Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-17
IN THE BIGGEST FLAT.
Fifteen Hundred human Beings in
One City House.

One City House.
The big fiat in Mott and Elizabeth
streets. saws the New York Mail, is the
most interesting tenement building in
he city. 1t has for many years figured in
the newspapers at different times as the
resort of thieves and dissolute charac-
ters.
"All the rogues about here know It,"
said police sergeant in the station house
near by, "aud they make tor it every time.
Sometimes, when too notify pursued TO
venture running through the ground hall
way to the other side, they will run mp
stairs and throw Themselves upon the
protection of some Of the tenants. They
do not wait to knock at the door, but rush
right into the first convenient doorway
and demand harhor Ii 1t happens to De
an Irish, or German habitatiOn into WHICH
they have intruded, they stand good
chance of being secreted until the olhcer
gives up the search, but Polish Jew VIII
scream stop thief every time, unless the
rascal should prove to be one of his own
race. The Big Flat is not half as bad as
many other tenements IN the precinct, nut
the people imagine so on this account"
The Big Flat was originally intended
for a working girls home, but, this not
proving q success, it was changed into
house for colored people. AT present,
although almost every race on the globe
lives there, not one colored person can be
found in the building. Mr.. MoCOtJer, the
agent, furnished the writer with list OF
the different natiOnalities that tenant the
building. 1t comprises Irish, German,
Spaniards, Cubans, Swedee, Italians,
Russians. Huns, Poles, Japanese, Chinese
and Turks. No other tenement in the
country contains such a Adversely OF races,
nor probably any other in the world. On
last Friday the writer accompanied the
rent collector on his tour. On the out
side the tenement is by no means reas-
surfing to him who intends to inspect
thoroughly the inside. The bare brick
walls rising tor some six stories from the
sidewalk, the dirty mattresses hanging
from the windows. the meagre faces of
men, women and children leaning out to
catch a breath of free air-all give 1t an
air Of poverty,
DEGRADATION AND CRIME.
The wide Railways which run from street
to street are kept IN as clean condition
as is possible. T1ey are situated uni
formly on the north side of the building,
the apartments being placed on the south
side, and approached through narrow
there are doors to be secured at night.
THE Railways to the Big Flat" said
the collector, "are all made Of stone and
iron, as are also the stairs. 1t is with the
greatest difficulty they are kept clean.
The services of two men are necessary
each day to keep them passable. Many
of the tenants simply open their doors
and throw their garbage out into the
halls"
All through the halls little groups of
tailors were sitting crOss-legged ead ply
ing their needles with lightning-l!>e rapid
ity. Many washerwomen were basy with
their tubs, children were craving and
running about-all more or less filthy and
sickly in appearance. The collector is a
determined but kind man. From door to
door he goes with sharp knock. Attirst
he is answered by Woodworking Irish
woman, who has her rent ready. She has
lived in the building for ten years and has
been good tenant.
$50 long as 1 can make money enough
10 pay my rent l will stay here" she said.
81 have my little home here, and / do not
mind the surroundings. When night
comee l close up my rooms and do not
care what my neighbors do"
The reXt visit was not so agreeable.
Hysterical shrieks and a volley of oaths
greeted the collector. A moment after
through the door in state of intoxca-
ton. She was only half clad, her hair
was struggling over her shoulders and
silly lear disfGured her features. she
stroVe to concilIate the collector with en-
braces and endearing phrases, which he
firmly but gently avoided and addressed
his remarks TO young girl who was busy
in the interior.
"Come, CARROLL Two dollars and
half"
"Ah! you see how she's been this last
week." said the girl. "Just crazy drunk
and not earning cent. l hain't got no
money now, but may have some next
week"
VERY well, next Tuesday, then. Re-
mem berw
With this parting admonition he passed
to the next door.
RAP! RAP! RAP! FIN CHEW.
In moment Fin Chew appeared, tout
ensemble OF celestial smiles, and deposited
his rent with bow into the palm of the
collectors hand.
If it were not for their propensity to
smuggle opium into the building" said
the latter, ave would rather rent apart
ments to the Chinese than to any otner
class of tenents to be had In this neigh bor-
hood. They are generally clean, and
always ready with their money, but you
never can tell when they will open Joint.
We have to keep a very strict eye upon
them"
In the next room entered, upon a
wretched bed, q young boy lay dying OF
| consumption. A little child was crawl
ing upon the floor, hideously deformed
from want Of proper medical care. At q
washtub in the hallway young woman
was working lndustrlously, in an ell
deayor TO earn enough for this little
family Her name is Hannah, and the
miserable wretch v hose name she bears,
although an able-bOdied man. and having
| the means of procuring work whenever he
! chooses, spends his time in the society of
! debauchees, even gong so far as to roe
! his wife in order to procure himself pleas
ure. Added to this, the young woman's
mother and her husbands father are by
no means estimable people morally, and
| bring a still further pernciOus influences
into her lie. 1t certainly is case for the
! proper authorities to take hold OF. Toe
! plea that it is an undeseVing family could
not by any possibility cover Its innocent
mem bers. The dying boy called the col
! lector TO his side and begged hun TO allow
them little more time before dispossess.
| ing them.
SWhat a shame it is" said the latter,
| IA he left the building; that 30 decent
woman and such sick children should be
left TO suffer 40; all she needs 10 Il little
temporary backing To spur her on 10 leave
her surroundings and push out for herself.
! 81 NE l..