Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-21
An Adventure in Gotham.

An Adventure in Gotham.
''There's many queer adventure man
can meet with in New York." said we'll
known youth about town to reporter re-
Gently, provided he sets out in earnest to
explore the purieus of the city. Not long
since made up my mind to start off alone
to the district just west ofthe Bowery above
Bleecker, and endeavor to see something
new. Well, / had time it, to be sure,
and I'll tell you all about it you promise.
TO keep my name out OF the narrative.
Nov, in the first place, determined that
T should've drink that, as did not know
what might turn up, would keep clear
head. l took $100 with me and went as far
down town as Bleecker street. On the north
side of the street, west of the Bowery, | en-
tered dance hall and variety show kept
by one of the most notorious men in
in the city. The usual number of silly
boys and unfortunate girls were there, and
the quantity Of liquor that was openly sold
was enormous, considering that police head
quarters was only block away and the
place had no license. There was neither
novelty nor attraction about the ball for
me, however, as / had been there before.
By chance / met companion and told him
my object: ,,o,, . ,,,,o -
was looking for, where the entertainment
was of the most sensational kind. Follow
ing his directions l crossed Broadway, and
about two blocks from the Mercer street
station came to the place. 1t was unpre-
tentious looking, with a red lamp outside
the hallway and the number of the building
on the glass. | walked along the dark hall
and felt my way carefully until my hand.
rested on doorknob. / turned the knob
and entered. My friend had evidently mis-.
taken the place, l thought to myself, as
looked about the room in which | stood.
Opposite me was a bar rather expensively
gotten up, considering the locality. Behind
it was bullet headed man of middle age
and SCARED face. His eyes were very small
and black and almost hidden by his bushy
eyebrows.
"All about the room were placed round
tables of common wood. Each table had
its quota of chairs. There were half dozen
young girls in the room. They were not
bad looking lot, but their features were un-
mistakably coarse. Their sad history was
written plainly on their faces. They were
drinking liquor and singing, but stopped
both for while when first entered. There
was one other man in the room, COM
panion piece to the one behind the bar. He
left soon after my appearance. The bullet
headed fellow greeted me warmly and ask
ed me to make myself at home. | sat down
and listened to the girls singing. Then the
affair grew stupid and resolved to get out.
The man with the bushy eyebrows seemed
to divine my intention and his attention be-
came more marked. l tried TO elude him,
| but he would not allow me. He said he
| wanted me to have sociable little drink
with him. I told him / was not touching
| liquor that night. He assured me that be
did not intend to offer me the common liq-
uor he gave the girls, and invited me 10
step into side room, where we could be
| alone He called one of the prettiest girls
| to his side and again urged me to accomra-
ny him and her into the room. concluded
| to take just one drink, SO as not to nave
quarrel with my ugly vsaged host, ard
went in. The room was nicely carpeted
and papered and had a single table. sat
down on one side aud the girl on the other.
She seemed tolook pitying upon me, but she
said nothing. In minute bullet-head re.
appeared with bottle of brandy. He
| handed me the bottle and l helped myself
to very little. He and the girl took liber-
IL w
brandy was not of the commonest kind.
"After a few minutes talk he proposed a
second drink and again went after the bot
| tie. The girls pitying eyes were again fixed
upon me, but she hadn't q word to say. |
began to feel uncomfortable Bulet-head
| again praised his liquor, and this time help
ed me himself AS drained the glass some
thing bitter seemed to have been added to
| the liquor. at once rose to 60. | saw the
girl still looking at me in the same way.
My head grew dizzy and I staggered from
the room. Everything before me seemed
swimming 1 clutched the bar for support.
The girl had followed me out Of the room.
| "Help me out of here I said, sand I will
reward you. I have considerable money
about me and I may be robbed. I fear |
have been drugged.' 4 am very sorry she
replied, and would like to assist you, but
he has his eyes upon me- She moved from
nv side. l steadied myself and tried to gain
the door. Half way fell down in stupor.
"When I recovered I was once more in the
side room. My coat and vest were torn
open and the $lOO gone. got up and went
into the barroom. My bullet.headed host
was behind the bar, but he was no longer
affable. I told him I had been drugged and
robbed He told me not to kick up about
it as he hadn't robbed me and didn't know
who had. I threatened to have him arrest
ed by the police. He laughed and told me
to try to do it. He was 'solid,' he said, and
I'd believe he was if ever took the trouble
to 60 to the station house.
II left the place and went to the station house
was greatly excited, but explained that I had
been robbed and wanted the proprietor arrested
The sergeant told me to call around next morning
I said that by that time the money would have
been hid and the guilty party would probably MOI
be found. He did notlike my way of putting the
case and ordered me out of the station house.
insisted on my rights as citizens, and wouldn'
leave he called several of his policemen, ane
/ sidewalk, q patrolman ran up, the sergeant tolt
him to arrestme as disorderly person; the patrol
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