuSc-A Fra nUs'
Retrcnt-Chincsc Gambling Den.

Points, about half block up Baxter
street is the entrance to what is known
as "Bottle Alley" 1t was close on to
midnight, and the entrance looked dark
and forcboding when a Truth reporters
guide disappeared in the blackness, and
he blindly followed.
At the end of the long entrance Il sud-
den turn brought us into a sort of court;
about thirty feet square on every side
were low, squatty buildings that looked
as though they would tumble to the
ground at the first wind, all Of them
leaning toward the court. Lights strug.
gled through the dirty window panes,
many of which were stuffed with rags,
and from the depths of far corner came
the sounds of boisterous rcvelry and the
picking of banjo accompanied by clap
ping hands and patting feet as if some
one was doing Il breakdown.
"Thats where the negroes live" said
the guide. "Thcre's about a hundred
of them in the cellar. Immediately
above them are the Neapoltans, and
directly opposite and up those rickcty
stairs are Sicilians None of the differ
ent factions ever associate with the
others, and the slightest pretext is the
signal for general fight, during which
the stillcto and the razor are freely used.
The place derives its name from a
triple murder which occurred here some
years ago when crowd of young
rowdics ont on Il carouse came in here
and attempted to run the place. They
were attacked by the women of the alley,
who threw bottles at them OF the
seven rowdies who attempted to run
under that porch, only one passed out
unhurt. One was killed almost instantly,
a bottle crashing into his brain; two
were carried to the hospital, where one
afterward died, and the others went to
Jail"
Down the broken steps into the cellar
of two story brick dwelling which had
an alarming tendency toward Stimulating
the leaning tower of Pisa, was found
what is dignified by the name of "Lodg-
ing House" An aged negro answered
our summons, and informed us, after first
recovering from his surprise at such ele-
CANT customers, that lodgings were five
cents bed, or two in one bed for eight
cents. The beds were shown, and con
sisted of few boards, on the top of
which was what might have once been a
mattress, and from which the straw stuck
out in every direction; in fact, it was
toss up whether you could sec more straw
or cover.
The fun ran high up stairs, where
everything from the Centennial Lam
ciersn down to an old fashioned planta-
ton breakdown was being danced by a
molly gathering The music was fur
nished by banjo, fiddle and flute.
A little dried up old man, with big
bass voice called out the figures.
AT 56 Mulberry street we passed
through long hall, lighting our way
with matches to prevent treading on the
drunken bcsotted creatures, both men
and women, who lay PROSTATE on the
floor We crossed a court where the
water flowed slowly through a bed of
its own making and fell into an open
sewer, the stencil from which was some
thing terrible. At the end of the court
we entered a room of about twelve by
fifteen feet. Lying on benches set
against the wall, on the dirt covered
floor and stools were by actual count
twenty seven human beings. A lamp
cast an uncertain light and by its strug-
Cling rays an old hag was idly turning
the leaves of book, and dividing her
attention alternately to the book and to
keeping the blaze of fast dying fire.
Above the mantle piece, drawn by the
heat and glare of the lamp, was bed of
vermin, so dense as to hide the dirt
bcgrimed wall.
Little attention was paid to the en-
trance of the intruders, those that were
not asleep being too stupid from drink
to realize anything. The old bag alone
grinned a recognition to our guide.
Passing up the steps Of 1G Mott street,
and passing the ''spotter" who sits at the
bottom of the steps, we found ourselves
in Chinese gambling den. Our appear
ance startled the players, but few
words from the banker" with whom
our guide was evidently on terms of
friendship. treasured them, and the gam
bling proceeded.
The game of all games for the heather
Chinese, fan-tan. 1t was being played
on an ordinary table top. Four Numbers
/, ., 3 and a are painted on the board
and each player places his amount, from
one pennyup to 50, on any one of the four
numbers he thinks will win. Both Chi
nese and American money is used Be-
fore the bets are made the banker, or
the one running the game, places a
handful of coins under a copper dis,N,
The bets being made, he lifts the cove.
and counts the coppers in lots Of four
each. If the amount should make even
lots four, the four wins; if three coins be
left over, the three wins, and the player
who has bet on the winning number is
paid three times the amount bet.
The reporter, preceded by his guide,
passed to the rear of No. 1G and crossed
a rudely contracted porch, which
Brought them to No. IS. Down into tho
cellar, several raps at the door brought
the attendant, who first assuring himself
that the party was known, unbolted tho
door,
Ranging around the room were hunks
and benches, reclining upon which were
both Chinese and Americans-men,
women and even young grls-some al
ready under the subtle influence of thu
fatal drug, and others calmly putting
their bodies and souls to destruction