New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
LITTLE OLD NEW YORK.
Some Odd Phases of Her March to
Greatness.
XIV,

AS the chronology Is now within four year,
OF the opening Of the nineteenth century. II will
not be inopportuns to quote the opinion OF an
English actor. John Bernard. regarding New
York in 1877. In "RstrospectIons OF America.
published by Harper & Bros in 1856 from
manuscript notes IN the possession OF Mrs Der.
nard. he says: 1T resembled a large fair or a
cluster OF inns rather than an abiding city
all It's Inhabitants looking like birds OF passaga
with the exception or the few aboriginal Dutch
who had not been swept away by the EN1ropsan
food TO their yellow brick dwellings on tbs
banks OF the Hudson But these kent tbar,-
selves distinct even from the other natives re-
gardins the entire body as a variety OF Arabs
who had been expelled from Europe for their
roooeries. They maintained their houses uks
rortincations. their doors and windows vera
closed and barred. their garden walls arrnsa
with glass bottles in bed OF mortar. and thav
sitting on their Stops so dilated as not to
leave room for a cat to pass. and rolling waves
OF smoke from their melancholy pipes TO warn
the stranger Off. They were a marked contras.
10 the spare but muscular proportions OF tina
other residents. the eternal restIessness OF tina
foreigners or the splashtngs sprawIing progress
or the Yankees The world seemed to be stand
ing stIu with the one; the others seemed to bs
carrying all the world before them
The habits OF the New-Yorl merchants -.
minded me OF my friends at Guernsey. They
breakfasted at eight or half past and bv nina
were IN their counting houses. LAYING OUT +ha
business OF the day; at ten they were on thar
wharves. with aprons round their waists. rolling
hogsheads OF rum and rnoIasses: at twelve a.
market. flying about dirty and as dfligent az
portsrs; at two back again TO the rolling heav-
Ing hallooins and scribbling. At four they went
HON to FCr Ifr~v,,
At eleven. to supper"
IN 1876 "a potter's field was bought FOR burial
place. and keeper appointed at six shlIlings
day" This ground was then at the junction Of
the Greenwich and Albany roads. but in 1900
the city authorities. "deeming IT too near the
public thoroughfares." selected what is now the
site OF Washington Square for a new potter's
field, ION account OF its retired location" Strong
protests made by the property owners
IN the vicinity 70 the change and they Of
offered 70 present a piece OF ground IN another
part OF the city TO the corporation. but the off,
Gals remained firm. and 1t was not until 1923,
when burial ground was laid out be-
tween F'ortieth and Fcrty-second SITS. on Fourth
and Fifth aves.. containing ten acres. at cost
OF SIS 449. that the old Potter's Field was lew
eIIed and Washington Square was formed on its
site. One-third OF the ground composing this
square was purchased for $4,000 in 1924
The appointment OF the first Superintendent
Of Public Works and Repairs and the surveying
and laying out OF west-st. also the completion
Of the State Prison at Gr-enwich-the second Of
it's kind in the United States and designed for
convicts OF higher grade"-occurred in 1896.
Here begins interesting history. In the old
days breakers OF the law were confined IN the
Stadt Hugs though prior to its erection Fort
Amsterdam contained a dungeon. IN which
Indians taken IN skirmishes between their tribe
and the burghers were confined. and perhaps
Hendrick Jansen who was convicted OF having
slandered Governor Kieft in 1888. confined
In IT. We certain. however. that he was
compelled TO stand at the gate Of the fort at
the ringing OF the bell and ask the Governors
pardon" and that others. after a similar con-
hnement for greater crimes were compelled 10
ride a horse with raZorlike back for two
hours while weights and chains were hung on
their feet" But TO our story OF prisons. IN
1912. when the Stadt Hugs erected IN
Dock-st. (now PearD. at the head OF Coentiss
Slip a small room on the first floor was set
aside for prisoners with the Provost Marshal
as keeper. The Provost received one shilling ror
every prisoner committed. and was paid twelve
stivers day for the support of each prisoner
AS he was a combined sheriff. warden. police
man and TALLER. his duties became complicated
with the growth of the colony. that an ori-
ciaI called a schout was appointed to relieve
him Of those outside OF the prison. Until l'V"
the Stadt Hugs figured in prison annals. Wheh
the new City Hall. on the site of the preseh'
Sub-Treasury Building. in Wall-st.. was bulk III
100. the prisoners were confined in dungeons
In the cellar while the debtors were tmpriSohsu
in the attic apartments. from the dormer VIII
dows OF which they used to hang out old shoes
and bags 10 solicit aims OF the passers0S'
What was known as 1.-The horse of Mary Price
originated in the method Of punishment ue''
to evildoers in those days. From Broad-St- Os
low Wall a cart TO the tail Of which erinlhia'
were tied, started around the town. while stuiu'
arms piled whips the backs OF the uhior'1
mates as it proceeded. The other form OF pun
ishment-riding on razorli>e back or a woo"e
horse-was improved on in 1iOO. Horse az
rider were placed on cart and trot'ed up o.
down the streets Mary Price was the nrs' w