The evening world., 1888-04-11
MANY HoWLS,A ALL OF WOE.
TIE NEW CHAMBER OF DEATH FOR DERE.
LICT CANINE PITS AND TRAMps


Ing business Expected This Summer
Over 1850 Doss Disposed Of last Yes,.
It would be difficult to represent upon
paper the sounds which greeted the ears of
On EVENING WORLD reporter as he entered
the new dog pound at the foot of East One
Hundred and Second street.
Banks. howls and whines issued from tho
Threats of the seventy odd dogs confned
there, awaiting an owner, or death. The
deep bass of the Newfoundland mingled with
the high tenor of the Skye terrier. while in
one corner a small bull terrier, his pugna.
cious disposition completely cowed by pre-.
monitor of approaching death, was chanting
his own requiem.
A partition runs the length of the room.
A subdivision in the centre forms two large
cages for the reception of dogs of the tram,,
variety on the one side, while the other side
of the room is divided into thirty stalls for
the accommodation of pet dogs that take ad-
vantage of an open door and wander forth
into the wide world, only to fall into the
hands of the merciless dog catchers.
Running through these stalls is q zinc gut
ter, in which fresh water is kept constantly
running, and clean straw Is placed Oh the
floor, while the white pine of which the boxes
are constructed gives the place a neat appear
ance.
Opening a door to the left of these stalls.
Supt. McMahon ushered the reporter into the
chamber of death.
In the floor of this room is sunk a circular
iron tank 8 feet i'll circumference and Z feet
deep. This tank is filled with Croton water
(the river not being deep enough Mt this
point, and a circular iron cage. 6x5, capable
OF holding 100 average sized dogs. is lowered
in the tank by. means OF a windlass. The
bowling, turbulent mass of animal life 10
plunged into the water and six minutes suf-
flee to cut short their earthly career.
This new engine of death was duly chris
tened last week. when fifty seven dogs were
drowned. 1t may be added here that at the
old pound at the foot of East Sixteenth
street more than twelve hundred dogs have
been disposed of since Jan. /, and for the
year 1887 the record is more than seven thou
sand five hundred dogs disposed of, without
regard to age, sex or previous condition Of
domestlcity.
Forty-eight hours are allowed by law for
the appearance of the owners of captured
dogs, failing i'll which the animals are c. ndl-
dates tor the cage. Officers of the Society
constantly in attendance at the pound, to see
that the animals are properly fed, and
rowne without unnecessary cruelty.
The life of n dog-catcher is by no means O
happy one, but is frequently attended with
peril.
A. Nagle, the driver of Wagon No. 8. has
had several narrow escapes from enraged
owners of fancy, dogs, and last week one Of
his men received u bad cut under the eye
from a club III the hands of an irate amazon
of Yorkville.
A Scotch terrier captured about six months
ago owes its life to its education. as it was
found that it was a circus dog, and could
climb ladders, fetch and carry. waltz and do
many other amusing tricks. Jack is now q
fixture at the pound.
On three occasions Jack has had narrow
escapes from being drowned along with other
dogs, having managed to get into the cage at
critical moments.
Supt. Mcmahon anticipates O large haul of
dogs this summer. and says that owners had
better be careful or there will be many large.
aching voids formerly occupied by house.
hold pets, while the children will sadly sing:
Dearest Fdo, thou hast left Us,
Nothing can our grief assuage;
The bold dog-catcher hath bereft rs.
Gone to help Ill up the cage.