The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-28
Tunnels of
New York
nSpected
Underground Spots Al
most Cleared Of Chinese
by Police.
Ri HELEN WORDEN


- EN Dfth. May 20 ipii 'iiii'
- 10 time. I intend 10 explore
underground Ncr York. We arc
apt M take the subtcrranean pat
tern o. tho city FOR granted. Tho
ma rorltv are familiar with the
mo.c-hkc transportation -unn0.'
which cstacomb Manhattan ISLAND
subv ays are no novelty. DIVING
down some local bbit-Varren
dash.uz INTO a crowded train Whiz-
zur through "a vaWning black cav
oru TO- a particular destination and
struggling 10 tho surface again, Is
part 0f our daily routine.
b. constant contact with this
labyrinth Of underground life We
forget that New York NAV have
los known depths which offer adj
ycuturOus possibilities.
Tho catac0mbs OF Old Chelsea
the cerie passage leading from the
East River 10 the Morgue. the cave
IN the Schinasl mansion at 89th-st
and Riversidc-dr. the gloomy vaults
Of old ST. Pauls 81 Marks and
Trinity tho curious city tunnels that
parallel Palk-av. the wine cellars
of Frankfort. the artists escape
below " 67th-st. the Indian caves
IN Central Park. the deserted
theatcr beneath Carnegie Hall. the
sIb'crrancan streams that race un-
dcr 59th-st. and tho rumorS Of pri-
waite vaults built in the foundations
Of old houses promise thrilling ex-
ploratious.
Did Won ever look into the cata-
combs Of Chinatown" Fred Deg
hucc. a New York guide. asked me
recently.
The nearest I ever came TO under
ground Chinatown was a white
washed passagcVay sprawled below
Ton NOOn8ns Dover Street mission
whore the trunk which held Elsie
Sicgcls body was supposed to have
been found.
Nelson LOOMS and I are meet
Ing a couple Of Chinatown detec-
tives In front Of police headquart-
erz. Mr.. Dcghuce said. Wen be
glad On have YOU come along and
bring a friend If you care to-"
Escorted by Detective
7 took Fannie Hurst. The green
lights Of police headquarters made
our rendezvous easy to find. De
tective Jimmie McManners. or the
fncerprint department. Mr. LOOMS
and Mr. DcChuce were waiting.
Il don't know as 7 can take YOU
through any catacOmbS." said Dc
teCtiye McManncrs. We've cleaned
those out pretty well. But I'll show
you what's left"
our car noSed its way through
winding. shadowv-lt Mott-st to the
Chinese post Office. Park here. -
said the detective. We'll go the
resi- OF the way on foot
Underground Chinatown has
moved into Skv-lOft rOOkeries. The
dark hunks. devious pasSageways
and rat-lke hideaways which once
hOneyCOmbed Subterranean Mott.
Dover. Pell and Bsyard-sts now fill
fOul-smellIng fire-trapS
This is the oldest house in
Chinatown" Detective McManners
said. guiding MS into black en-
trance on DOyer-st. We've had
several opium raids here"
The stairs were steep. the treads
Creakcd and the way was dark. but
we followed 10 the third floor. Sud
denly a door opened. a thin strip Of
yellow light frightened the hall and
a withered little Chinese faced us.
VIII Won want2" he asked.
I'm MCManners of police head
quarters" said our detective.
These are fricndsl" waving a land
at us
Ny friends?" inquired the China
man.
Yes YOUR friends" We said. He
invited us IN for a cup of tea and
10 see his room. The small window
was boarded up Calendars lined
the walls New Year S-gOOd luck"
explained the Chinese
DO YOU work" I asked.
No work nowl Me once a
laundryman,"
OF the $4,000 Chinese registered
iu New York. more than half are
IN the laundry business
Passage Divides longs
Some laundry and driving gourdS
hung IN the hail window which We
climbed through 10 reach the roof
Of our old house
7 want 10 show YOU the getaway
into another building. explained
the detective. pointing 10 a black
spot on an adjoining roof. THAT
leads out 20 Pell-St
I'm contrast 10 this Somber sky
escape were the bright Chinese
lanterns which cleaned back az us
from the roof paGoda of the on