THE NINETEENTH STREET GANG OF RUFFIANS.
A MORAL "DISINFECTANT."
During the summer of 1865, I was present in London as a delegate to the
International Reformatory Convention, and had the opportunity, for the
second or third time, to investigate thoroughly the preventive and
reformatory institutions of Great Britain.
On my return I found that the President of our Board, of whom I have
already spoken, had taken a lease of a building in a notorious quarter.
His idea was that some of my observations in England might be utilized
here and tested in a preventive institution. The quarter was well known
to me. It had been the home and school of the murderous gang of boys and
young men known as
"THE NINETEENTH STREET GANG."
It happens that the beginnings and the process of growth of this society
of young criminals were thoroughly known by me at the time, and, as one
case of this kind illustrates hundreds going on now, I will describe it
in detail:--
Seventeen years ago, my attention had been called to the extraordinarily
degraded condition of the children in a district lying on the west side
of the city, between Seventeenth and Nineteenth Streets, and the Seventh
and Tenth Avenues. A certain block, called "Misery Row," in Tenth
Avenue, was the main seedbed of crime and poverty in the quarter, and
was also invariably a "fever-nest." Here the poor obtained wretched
rooms at a comparatively low rent; these they sub-let, and thus, in
little, crowded, close tenements, were herded men, women, and children
of all ages. The parents were invariably given to hard drinking, and the
children were sent out to beg or to steal. Besides them, other children,
who were orphans, or who had run away from drunkards' homes, or had been
working on the canal-boats that discharged on the docks near by, drifted
into the quarter, as if attracted by the atmosphere of crime and
laziness that prevailed in the neighborhood. These slept around the
breweries of the ward, or on the hay-barges, or in the old sheds of
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets. They were mere children, and kept
life together by all sorts of street-jobs--helping the brewery laborers,
blackening boots, sweeping sidewalks, "smashing baggages" (as they
called it), and the like. Herding together, they soon began to form an
unconscious society for vagrancy and idleness. Finding that work brought
but poor pay, they tried shorter roads to getting money by petty thefts,
in which they were very adroit. Even if they earned a considerable sum
by a lucky day's job, they quickly spent it in gambling, or for some
folly.
The police soon knew them as "street-rats;" but, like the rats, they
were too quick and cunning to be often caught in their petty
plunderings, so they gnawed away at the foundations of society
undisturbed. As to the "popular education" of which we boast, and the
elevating and inspiring faith of Christianity which had reared its
temples all around them, they might almost as well have been the
children of the Makololos in Central Africa. They had never been in
school or church, and knew of God and Christ only in street-oaths, or as
something of which people far above them spoke sometimes.
I determined to inaugurate here a regular series of the "moral
disinfectants," if I may so call them, for this "crime-nest," which act
almost as surely, though not as rapidly, as do the physical
disinfectants--the sulphate of iron, the chloride of lime, and the
various deodorizers of the Board of Health--in breaking up the
"fever-nests" of the city.
These measures, though imitated in some respects from England, were
novel in their combination.
The first step in the treatment is to appoint a kind-hearted agent or
"Visitor," who shall go around the infected quarter, and win the
confidence of, and otherwise befriend the homeless and needy children of
the neighborhood. Then we open an informal, simple, religious
meeting--the Boys' Meeting which I have described; next we add to it a
free Reading-room, then an Industrial School, afterwards a
Lodging-house; and, after months or years of the patient application of
these remedies, our final and most successful treatment is, as I have
often said, the forwarding of the more hopeful cases to farms in the
West.
While seeking to apply these long-tried remedies to the wretched young
population in the Sixteenth Ward, I chanced on a most earnest Christian
man, a resident of the quarter, whose name I take the liberty of
mentioning--Mr. D. Slater, a manufacturer.
He went around himself through the rookeries of the district, and
gathered the poor lads even in his own parlor; he fed and clothed them;
he advised and prayed with them. We opened together a religious meeting
for them. Nothing could exceed their wild and rowdy conduct in the first
gatherings. On one or two occasions some of the little ruffians
absolutely drew knives on our assistants, and had to be handed over to
the police. But our usual experience was repeated even there. Week by
week patient kindness and the truths of Christianity began to have their
effect on these wild little heathen of the street. We find, in our
Journal of 1856, the following entries (p. 11):--
"The other meeting has been opened in the hall, at the corner of
Sixteenth Street and Eighth Avenue, by Mr. D. Slater. It had, in the
beginning, a rather stormy time, being frequented by the rowdy and
thieving boys of the quarter. Mr. S. has once or twice been obliged to
call in the help of the police, and to arrest the ringleaders. Now,
however, by his patient kindness and anxiety for the welfare of the
lads, he has gained a permanent influence. The police have remarked how
much less the streets, on a Sunday, have been infested, since he opened
the meeting, with vagabond boys. Several notorious street-boys have
abandoned their bad habits, and now go regularly to the Public Schools,
or are in steady business. The average attendance the first month was
88; it is now 162. The average evening attendance is 104.
There is a family of four boys, all orphans, whom their friends could do
nothing with, and turned into the streets. They lived by petty stealing,
and slept in hay-lofts in winter, and on stoops or in coal-boxes in
summer. Since they came to the meeting they have all gone to work; they
attend Public School, and come regularly to evening meeting. They used
to be in rags and filth, but now are clean and well dressed. Their uncle
came to me and said the meeting had done them more good than all their
friends together."--(_Mr. Slater's Report._)
"Yesterday, Mr. Slater brought a thin, sad boy to us--had found him in
the streets and heard his story, and then gave him a breakfast, and led
him up to our office. The lad seemed like one weary almost of living.
'Where are your father and mother, my boy?' 'Both dead, sir.' 'Where are
your other relatives or friends?' 'Hain't got no friends, sir; I've
lived by myself on the street.' 'Where did you stay?' 'I slept _in the
privy_ sometime, sir; and then in the stables in Sixteenth Street.'
'Poor fellow,' said some one, 'how did you get your living?' 'Begged
it--and then, them stable-men, they give me bread sometimes.' 'Have you
ever been to school, or Sunday School?' 'No, sir.' So the sad story went
on. Within two blocks of our richest houses, a desolate boy grows up,
not merely out of Christianity and out of education, but out of a common
human shelter, and of means of livelihood.
"The vermin were creeping over him as he spoke. A few days before this,
Mr. S. had brought up three thorough-going street-boys--active, bold,
impudent, smart fellows--a great deal more wicked and much less
miserable than this poor fellow. Those three were sent to Ohio together,
and this last boy, after a thorough washing and cleansing, was to be
dispatched to Illinois. A later note adds: 'The lad was taken by an old
gentleman of property, who, being childless, has since adopted the boy
as his own, and will make him heir to a property.'"
Several other lads were helped to an honest livelihood. A Visitor was
then appointed, who lived and worked in the quarter. But our moral
treatment for this nest of crime had only commenced.
We appealed to the public for aid to establish the reforming agencies
which alone can cure these evils, and whose foundation depends mainly on
the liberality, in money, of our citizens. We warned them that these
children, if not instructed, would inevitably grow up as ruffians. We
said often that they would not be like the stupid foreign criminal
class, but that their crimes, when they came to maturity, would show the
recklessness, daring, and intensity of the American character. In our
very first report (for 1854) we said:--
"It should be remembered that there are no dangers to the value of
property, or to the permanency of our institutions, so great as those
from the existence of such a class of vagabond, ignorant, ungoverned
children. This 'dangerous class' has not begun to show itself, as it
will in eight or ten years, when these boys and girls are matured. Those
who were too negligent, or too selfish to notice them as children, will
be fully aware of them as men. They will vote--they will have the same
rights as we ourselves, though they have grown up ignorant of moral
principle, as any savage or Indian. They will poison society. They will
perhaps be embittered at the wealth and the luxuries they never share.
Then let society beware, when the outcast, vicious, reckless multitude
of New York boys, swarming now in every foul alley and low street, come
to know their power and _use it!_
Again, in 1857, we said:--
"Why should the 'street-rat,' as the police call him--the boy whose home
in sweet childhood was a box or a deserted cellar; whose food was crumbs
begged or bread stolen; whose influences of education were kicks and
cuffs, curses, neglect, destitution and cold; who never had a friend,
who never heard of duty either to society or God--why should he feel
himself under any of the restraints of civilization or of Christianity?
Why should he be anything but a garroter and thief?"
* * * * * * * *
"Is not this crop of thieves and burglars, of shoulder-hitters and
short-boys, of prostitutes and vagrants, of garroters and murderers, the
very fruit to be expected from this seed, so long being sown? What else
was to be looked for? Society hurried on selfishly for its wealth, and
left this vast class in its misery and temptation. Now these children
arise and wrest back, with bloody and criminal hands, what the world
were too careless or too selfish to give. The worldliness of the rich,
the indifference of all classes to the poor, will always be avenged.
Society must act on the highest principles, or its punishment
incessantly comes within itself. The neglect of the poor, and tempted,
and criminal, is fearfully repaid." (Pp. 5, 6.)
But the words fell on inattentive ears.
We found ourselves unable to continue our reforming agencies in the
Sixteenth Ward; no means were supplied; our Visitor was dismissed, the
meeting closed; Mr. Slater moved away, heavily out of pocket with his
humane efforts, and much discouraged with the indifference of the
Christian community to these tremendous evils; and the
"Nineteenth-street Gang" grew up undisturbed in its evil courses, taking
new lessons in villainy and crime, and graduating in the manner the
community has felt the past few years. Both the police and the public
have noted the extraordinary recklessness and ferocity of their crimes.
One, a mere lad, named Rogers, committed a murder, a few years ago, on a
respectable gentleman, Mr. Swanton, accompanied by his wife, in the open
street, on the west side of the city. He was subsequently executed. Some
have been notorious thieves and burglars.
Another murdered an unoffending old man, Mr. Rogers, in open day, before
his own door, and near the main thoroughfare of the city. The whole
community was deeply thrilled by this horrible murder, and, though three
of the "Gang" were arrested, the offender was never discovered.
Subsequently, one of the suspected young men was murdered by one of his
own "pals."
The amount of property they have destroyed would have paid the expense
of an Industrial School, Reading-room, Lodging-house and our other
agencies for them, ten times over.
Now and then we have rescued two or three brothers of them, and have
seen them become honest and industrious farmers in the West, while one
of the same family, remaining here, would soon be heard of in Sing Sing
or the city prisons.
The history of the growth of the "Nineteenth-street Gang" is only one
example of the histories of scores of similar bands of ruffians now in
process of formation in the low quarters of the city.
Our preventive agency was now placed, through the especial assistance of
one of our trustees, in a better building, in Eighteenth Street. Here we
had all our moral "disinfectants" under one roof, in the best possible
efficiency.
The person to be appointed Superintendent, whom I had accidentally
encountered, was a "canny Scotchman," and proved singularly adapted to
the work. I feared at first that he was "too pious" for his place; as
experience shows that a little leaven of carnal habits, and the jolly
good nature which Religion ought only to increase, but which, when
misapplied, it does sometimes somewhat contract, is useful in
influencing these young heathen of the street. Perhaps they are so far
down in the moral scale, that too strict a standard, when first applied
to them, tends to repel or discourage them.
I particularly dreaded our friend's devotional exercises. But time and
experience soon wore off the Scotch Presbyterian starch, and showed that
the "root of the matter" was in him. The first quality needed in such a
position is patience--a spirit which is never discouraged by ingratitude
or wearied out by ill conduct. This our apparently somewhat
sternly-righteous superintendent could attempt to show.
Then, next, the guide of such lads must be just--inflexibly just--and
exact in the smallest particulars; for, of all things which a street-boy
feels, is first any neglect of obligations.
This virtue was easy to the superintendent. He had, too, in him a deep
well of kindness for the forlorn and unfortunate, which the lads soon
appreciated. To my great satisfaction, at this time a gentleman threw
himself into the movement, who possessed those qualities which always
command success, and especially the peculiarities with which boys
instinctively sympathize.
He was gifted with a certain vitality of temperament and rich power of
enjoyment of everything human, which the rough lads felt immediately. He
evidently liked horses and dogs; a drive four-in-hand, and a gallop "to
hounds," were plainly things not opposed to his taste. He appreciated a
good dinner (as the boys happily discovered), and had no moral scruples
at a cigar, or an occasional glass of wine.
All this physical energy and richness of temperament seemed to accompany
him in his religions and philanthropical life. He was indefatigable in
his efforts for the good of the lads; he conducted their religious
meeting every Sunday evening; he advised and guided, he offered prizes,
gave festivals and dinners, supplied reasonable wants, and corresponded
with them. And, at length, to crown his efforts, he proposed to a few
friends to purchase the house, and make it a home for the homeless boys
forever.
This benevolent measure was carried through with the same energy with
which he manages his business, and the street-boys of the west side of
New York will long feel the fruits of it.
For our own and the public benefit, our worthy superintendent had, among
his other qualities, what was of immense importance for his work--the
true Scotch economy.
No manufacturer ever managed his factory, no hotel-keeper ever carried
on his establishment with such an eye for every penny of useless
expenditure, as faithful manager of trust-funds looked after every item
of cost in this School, and Lodging-house. Thus, for instance, during
the month of May last, he lodged eighty boys every night, and fed them
with two meals, at a cost to each lodger of five cents for a meal and
five cents for lodging, at the same time feeding and lodging some
gratuitously. The boys were kept clean, had enough to eat, and were
brought under all the good moral and mental influences of the House;
and, at the end of the month, the institution had not only cost nothing
to the public, but Mr. Gourley absolutely turned over eleven dollars and
sixty-five cents to the Society. That is, his rent being paid, he had
managed to keep his boys, pay the wages and food of three servants, a
night-watchman, and errand-boy, and the salaries and table expenses of
the superintendent, matron, and their family of four children. If this
is not "economical charity," it would be difficult to find it.
On one occasion the patience of our worthy superintendent was put to a
severe test.
For two years he fed and lodged two youthful "vessels of wrath." They
were taught in the Night-school, they were preached to, and prayed with
in the Sunday meeting, they were generously feasted in the Thanksgiving
and Christmas festivals. At last, as the crowning work of benevolence,
he clothed and cleaned them, and took them with him to find them a home
in the Far West.
Here, when they had reached the land of independence, they began to
develop "the natural man" in a most unpleasant form.
They would not go to the places selected; their language was so bad
that the farmers would not take them; finally, after their refusing to
take places where they were wanted, and making themselves generally
disagreeable, Mr. Gourley had to inform the lads that they must shift
for themselves! Hereupon they turned upon their benefactor with the
vilest language. Subsequently they met him in the streets of the Western
town, and were about to show themselves--what a Western paper
calls--"muscular orphans," by a vigorous assault on their benevolent
protector; but finding, from the bearing of our excellent brother, that
he had something of the old Covenanter's muscle in him, and could show
himself, if necessary, a worthy member of the old Scotch "Church
militant," they wisely avoided the combat.
Mr. Gourley returned home down-hearted, his high Calvinistic views of
the original condition of the human heart not being weakened by his
experience. We all felt somewhat discouraged; but, as if to show us that
human nature is never to be despaired of, Mr. Gourley afterwards
received the following _amende_ from the two ingrates:--
HOPEFUL NEWS FROM HARD CASES.
"P----, Mich., June 6, 1870. "Mr. J. GOURLEY:
"_Dear Sir_--Knowing that you are one of those who can forget and
forgive, I take the liberty of writing these few lines to you, hoping
that I will not offend you by so doing. W---- and I both wish to return
our thanks to the Society for giving us the aid they have. We are now
both in a fair way of making men of ourselves. We are happy to think
that we are free from the evil temptations that the poor boys of New
York are exposed to. We are respected by all who know us here. Boys of
New York little know of the pleasure there is to be found in a home in
the 'Far West.' We expect to stay here for two years yet, and then make
a short visit to New York. We would like to visit the 'Old Hotel,' if
you have no objection. We would like to have you write and let us know
how the boys are getting along, and if little Skid and Dutchy are still
in the hotel. I would advise all boys who have no home to go West, and
they will be sure to find one. W---- is foreman on the largest farm in
the town, and has hired for three years at one hundred dollars per year,
and found in everything. I am working in a saw-mill this summer. I
worked on a farm the first winter and summer. Last winter I worked in
the lumber-wood, and this summer I will try the mill. I get twenty
dollars a month, and have since I left you at the depot. We both went to
work the next day. I wish you would be so kind as to answer this, and
oblige your obedient servants,
"B. T.
"M. W."
TABULAR STATEMENT SINCE ORGANIZATION.
No. of No. of No. of No. Pro-
YEAR. Boys. Lodgings. Meals. vided for. Expenses. Receipts.
1866 to 1867....... 847 15,389 48,511 272 $6,205.48 $3,053.40
1867 to 1868....... 952 23,933 39,401 159 5,141.08 4,065.25
1868 to 1868....... 890 22,921 25,345 127 7,983.58 3,068.53
1869, 9 months..... 563 15,506 15,429 37 3,832.04 1,995.21
1869 to 1870....... 919 25,516 27,932 86 4,766.55 3,510.84
1870 to 1871....... 750 28,302 30,693 69 4,224.51 3,586.67
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Totals....... 4,921 131,467 187,311 751 $32,093.24 $19,279.90
The Eighteenth-street Lodging-house has been gradually and surely
preventing the growth of a fresh "gang" of youthful ruffians; and has
already saved great numbers of neglected boys.