The morning call., 1892-06-03
THE DIVES VISITED.
Some Things That Here Seen by Com
fuittee of the Grand Jury.

Some Things That Here Seen by Conn
mittee Of the Grand Jury.
immortality went into temporary retire
ment last night. vice crawled into hole Tor
few hours, while RIGHTEOUSNESS took Yul-
garity by the arm and both of them took a
back seat.
The Grand Jury's committee on dives
and social evils was abroad on tour OF
investigation, and every owner and mana
ger of n disreputable resort knew it in time
70 veil at least partly the glazing pictures
they exhibit on other nights TO their
patrons.
They succeeded. however, but poorly.
The disguise was too thin and the Grand
Jurvmen were able to see through II.
The surface appearance OF the places Wis
tied was a harmless one, but the jurvmen
realized we'll that every dive they wandered
into last night was dark spot on the fair
name of this city. and that these gaudy
halls of sO-caled pleasure we're only gilded
dens Of infamy and vice. Jurors Patrick
Lynch, John Rosenfeld aud Joseph Fred
ericks were the committee selected TO make
the rounds of tile dives. They were accom-
panied by Jurors Macy and Meagher, who
are greatly interested IN the suppression OF
the dives. Police Sergeant Bedell was the
guide and a CALL reporter completed the
party
The first place visited was the ''Waltz
Ne" dance hall. at 737 Mission street, owned
bv Foster & johnson, and advertised as
the greatest dancing academy on earth.
A lot Of boys and girls were found there
tripping the light fantastic, drinking steam
beer and smoking cigarettes.
TIE owners said when they we're Ques-
toned that they had R license TO sell liquors,
but owing 10 the fact that they had their
barfOOm newly papered tue license bad
been temporarily mislsid.
Where do you want to 90 next?" asked
Sergeant Bedell. ITO the Cremorne, by all
means" was the unanimous response.
So to that most notorious OF all the nOto-
rious places in the city the committee was
guided.
AS soon as tie party reached the foot Of
the stairs, on the Market-street entrance TO
the dive, word was passed along the line,
and when they arrived in the main auditn-
rum they we're received with open arms by
no less parsonage than Ed Holman, the pro-
prletor and breaker of the laws Of deeeney
in chief.
'tOnly temperance drinks sold herew was
q sign spieuOusly displayed among the
pictures OF nude women which decorated
the walls.
"Waik upstairs, gentlemen. and see the
place." said Holman; and then he led the
way to that upper barroOm, notorious
through many midnight orgies.
Then be showed the jurymen the boxes,
the stage and the dressing-roOms by walk
ing them down on one side Of the house and
up on the other.
Scantiiy dressed and ovsrpainted women
were seen in every part Of the premises
busily engaged in trying TO induce the men
10 the audience 10 buy another bottle OF
soda OF ginger ale for 81 each.
'I would like TO treat you, gentlemen. to
a bottle If wine" Homan said, when the
sort Of ms aH fpi Cd hut
l cannot do i" and then he addressed the
committee about as follows in an explana-
tory tune:
"My license TO sell liquor expired on Sat-
urday-see? And although / had applied
for new one | didn't get it-see? Now,
wasn't going 10 give the Police Commits
sioners any show TO pull the h0use-see?
And that's why l am selling soda-water and
such stuff onlY-See?
As the jurymen fled out OF the foul
smelling place and breathed the fresh air
once more they whispered 10 each other
that the CTemOTne must go.
1t is shame to allow such den in the
most prominent locality in the city," said
one.
81 never dreamed It was so shockingly
bad. said another.
Holman, in his anxiety to please the jury
man. made many mistakes
He probably thought it was a joke when
had girls of all ages and weights" but
the juryman could not see the fun and
seriously commented on that remark later
on.
When Holman expressed his grief that he
could not open wins for his visitors he
meant 10 be hospitable, no doubt, but some
bow the jurymen thought that he had made
an admission which proved that wine could
be opened and would be opened II their
presence did not prevent It.
From the Cremorne the party wandered
up Eddy street, and visited Martin &
divers Brighton one Of the many
saloons with Lady Entrances"
Gus LilPs, MarshalPs. COrbetts, Pete
DOrsey's and several other places of the
same kind received brief calls.
They were found to be all alike.
Indecent pictures, snowy women, bal
lad singer warbiing THE SoDg That
Touched My Heart" or "Old Times"
programme everywhere.
The Palace Variety dive in the basement
OF the southeast corner Of Grant avenue and
Post street was the next objective point.
Palefaced youngsters, who ought to have
been home and In bed, were found there in
numbers blowing cigarette smoke into the
faces of superannuated damsels and enjoy
ing the coarse jests Of the performers Oh the
stage
Bouncer Cram, the big special policeman
OF the place, was very active In suppressing
the most noisy and Objectionable utterances,
both on the stage and among the audience
while the Grand JuTymen we're there but
they saw enough to make them glad when
they were once more in the street that they
had escaped from this vile underground
den.
The shameless exhibitions on Morton and
Dupont streets were next taken notice of
by the committee, and then the disguised
jurymen finished their labors by visiting
the Balla Union.
rs GOOD rs CLOSED,
The Police Commissioners Refuse the