New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-14
TEARING DORM THE MERCHANTS HOTEL.
THE PROPRIETOR PROTESTED, BUT THE OWNER

THE PROPRIETOR PROTESTED, BUT THE OWNER
HIMSELF LED THE ATTACKING PARTY.
That old landmark, the Merchants Hotel. at No. al
Cortlandtst was the yesterday Of one OF tic
eI,t ouarrels that has occurred IN COrtlandtst for
years At about II O'Clock j. Monroe Taylor the
owner of the hotel property, accompanied by rethue
of ncphgws and wOrlrncn, marched down Cortlandtst
from broadway and took his stand I'm front OF the
hotel
The vurkmon told by Mr.. Taylor ard his
nephews 10 demolsi the stone steps at the entrance
10 the hotel. Samuel Coles, tire proprietor OF the
hotol demonstrated with Mr.. Taylor Mr.. Coles had
viii, him a ferocons LOOKING bulldog. Mr. Taylor did
not like tho looks OF the dog but lbs conchman and his
nephews stood by him, and the work OF demOhsmh>
the entrance TO the hotel was continued Mr. Coles
assaulted tr attaching party, but the work went on
The steps were soon demolished. Then the workmen
entered the building and tore up the first floor, which
until recently had been occupied by restaurant
nv this time scores OF interested spectators were
watching The scene and Dir Taylors nephews ana Ills
two oolored men were jeorcd at By tine Onloohers One
OF Mr. Taylor's nephcws, a stylishly dressed young
man, eraspcd tOOthpick and asked his uncic 10
should assist the workmcn in tearing the ooi OIL tc
building This offer was greeted by shouts Of iange
BY the time the stairs leading to t'lo hotel once
had been almost destroyed Of the employees OF te
hotel appeared waving sheet flag Of truce just
as n truce was about TO be declared Policeman Dun
stop of The Church-st station appeared ana aiIc9tu
Nsr. Coles and the wOrlmcn, and took them 10 INC
Tonbs Police Court. where all were discharged.
Shortly afterward architect, a. T. Ross. broaght
a gang Of worimcn and set them to work tearing OH
the roof Of the building. No opposition was offered
ami tho work Of destruction went on uninterrupted
for the resi- of the day
The trouble between MIR Taylor and his tenant
Mr. Coles had not been settled, however. Mr. Coles
who has been the proprietor Of the hotel for more than
Eve years saws gat his lease expired on Iay l. that
it was renewed for another year. but that Mr. Taylor
had since determined 10 tear down tic house Mr.
Coles denounced the action as an outrage.
Mr. Taylor who Is president of The Taylor Chemical
Company, OF No. 1l3 Wltcrst. could nJt be found
there Yesterday His partners refused to say anything
about the affair, except thnt Mr. Taylor had decided
to erect big Office building the Sic occupied by the
hotel.
The Merchants Hotel was years ago faVorlte
hostelry but OF late years it has bccn little better
than lodging house. Several substantial fortunes
have been made there william g. ~t.icnck. the
present proprietor OF the Westminster Hotel, was at
one time Che proprietor Of the Merchants Hotel. ana
it Is said that he made fortune ont OF IT, EeIuann
g. Clark, president Of the Chestnut I'M Iron ore CON
pany, was also at time proprietor Oh thlo Old
hotel When the Aston House was built some OF the
wlseacrcs the day shook their heads and said tat
Mr. AStOr could successfully compete Wltb the
Merchants Hotel. which was at that time doing
hOurishing business.