The morning call., 1891-10-25
AMONG DIVES
AND DANCE HALLS.
Official Summing Trip by the
Grand Jury.
It's Committee on Vice Makes an Inspection
by Night Of the Underground Saloons
and the Alleys Of Chinatown.

The committee of the Grand Jury known
as the Committee on Dives and Schools OF
Vice met at the Grand Hotel last night and
from thence proceeded on tour of China
town, the Barbary Coast and the various re-
sorts situated in other parts of the city
where the surroundings are calculated to
exercise ruinous influence on the visitor.
The members in the party were: Jurors
Sachs, Graham, Walker, badge and Chair
man Kennedy. Under the leadership OF
Sergeant of Police Bethel, the committee
started on its summing expedition at half
past o'clock and did not conclude its in
yestigations until after II o'clock.
The first place visited was Bottle kenig's,
on Pacific street, and from thence to the
various underground dives situated on
Pacific, jackson, Kearny and Broadway.
streets. The Montana, Arizona. Franco
Swiss, Coliseum and Alaska underground
saloons were visited and thoroughly in
spected, the committee paying especial at
tentiOn to the wtne-rOoms with closed doors,
fitted up with lounges, where the visitor, in
an intoxicated condition. is induced to enter,
and afterward awakes with Il massive head
and an empty pocket.
CURIOSITY OF THE INMATES.
During the inspection the utmost curiosity
was exhibited by the inmates of the dives
and the visitors who happened to be pres
en- I, but nothing occurred to interrupt the
committee in its labOrs. After several dives
had been visited, large crowd collected and
followed in the rear, having discovered the
cause oil the visits. The moment the COM
mttee stepped into dive the music would
strike up with an inspiring air, but it was
noticed that none of the visitors danced or
exhibited any Of the hiarity one would ex-
pect to meet.
'ha nropriatorc 0f bo t,Io oil
lite, and, although they were anxious to see
the backs of the visitors, yet they showed
the jurors all over their places. After Wis
iting the Bella Union, the committee went
through the slums of Chinatown, but was
soon overcome by the foul Odors and fetid
atmosphere of the underground opium
joints. The pure-air ordinance was found
violated In every place visited, and Ser
geant Bethel explained there was no jail
large enough to hold the prisoners If ar
rested.
THE ALLEYS OF CHINATOWN.
A place on Jackson street, known as
Palace Hotel No. 2, was found Particularly
nauseating in its effects on the nostrils and
stomach. The committee next directed its
attention to the various alleys of China
town, after which they proceeded SOUTH
ward through Dupont street. severely con-
demning the proximity of the lewd houses
to the respectable portions of the city, where
women and children on the cars and passing
on the street are subjected to insult. and are
compelled to witness degrading sights.
The last places taken In by the official
Summers were Pets Durcy's and the Gre
morne Theater, and some of the committee
stated that they had witnessed as much
degradation among the whites In the saloons
and dance-halls as they had seen among the
Chinese in the opium joints under the
Chinatown sidewalks
1t is probable, from the talk OF the jurors
among themselves, that some very vigorous
recommendations will be made In their re-
port