Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-27
ROUGH GANGS IN THE PARKS
An Unbearable Nuisance at
KlrkWood Park.
R0WDIES ALONG THE SEA WALL
Pleasure Parties Bombardodl
With Stones.
The Tough Element OF the East Side Col =
lects Along the Brandywlne and Under
Cover Vt Night Make Miserable the
Lives of People In Passing Heats.

lects Along the Brand yElne and Under
Cover vi Night Make Miserable the
Lives Of People In Passing Heats.
Kirkwood Park seems to be the resort
for the worst element of the city. those
trequenting the place now being mainly
white persons of both sexes. Thursday
night their conduct was ridiculous, and
In fact II is so every warm night. One Of
the iavoritc pastimes Of tho gang Is TO
throw stones at bouts as they 90 by, and
several cases have been reported where
people in passing boats have been hit.
An investigation was made by re-
porter of THE GAZETTE and it was
learned that the tonghs are under little
restraint, They collect on the water
front at dark and remain there until late
at night They seek dark places and
lombard boats from ambush.
The crowds that congregate at the
park 60 bathing after dark and are
guilty Of the worst kind of obscene and
rough language, and IL is almost
hazardous sometimes for ladies to 90
boating on the Brandywine at this point.
These lawless persons contine their
actions mainly TO the water front and
they are very careful to watch the police
and the appearance of an officer is the
sign for u cessation of tho disorder,
which is only temporary, and as soon as
the policeman leaves the place it COM
mcnces with renewed vigor.
On Wednesday night, II is stated,
there came near being n pitched battle
between the roughs and bad boys on
the wall and some people who were
passing in Il boat. somebody ON the
wharf threw a stone at the boat, in
which there were two ladies. The men
i'll the boat requested the stone throwers
to desist, but this only made matters
worse, and regular bumbardment
commenced. and all kinds Of indecent
language was INDUCED in. The first
| impulse of the men in the boat was to
go ashore Immediately and try TO get
satisfaction, but on second thought they
decided to retreat as rapidly us possible,
which they did,
Stones were thrown at several boat
ing parties during the evening. il is I'M
derstood, and the absence of the police
was noticeable. AS far as could bq
learned. nobody was hurt, but il was
not the fault of the mob in the park
that something serious did not happen
Thursday night reporter of THE
| GAZETTE visited the place unnoticcd
and watched tho conduct of the people
who were collected on the wall. The
report was fully borne out by personal
observation, and several times insulting
remarks were made TO ladies in passing
boats. The noise of the crowd could bt
heard plainly up and down the stream
for some distance aud on the streets
several blocks. AT times IL resemhlod Il
lot of wild animals INDUCING in dis
pute,
A few weeks ago the police arrested
two colored people who were founG
among disorderly crowd In the park
aud it was thought that it would he
lesson to others. They were fined s.
as a warning, and it does seem as if the
colored roughs are steering clear of til,
park just at present. but the nuisance
from the whites is even worse in som,
respects than when the negroes raj
around the place wild.
Persuasion has no effect on the unrul,
mob that congregates at the park almos
nightly, and the only way to restor
decency and order to this east sid
breathing spot is 10 arrest some OF tn
ringleadcrs and if they are proved to b
offenders Judge Ballwill undoubtedly
the rest. SO it now lies with the polio
to try TO get hold Of some Of these out
| laws.
NJ Residents in the vicinity of the par
have been complaining for some tim
: and they will welcome the time whe
Q the place is rid Of its human rodents.
3 The Board OF Park Commissioners
;. have recently given Kirkwood Par
e considerable attention, and ii it is ne
s Abused il will soon become very a,
d Inactive place and will be very valuabl
S II thr people on the east side Of tn
S city, Int the disorder that prevails Their
aA thu present time renders it almo:
useless for law.abiding people.
/ Trouble AT THE WEST END.
. Their is another disorderly crow
5 that coogregates frequently in We,
d End Park, and at times matters NJ
C pretty ntarly as bad there as at Krs
:. wood Park. a gentleman residing
G the Vicin ly OF West End Park is al
i thority 70 the statement that drunke
/. rowdes tt times infest the place an
5, occasionally they are very disorder,
u They are ldom too drunk, however,
IS notice the approach Of policeman, an
5. as soon as one is seen they make goo
p tnclr cscap,,