New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-30

~, Tho Trhune was referred to a reporter with IN
structions 70 the officials Of the MISSION %
cicty. Police Commissioner Wees. and last. out
not least the Isard. and report faithfully what ne
saw:
Brooklyn. n. Y. June 22 1895
t. he CITY 2r of The he TswTSrE G nI9MHf Mission
ana Tract society has seen called to the open voa
ion OF the law On Coney Island e.peehly on ,ns
with facility Indecent dances are to be seen IN
two or resorts and obscene ard foul langunge
a. HT fsr be Of the yoaag Of both sexes
We ask for the On OF ne press 10 bo ei pee
corely. c. LIE LACHECR Secretary.
At the office o. the City Mission and Tract Society
the secretary said that though the complaints made
to them had been oral they sufficient TO au-
thorze them to in the matter and to do all IN
their power to make this resort what IT should be
n brea thing place for the working classes rather
than 4 rendezvous for inlecency, immortality and
crime The facility with which the island can be
reached and. more than ALL the low rate OF rail-
road and steamboat fares offered, made 1t
favorlte resort for the working classes particularly
for working girls. who for a small expense coud
get a day Of recreation and breath or fresh an
From the complaints however, which had been
received he was satisfied that the place was no
longer suitable for such people While he was
aware that the officials could not stop profane and
foul language he believed much could be done
toward REFRESHING II iE public places. and certainly
Indecent dances could be prohibited. II was nom
sense he thought. say the police were not aware
of these things To impute such ignorance TO them
would be 10 accuse them Of J"ompetency. At any
rate the society had resolved TO move in the mat
ter and see If the Thlry-nrst Ward could not be
made as reputable other wards in the city. Inc
letter was shown Commissioner Wees. and after
reading It over Ire said:
50 Ear as the complaint relates TO the public use
Of profane and foul language, the officials Of the
society need not go away from the front door OF
their building in Jay-st for violations OF the law
Proianc and indecent language can be heard on our
streets and the streets Of every city yes and OF
every little village hundreds OF times daily, and the
police are powerless TO prevent It, Why don't the
peoplc whose ears are offended. and hose sensi-
bnliles are shocked by such language. make COM
plants and have warrants ISSUED for the offenders?
II is the duty Of every good citizen 20 aid In the en-
forccnent Of the laws As 10 the facility with which
drinks can be Obtained. the elasticity of the new
excise law makes il particularly easy Tor such bever-
axes u BE- obtained at Coney Island. Furthermore.
the provisions OF the law have not ysi been con-
s-rued by Appellate Court. and the police are III
a measure hand pped because OF the uncertainty
Of the exact meaning OF the stitute. Ii has no,
YET been definitely settled what may be hotel
or a meal or a guest; within the meaning OF me
Raine5 law Even when these points are deter
mined the police Will simply be required 70 make
complaints Now. with reference 10 the third
Charge that Indecent dances to be seen IN two or
three resorts 1 want 70 say that l don't believe
they are there II they are. men at the Island
don't know Of them. Such dances are a clear vioa-
ton Of the statutes and will not be permitted there
AIR Crosby. the Deputy Commissioner was down
there a few days ago. and you saw nothing OF the
KIND Oh you. Mr.. Crosby
To this. Mr. Crosby replied that he did not; tina:
De- wasn't looking f,r any such thing and OF course
did ~; see H. But ne dii not believe any such
indcccn; dances were performed on the Island The
Commissioner said Il wan5 The Tribune to 90 down
and hives; gate the Island, and II It finds anything
wrong there / want 10 know It. Rest assured that
no voll,ions OF the statutes which can be pre-
veutol by the police Will be permitted
THE SATURDAY NIGHT REVEL.
On Saturday night a Tribune reporter started for
the island about O'Clock. owing 20 TWO unfortu-
nate and vexeiious delays on the Nassau Electric
road (, WAS about O'Clock when ne reached there.
To say mat the island swarmeG wiki humanity
would BE- an exact form OF expression. Surf-ave
r,scmbed broadway on a parade day. while the
rowcry was simply Of pushing. cro~ding
humanity. whose only object seemed TO be 10 see
everything possible and drink beer all the time
The Howery a. the habiues Of the island know.
is a long wooden promenade. lying between Surf
ave and the beach and borerel by concert saloons.
IL nee halls fake" shows. cheap restaurants ana
places which II would BE- difficult 70 name But the
Corey Island Bowery has something character
,4,,,,llv lis own Nowhere It is asserted by old
inlecenry. morality and immoralty. be found.
In one OF The shows on Saturday night
th, rer1rte- counted tw'niy-six women many
of m. m arrayei In bicycle costume just they had
ihe cycle path Indeed. ne whole Bowery Wei
Surf-aye. was alive with young m"n and women
in bcycle costumes Even little girls. apparently
not moro than twelve or fourteen years old. some
times escorted 10y a male friend. but frequently In
pairs without any escort in sight. were making the
rounds OF The BoWery. peerpg into concert saloons
and dance halls whore they received invitations 10
l.Ivs, "a
the Bowery. run dance halls. are infested by fe-
ma - whose occupation oven the interest tyro could
iny to5 plainly the iiv+ they lead ana their occu-
uafion se.ms 10 lie to nvclgle Old guys" and Young
boys Induce them 10 drink and rob them when help
less. In one Of these dance halls a. least hall a
ought to have been home and in bed were seated a,
tables ntercste spectators Of the scene OF rev"lry
ard enough was seen by the reporter to warrant
the Rr9oklyn Mission and Tract Society fully
just ''''' THE SCENE on SUNDAY
on Sunday morning gentle rain failing ana
the gloom overhead plainly depicted the
faces Of the islanders. Visions OF unsold. uncon-
suuel refreshments confronted them. and they
cursed alike their luck ana the weather Despite
the rain however. by o'clock steady stream OF
bicyclis:s was coming down Surf-ave Many
females some accompanied 10y friends ana others
alone. Others came by boat and rail. and by
respectable crowd far az size is concerned. had
gathered at the island and. notwithstanding the
rain the festivities again begun.
All the concert halls had sacred concerts"
which differed from the ordinary performance IN
thar the women wore street dresses instead OF
tights The hotels all furnished the property sand
wI,h with drink, but one sandwich suilcei to pro-
n score ~ drinks ON the cycle path, AT n GER
tain hotel one sandwich suhce,l for five rounds OF
whlshcy for party Of four. Tribune reporter.
who rc lc w the cycle prih AT o'clock on MONDAY
morning. noticed that every seat along the path
from Coney Island 10 Prospect Park was occupied
by men and women and boys aud girls Another
evl which whee,mcn complain OF at the island Is
that at places where bicycles are checked 'pullers-
In are employed who wlylay the weary rider and
drag him 10 their headquarters. The impression
which even the ordinary observer receives from
DAY and night Spcn; the island Is that there vice
and revelry simply run mad.
THE DANGER FROM FIRE