Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-29
"TRE HOUSE OF BLAZES."
Midnight Scene Among the Unhappy
occupants who Seek shelter IN
Smoky Hollow.
New York Morning Journal

New York Morning Journal
''Take hold of my coat tails and
make as little noise as possible, +" said
an officer, leading the way into dark
hall opening. 1.-The House of Blazes. "
A Journal reporter did as the officer
instructed him, and proceeded at a
snali's pace through narrow passage
leadisg into one OF the most notorious
dens IN that locality of Brooklyn,
known as Smoky Hollow"
The Hollow embraces the section of
the city bordered by Columbia, Baltic
streets, the river and Atlantic street
1t includes several immense tenement
houses, each house containing from
twenty TO fifty families.
Inc locality corresponds with the
Italian and Chinese quarters in New
York, and contains some of the most
desperate characters in the city, mixed
up with hopeless Migrants OF both sex
es and all nationalltles.
1t is watched closely by the police.
but In spite of the guardians of the
peace murders often take place in It's
dark, ill>lighted alleys and fights of a
most desperate charter are of frequent
occurrence.
Rooms ten feet by eight or nine are
inhabited by six and seven people of
both sexes and all ages.
Accompanied by an officer, a Jour-
nal reporter made tour through the
worst quarters few nights ago of the
Hollow.
Following the officer through the
dark hallway the reporter found him
self in small court surrounded on all
sides by towering tenements.
1--WE are now in the House of Blazes
Park" said the officer, land every
room in this big building is crowded
with men, women and children, most
Of them living the lives of mere ami
mails"
Rapping loudly on the door in front
OF him, the officer demanded admis-
sion.
Cali right, sir; in moment" came
a voice from within, succeeded by a
quick shutting Of feet, and In a few
moments the door was slowly opened
by figure resena bling the Old Man of
the Sea in his ugliness and vierdRess.
A shock of gray hair fell low over
a narrow forehead and down to a
pair of sharp, restless eyes.
pleasant evenin', SIR" said the old
man. In cracked voice.
Eyes" said the officer, CURLY; "we
wish to make you short call. and he
pushed his way into the room, follow
ed by the reporter.
The apartment was scarcely larger
than an ordinary hall bed room. In
one corner was a bed covered with
rags, and curlsd up among the rags,
looking out with frightened eyes,
was a young girl twelve or thirteen
years of age. Three or four pieces of
broken furniture and rusty little
stove completed the furnishing of the
room, the dirty floor being devoid of
even shred of carpet,
My daughter is very sick, mumbl-
ed the old man, glancipg suspiclousIy
at the officer and then at the girl
among the rags.
Sorry to hear it," said the officer,
lightly, How long have you lived
10 this room, Joseph?"
"Go1n' on fifteen years." said the
old man, with sickl y smile.
Going along narrow passage an
other halt was made and in response
to a knock door flew suddenly open
and an angry and very repulsive fe~
male face appeared.
who's there?' said sharp voice.
Its me-" said the officer.
"Ohl beg your pardon, sir. didn't
know twas you, sir.
Seated on a long bench against the
wall were six or seven specimens of
the human race of both sexes.
Lying at full length on a pile of
rags in one corner was a woman, half
clad. sleeping off drunken debauch
Three or four of the creatures on
the bench were sWaylng from side to
side from the effects of liquor, and one
bloated-face young woman was
munching at bone as she looked up
with bleared red eyes at the officer.
eyes, them is all>nighters, said the
woman with nervous laugh as she
examined the reporter frona head to
feet with her keen little eyes.
From this den the officer led the re-
porter through fully dozen similar
holes all filed with the most depraved
types of humanity.
AS he started in the direction at At
lantic avenue through Columbia
street series of curses and screams
came from window across the way.
''They are only having little fam
lily JAR" said the officer, smiling. as
he keeps on toward the station house
UNDERCLOTHING.