New-York tribune., 1905-06-26
REFORMS AT FORT GEORGE
4PPARENT, NOT RE1L.
Less Noise the Only Improvement
Corcoran Tackles Job.

which now exists at Fort George particularly
on Saturdays and sundays Sergeant Patrick
,Corcoran. acting captain of the SD Police Pre-
cinct has an opportunity to make a name for
himself in police circles. He is Central Office
man whom Commissioner McAdoo sent to the
'1szd-st. station Friday. when he transferred
CAPTAIN Halpin. The new representative of the
Police Department was "on the job" all day
Yesterday. and there were many evidences that
he IS disposed make the best of his oppor-
1unities. He had force of twenty uniformed
policemen from his own precinct and men de-
tailed for Saturday and Sunday from the 29th
s0th 31st and SD. as we'll as seven plain clothes
1nen
The crowd was larger than it had been any
Sunday this summer, Amsterdam-ave and the
various resorts being literally filed with
heated humanity. The uniformed police kept on
the jump and the crowd was well handled Up
70 S o'clock only one arrest had been necessary
This catch made by Patrolman Michael j.
Collins and the prisoner H. Melgrenl, a Rus
sian lad of fifteen years, who lives at No 40
Lewis-st Collins saw him steal a 81 bill from
the pocketbook of Mrs. Katie Blumler, of No
242 West 30th-st. The boy taken to the
station and later sent to the society rooms.
The most marked reform which has resulted
from The Tribune's crusade against the many
ana varied HulSdnCtS at fOTl NJcOISe Is llt
silencing of the "barkers' in front of the fake
shows, concert and dance halls and refreshment
booths. One OF Sergeant Corcoran's first acts
was TO put the muzzle on. No longer do the
leather lunged individuals lure the public with
their Xxi vi ki VI. greatest. grandest show on
iearth"' In conversational tones they are per
nitted 70 recount the wonders within
The peanut man has to put the soft pedal on
his Red hotr' and the vendors of wienerworsts
have resorted to lifting the lid from their sauer-
kraut kettles and let the reek advertise their
wares There is no end OF noise at Fort George
without the ''barkers." The team piano OF the
old fort does not know what Sabbath quiet
means. The music boxes and the whistles OF the
half dozen merry-go-rounds ire Just as active as
ever. The sergeant is trying to lind an ordinance
which will put them TO sleep over Sunday.
The excise situation has improved to a greater
less extent according TO the place. The police
have sent out word that there is to be no more
liquor sold to young girls and boys. The order
is strangely interpreted in at least one of the
dance halls.
Two girls OF fourteen, or at most fifteen.
dressed in their Sunday school white, were in
one of the larger dance halls yesterday after
noon. They We're thirsty and sIgnalled the
waiter.
Bring US two whskeys,' said one Of the
girls.
Forget it," said the waiter. its beer for
yours"
But we don't like beer" was the protest,
make it two high balls
Sorry said the waiter, but / can't do it.
The boss says no more intoxicating booze to
youse kids; it's beer or nothing"
The girls took beer.
reform Fort George. A few Sundays ago
piece OF hard bread cracker formed the meal
which went with every drink. Yesterday in one
place each table equipped with two pieces
of bread. In another BIT OF old cheese was
added
The side shows are still running full blast,
though their barkers whisper the wonders that
can be seen for nicke. Down in Little Coney
Island the petrfed murder mystery of Barre,
Vt has succeeded the Two in One" fake
The petrif1ed show is now run under the gulse
OF a scientific lecture. In Paradise Park there
is new Side show. 'Fegee, the Wild Ape-Ilhe
Man" which turns out to be nothing more than
an animal show.
Amsterdam-ave. still continues to be a speed
way for the who has a monopoly of the
one of the pony carts had a great deal of fun
yesterday afternoon whipping their beast at
galop through the crowd. Fortunately IN the
scramble for the curb no one was injured
The fact remains, however, that some of the
worst evils of Fort George can hardly be apated
by the police and every day the necessity of the
city's creating respectable public park on this
historic highland becomes more pressing. the
manner of dancing in vogue at the fort would
cause blush IN a BoWery nan III oIdel W
keep any sort OF step with the music 1t seems
necessary for these young folks TO touch fore
heads This clincIl, formed. could hardly
he broken by a crowbar SO long as the orchestra
is playing. No drowning man ever clutched at a
straw tightly than the Fort George sple-
Ter" clutches his girl The more the dancers
have had to drink the tighter the clutch
Several members of the Washington Heights
Irnnrovenoent Association visited the fort yes
terday gathering data for subsequent appeals
TO the city authorities in behalf of public park
They were pleased at the improvement of con-
ditions over recent Sundays and will endeavor
to encourage the police TO keep up the good
work.