New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-18
LOCAL SHAMELESS 70 YEARS AGO

r. tho Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: An illustration appearing in your
issue of Sunday, September 8, recalls TO my
mind how many slaughter houses OF the same
model. in every respect, existed in the resi-
Dental section of New York City, say as late
as the sos One remember Of especial in
terest to "us boys" was on Twelfth or Thir-
teenth Street, near Third Avenue. Even
aristocratc Greenwich Village had one or
more of these establishments on its princi-
pal street, and a whole row existed on the
lever end Of First Avenue. During "busl-
ness hours" groups Of children, as repre-
scented in your picture, were always IN con-
slant attendance, witnessing the only object
lessons" provided at that time that can re-
call. The dog pound that was situated at
the Forks of the Bowcry, where Cooper
Union now stands. was not open 10 the pub
lie, being surrounded by high board fence,
and we we're unable to view the operations
in the same, which was considered & great
deprivation.
The herd Of cattle also depicted in your
picture reminds me that when we lived on
Murray Street. near Broadway, almost daily
Aocks Of sheep and lambs, droves OF hogs
and herds of horned cattle passed our house
10 Broadway on their way to the slaughter
houses in the upper section OF the city.
storehouse for cattle, etc, owned by a
man by the name of Chamberlain, existed on
Robinson Street, between College Place and
the river, and when the time arrived for the
animals to be sent 70 their final account they
we're driven from Robinson Street through
College Place to Murray Street, thence to
Broadway. and through this thoroughtaro'
then, as at the present time, the pride OF the
metropolis. proceeded to their destination IN
the upper part OF the city.
For the benefit of the yodnger citizens of
New York | will state that it was not until
the sos that Park Place extended to the
river not being cut through the Campus
known in those days as the College Green
of Columbia College, otherwise the droves Oh
cattle would not have been obliged to make
the detour through Murray Street to reach
broadway, as before noted.
recall very wildly passing our house prob
ably the last drove of horned cattle permitted
70 use Murray Street, etc, by the city au-
thorities. for. on their way up Broadway. one
of the herd became wild" and at least three
persons were gored to death by him in front
of A. T. Stewart Co.'S we'll known retail
drvgoods store, at Broadway and Chambers
Street This event created great excitement,
and public feeling was so aroused that
horned cattle were forbidden to be driven
UP Broadway, and our daily display was
reduced to that of hogs and sheep. The steer
that caused the havoc which | have men
toned was instantly killed by rifle in the
hands of man on horseback, an achieve
ment worthy of note when the fact is re
called that the weapon used was single
barrel, muzzle-loaded rifle second shot
was impossible, it being before the advent
o, repeating rifles" That the efectual work
of the marksman was a subject for the high
est communication can be easily understood
and appreciated by the readers Of this ar
t;clo W. r. c.
Plainfeld, n. j., Sept. IA, 1916.