New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-22

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ing the number "I49", on the desk.
"Take these and go on downstairs"
he ordered
Obeying this command, the reporter
found himself in small room on the
basement level. The sole furniture
consisted of pair of wooden benches
and rack upon which were slung
numerous coat hangers.
| "Take off your clothes and be quick
about it," directed an attendant Of the
disrobing room. "Hang 'em all on one
Stick your socks in the pockets"
Though his undressing was accom-
plshed as speedily as possible the
reporter was shouted at several times
by the attendant, with profane trim
mings, to "hurry up, because we can't
be sticking around here all night for
you fcllahs."
The disrobing performed, the re-
porter's garments, together with one
of the tags, were handed in at a. win
dow at the end Of the room, whence
it was surmised by the aroma which
still fondly permeates them, they were
abattoir." Then he was led into a
larger room adjoining, where he re-
joined his two fellow "guests" beneath
three Of the half-dozen showers in
operation.
Although sign in each shower par
tition commanded the occupant to
wash thoroughly" one "Shorty" and a
fellow attendant there were more keen
on getting speed into the process and
forced the bathing trio to "come out Of
it" before their additions were fully
completed.
Each was handed a towel only
slightly larger than tiffin napkin,
which failed to accomplish 8 thorough
drying This could not have been ne
gotiated even with sufficient towel
companion were continually shouting
orders to "get move on" Then the
three were given nightshirts, all of the
coarsest texture and of tho scantiest
proportions.
Following this, the trio was herded
into an elevator and taken to the third
floor. This proved to be an immense
room, about 50x100 feet, entirely used
for sleeping quarters. There were
about $50 double decker" beds, ar
ranged after the fashion Of upper and
lower Pullman berths and laid out in
regular rows. They filled the entire
room.
1t was noticeable at once that only
about one-half of the beds were oc-
cupied. But instead Of scattering the
occupants more about the room, they
had been assigned two to a bed-struc-
ture on only one side of it, leaving the
other side entirely without guests"
There were only four windows at one
end of the room, but one side, facing
Twentyffth Street, was practically
entirely made up of windows. Despite
this fact, not one CT the windows on
the floor was open, nor were any of
them opened during the remainder of
the night. The sole ventilation OBJ
servable was from narrow transoms at
the tops of some Of the windows, which
were only partially opened, and even
number of these were closed entirely.
The stencil in the air became over
whelming from the attitude of one of
the "uppers," to which the reporter
was assigned, after the lights had been
turned out and the assemblage had
devoted itself to serious slumbering.
1t was foul, and sitting, and COM
parable only to a combined mixture
of ammonium valerinate, Chicago's
"Packingtown" and a glue factory in
full operation.
Once during the long hours of the
morning sufferer, apparently a first
timer, left his bed and sought the
Waterman assigned to the floor.
"Please let mo- get my clothes and
leave" he begged "The stencil back
there is frightful, and the man in the
bed below me keeps rolling over and
over. can't sleep"
"You can't leave" replied the watch
man. "Gwan back-I can't be changing
you fellows around all the time"
But | can't get wink of sleep
there" the sufferer demonstrated.
Look here" shouted the Waterman,
you go back there and sleep or else
you'll 60 to cell and sleep. Take your
choice"
The bed equipment consisted of
thin mattress, pillow apparently filled
with straw, one sheet, one pillowcase
and a rough blanket. These appeared
to be clean. But it was not very long
before the reporter felt that he was not
the only occupant Of his upper"
Thus, with the tossing and rolling
and yelling and grooming, and with the
stencil, the seemingly interminable
early hours of the morning wore on.
Finally, just before o'clock, there
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