The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11

Ei,o settled there after the Quakers moved
way. Some few Irish are there still. and they
Will tell you, IL asked about the Ship. that it was
nilt long before their time by a man who de-
bi;ned it for a dwelling house, and that 1t was
kfterward turned into a hostelry wherein sailors
from the river front, flush with pay, caroused
nightly. and footed wild sea dances with the
painted women who swarmed there upon the
news OF an arriving merchantmen; hence the
name Of the building. 1t is more probable, how
ever. that any tavern in that vicinity would
have derived a stcadier support from the ship
wrights who worked in the yards only a few
blocks distant than from those who went down
to the sea in ships of their building.
Beer was made there. as the city history shows,
by Hendrick Rutgers. brewer of Revolutionary
times. whose name. like those of most Of the
metropolitan families of ante-Revolutionary
days, has been given to an east side street.
What is more likely than that the worthy Hen
drick should have established a taproom in con-
nection with his brewery and have put out a
shinglc inviting the riverside workers to sample
his cheer " At the Sign of the Ship !" In time
the building was sold to Charles and Isaac
Wright, the latter a blacksmith, but there
is no tradition that horseshoeing was
ever done within the doors of the Ship.
and If 1t is SO, the architectural changes
which must have been necessitatcd have been
wiped out. At that time Monroe street was
known as Lombard street, and Hamilton street,
Thanked with many petty shops, was Cheapside.
Inc name OF the street changed, but the Ship
was still the Ship after the Wrights were dead,
and their Quaker friends seeking more congenial
quarters, since the Irish were pouring into tho
streets In that vicinity, had one by one forsaken
their quarters and moved further uptown.
win the advent OF the Irish came new days
for tho Ship. Throughout its floors it was
crowded with families various In name, but one
nationality. Without the space-saving
features OF the tenement, it yet became q tene-
menu 9ammed with the poorest type of immi-
grants, who could afford TO pay none but tho
lowest rents. Nowhere were rents lower than
In the Ship. In those days crowding to such an
extent was rare. and the queer old house became
aknown place all over the east side, but when
the big double-decker emo were
Quilt 1t lost Its distinction in this re-
spect and commanded attention only by
is architectural peculiarities. For long
..e irish held sway. in that region. Some
q them stu live in tho vicinity, despite
o. many Of the dwellings,, and 1t was one OF these
0iatilne habitants to whom Il Sun reporter who
yaied tho snip not long ago is indebted for
reporter was In search of one Bridget McCon-
nsii who, having been evicted from her former
PNNN>f "uo " lUlR-
tIhgs TO be found, and 1t was rumored that the
Emp mad lifted her wants. He didn't find
bridget. but he did find the Ship, and therein
various features not to be discovered otherwise
Oh The east side.
The Ship" said a ,lounger outside the
that's It over the street. Which part was yer
iookin, fcrl The foremast r.
MMhats the foremast T asked the reporter.
four i door door at this end, O. course. Dye sec
ihe pointed at the misunderstanding building
VIII us pointed rnnIQ rlanhna dad aynhIna old
fashioned chimneys,. irregular windows, and
green half-doors. Indicating each door with q
"Foremast, mizzen, main. and jigger," he con-
Huhnued. "Thcm's the four masts OF the ship.
"hich IS II 1t yer want who yer lookin' fer r.
sne reporter crossed the street and entered. at a
renturc the m~izzenmast. Going througha
narrow hallway he found himself presently look
Ky KY Up at the open sky, through u big square
ssa,Ghway, guarded on the upper floors by an
sn.lTely inadequate railing. No living person
NAY the sound Of voices and the rattle OF house
aoiu work. A first call produced no response.
ntthe second IA face appeared under the railing
On inc third floor, and peered doubtfully out over
tne open space. 1t was the face OF a child per-
maps three years old, the eyes bright and the
me bottom OF the hatchway was some thirty-iiyo
i:et, and the face continued to protrude, the Wis
itor tOrcsaw that he was in q fair way OF becom-
my Indirectly responsible for a case of infanti-
Sdc' His cry OF warning was a pure waste of
breath, Over topplod the youngster with u
shu Drought, up kicking after a %tcn-foot fall by
virtue 81 "A stout rope tied about its chest at one
snd; and at the other to some object capable OF
outstanding q jerk. With many lusty howls