Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-10-02
STATION HOUSE LODGERS
WHERE NEW YoRK's HOMELESS
ARMY SLEEP.
Scenes at Midnight In a Police station
Going to the "isiand" Until
Mild Weather Comes.

Going to the "Island" Until
Mild Weather Comes.
~ Ut OF the black shadow OF the
alley, like = great at bats pat ,i wing g;
men across Oak street TO the
basement gate of the station-house-
The doorman now developed as much
activity as the German had shown. He
few at the first man in the line, and
catching his shoulders, flung him ten
feet away along the pavement.
''Git ont of here, " said he; ''a-a-a-h,
give me no talk. l know yer. You
was here last night. Git, now, or I'll
give yer nv foot. And you too; git.
now, and don't let me see Yer any
more.
As his eve rested on each familiar
face he lenped at the owner of II and
gave him knock or twist that sent
him spinning out of the line like top.
"Them's old soaks, that's been here
before" said he in explanation, land
we don't take EN- if they're regulars.
There's not room enough for them that
deserves a lodging"
/ suppose those poor devils were the
most to be pitied of all the men l saw
that day. What under heaven they
we're to do if the station-house spurned
them was indeed aquestion. But they
were spun out Of sight and ont of mind.
Down in the brightly lighted basement
of the station-house the German and
the doorman lined up the men IN
crescent shaped file with many curt
order TO turn your face this way;
let's see Your face, man" The manner
of the policeman was rough, his tones
were sharp; but it was only manner
and a tone. The New York policeman
is a professional man. HIS business is
adopted for life, and familiarity with
the conditions in which he moves rem
ders him decidedly businesslike. As
for the men. those who were jerked out
of the line like calves in cattle-yard,
simply hung their heads and shufied
away like calves. Those who were adj
mitted TO the station-house and or
dered about moved duly and mechan-
icallv. as if they we're rather helpless
than stupid, and had made up their
minds to pay that price for a lodging
without complaint or resentment.
They were new to such place. They
were not tramps or professional dodgers.
Seven in ten were such men as one Is
used to seeing about the wharves, or
carrying dinner pals homeward in the
uptown streets at supper me. They
we're unskilled laborers, with here and
there "A man not so easy TO place-a
coun tryman, perhaps, or man from
distant city. They stood with their
heads up and their eyes moving, to
take in everything around them. The
German patrolmsn began at the head
| of the line and asked for recruits Tor
! the workhouse-a new departure IN
lodging room practice.
"Do YOU want TO go 'way?' he asked
of each. DO You want TO 50 way?
Do you want TO go 'way?'
How these unfortunates understood
him | don't know, for l had to have
his meaning explained. The fact was
that the Department OF Charities and
| Correction has determined in order TO
relieve the distress and pressure for
! lodging room. TO send to the work
house on Blackwell's Island all New
| Workers OF several years residence who
have no homes aud are willing TO leave
town for the winter. The strangers
are to be sent back to the places they
/ hail from.
'Do you want to go way"
"No, sir"
"Do Won want to go 'way?"
81 don mind" 1t was a longshore-
man vino spoke.
mo, sir; )" "No, SIR "No, sir,
said others in monotonous succession.
Then second man, who might have
long been a truck-driver, said he,
didn't care" And third one.
young fellow, answered, Eyes, if you
please" There were boys III the line
at least two lads OF seventeen or
eighteen years-badly Oh, but yet bet
ter placed than if they had ten cents
with which TO get into the average
lodging house, where thieves are made
as if they were factories for turning
discouragementand poverty into crime.
''What do you want to 80 to the
Island for?" | asked the man who had
been a longshoremUn.
"Well, sir. what else can | do?' he
replied. II have no work and no
money and no home ! buried my
wife five years ago, and have no
children. I've been here twenty-five
years, and understand | can be took
care of for the winter-till times Is
better.
Some one slipped some silver IN his
hand-for tobacco on the Island
Harper's Weekly.
Rabbits for the Market.