BILL POOLE, JOHN MORRISSEY
THE FAMOUS SPORTING MAN, CONGRESSMAN, STATE SENATOR
POLITICIAN, and FIGHTER AND PUGILIST.
3) "THE" ALLEN MORE THAN AN EYEWITNESS TO THE MORRISSEY-POOLE EPIC.
Although the National Police Gazette, through the efforts of its
subsequent owner, Richard K. Fox, laid the foundations for the tremendous
prominence that has since been given to the sport of pugilism, a quarter of
a century was to go by before what was probably the clearest story of the
Morrissey-Poole fray and its relative details was set down in print. In 1880
Fox prevailed on Theodore Allen to assist in its writing. "The" Allen, as he
was generally known, was then the proprietor of the "Bal Mabille," one of
the leading resorts of the fast and the fancy. He then had back of him a
record of thirty years as a political bully, keeper of gambling houses and
worse; had been concerned in many rough-and-tumble fights and shooting frays
and figured in numerous other transaction that made him amenable to the law,
though until then he had always managed to escape conviction. Allen had been
more than a mere eyewitness to the Morrissey-Poole epic; he had played an
important part through the entire momentous violence.
4) EACH POLITICAL PARTY HAD ITS REPRESENTATION OF TOUGH HENCHMEN.
Tammany's political despotism was more than challenged by the Native
American, or Know Nothing organization and factional antipathy then did not
even halt at murder. Each political party had its representation of tough
henchmen. Under the banner of the Native Americans were Tom Hyer, who had
licked Yankee Sullivan in 17 minutes and 18 seconds in a fight for the
American heavyweight pugilistic title, and his friend Bill poole, rated the
peer of rough-and-tumble fighters. Morrissey had aligned himself with the
Tammany force, which boasted such fearless sluggers and merciless roughs as
Yankee Sullivan; Pat "Paugene" McLaughlin, a cruel little manhandler, who
had parted with his nose by the teeth of Murray the Mick; and among others,
Lew Baker, who attempted to assassinate Hyer, and who finally did Poole to
death. Morrissey not only challenged the ring supremacy of Hyer, but
declared himself a better man than Poole in an "everything-goes" battle. He
styled himself the American Champion on the strength of a decision over
Sullivan after Hyer had announced his retirement, the bout in question
terminating in a general fight after 53 minutes of milling and Sullivan
being ruled the loser for having left the ring. This bout was in October,
1853.
5) MORRISSEY CHALLENGE TO HYER, BASIS OF THE QUARREL.
It was soon after the New Year in 1855 that a row started in a saloon
in the basement of Wallack's Theatre on Broadway, the Morrissey challenge to
Hyer being the basis of the quarrel. Before the argument had progressed very
far Baker's confederate, Jim Turner, drew a gun and shot at Hyer, the ball
grazing the champion's neck. Hyer, a quiet man for all his fighting record,
but a dangerous person when roused, turned on Turner and drawing his own gun
contemptuously discharged his shot into the wall. The smoke was still
curling from his pistol when he saw the reflection of Turner in a mirror in
the act of again cocking his pistol. Wheeling quickly he grasped Turner by
the neck and threw him violently to the floor. At the same time Baker
attacked Hyter from the rear, using the butt of his gun on Hyar's head. The
latter then gave his attention to Baker and was proceeding to treat him the
same as he had Turner, when a policeman entered and Hyer turned Baker over
to the officer for arrest. The representative of the law declined to
interfere
in what was termed a private dispute, even though Baker had drawn a knife.
So Hyer proceeded to finish with Baker and deposited him in the gutter in an
insensible condition, though he had his hand severely cut before this task
was accomplished to his own satisfaction.
And so the war was on in earnest between the rival political brawlers.
Baker got another licking a few days later from Poole, who would probably
have had both of Baker's eyes out if the police had not happened along in
time. Whereupon, Morrissey told the world that he was going out to get Bill
the Butcher.
6) POOLE'S ADMIRERS, ARRANGE A GRAND BALL IN HIS BEHALF.
Poole, by now, had given up his butcher business and started a
drinking-place on the corner of Broadway and Howard Street and which was
known as the Bank Exchange. His admirers, in celebration of the venture,
arranged a grand ball in his behalf in the Chinese Assembly Room, so-called
on account of its oriental decorations, and where the first masquerade ball
on skates was held. Deputations of sports and fast women and men from New
Orleans, Charleston and Savannah and other large cities attended and there
has seldom been such a free and easy company gathered as was present for
this occasion. Morrissey and many of his followers also attended, but
nothing of a troublesome nature happened until shortly after the ball was
over and the two met in the bar of the City Hotel, which was opposite
Poole's place of business.
7) "THE" ALLEN TELLS THE STORY
From this point we will let Allen tell the story. "The" was privileged
to take a very intimate part through the entire business. He had been a
helper in Poole's market and had resigned to become a political protege of
Bill the Butcher, who had been taken with the way young
Allen had handled himself against several desperate ruffians.
A) MORRISSEY CHALLENGES POOLE TO A FIGHT.
Morrissey was standing at the bar as Poole entered and advanced
toward him. The place was full of people and all talk died down until there
was not even a whisper. The two eyed each other coldly and alert. Morrissey
was the first to speak. He spit his cigar from his mouth and then said
defiantly:
"There stands the black-muzzled American fighter."
"Yes," responded Poole, sneeringly, with his favorite
expression, "and I'm a dandy."
"I can lick all the dandy out of you tomorrow morning,"
responded Morrissey. "What is more, I'll bet you five hundred dollars you
don't dare meet me, and you can name the place." And he put fifty dollars as
a forfeit in the hands of George Deagle, chief clerk of the hotel.
"How about the foot of Christopher Street?" asked Poole. He
had named a location within two or three blocks of his own home.
Big Tom Burns, one of Morrissey's bosom friends, protested and
broke out excitedly:
"Don't go there, John; that's Poole's headquarters. His gang
will never let you get away alive."
B) A TIME AND PLACE ESTABLISHED
After a moment's hesitation Morrissey tossed over fifty dollars
to Poole and dared him to name another place.
"How will the Amos Street dock suit you?" asked Poole.
"That's satisfactory," was the bold answer.
"I'll be there bright and early," promised Poole.
Five o'clock in the morning Poole came up to the Amos Street dock in a
coach accompanied by "Smut" Ackerman, Tommy Culkin and myself (Allen). Amos
Street wharf was the next one above the Christopher Street dock. It was the
only pier the opposition Albany boats landed at uptown. It was also used as
a wood wharf, cordwood being heaped there in great piles.
C) BEFORE THE FIGHT
Numerous admirers of Poole had already put in appearance and they had
cleared a place for the fight and were now camped on the piles and in the
street, or rested themselves on sails that they had unbent from the spars of
the sloops and schooners that were at anchor in the slip.
It was more than an hour and a half from the time set at which
Morrissey was expected to put in appearance and as there was a nipping
coolness in the air of this February morning Poole decided to warm up by
enjoying a bit of exercise. Poole and a couple of his boon companions and
myself rowed across the river to Barker's Gardens, a resort over in Hoboken,
near the ferry. There we had a few drinks, Poole calling for his favorite,
milk punch. He took his turn at the oars on the way back so as to limber up.
We pulled into the Hammond Street dock and then left Bill to rest in the
Village House, while I went down the street to see if Morrissey had yet put
in appearance.
Morrissey had not yet got uptown. A number of his friends, however,
had started up Hudson Street in coaches. Poole's friends were laying in wait
for them and every carriage that appeared was stopped and either upset or
emptied of its inmates. A fight Invariably ensued, which ended in "Old
Smoke's" supporters making their departure for home or a hospital.
It was nearing 7 a.m. before news, which traveled ahead of him,
apprised that Morrissey was driving up with a friend in a light wagon. I had
time to get Poole to the wharf before Morrissey arrived. He came with Johnny
Lyng, proprietor of the "Sportsman's Headquarters," at Canal Street and
Broadway, and they walked toward us arm in arm. The crowd which swarmed on
the dock made a lane for them to pass through and everything was very
orderly thus far. Even the hundreds who crowded the roofs and windows of the
adjacent buildings were quiet. But among the people on the pier was John
Poole, Bill's brother. He had undergone a frightful mauling in Lyng's Place
and burned for revenge. As Lyng passed John Poole, Bill's brother struck his
enemy a smashing blow on the jaw. In a second there was a general fight. No
one attempted to molest Morrissey, who stood quietly looking on. But his
followers fared badly. They were given a thorough thrashing after which
their revolvers were taken from them and tossed into the river. After this
slight delay the principals were permitted to get down to business.
D) THE FIGHT
There was no ring, but by general consent the throng had kept a space
open for the combat. Poole, in his undershirt, as he had rowed across the
river, was ready. It did not take Morrissey long to peel.
Throwing off his coat and white shirt, he stood in his red flannel
undershirt, as brawny a young bruiser as the most enthusiastic admirer of
muscle could desire to see. Poole had a powerful physique and carried
himself the more gracefully of the two. Each stood over six feet and weighed
close to two hundred pounds.
The fight began with some light sparring, Poole holding himself
principally on the defensive as his opponent circled about for a chance to
close. For about five minutes this child's play of the giants lasted. Then
Morrissey made a rush. But Poole was too quick for him. As "Old Smoke" made
his lunge "Bill the Butcher" ducked with remarkable agility and seized him
by the ankles. In a flash Poole threw his opponent clean over his head and
as "Old Smoke" went sprawling he had only time to roll over to his back when
Bill pounced on him like a tiger. Then followed terrible minutes of
fighting.
Clutching each other in grips of steel they butted and pounded their
heads and bodies together, tearing at each other's face with their teeth and
gouging for the eyes with talon-like fingers. It was sickening to watch, for
in no time they were frightfully punished. There was a long gash in Poole's
cheeks where the flesh had been torn by his opponent's teeth. The blood was
streaming from Morrissey's both eyes. They never changed positions while the
struggle went on, for the minute they were down the crowd closed in on them
and the surging bodies of the combatants pressed against the feet and legs
of the surrounding onlookers. The wonder is that the two on the ground were
saved from being trampled to death. Not a hand was raised to interfere with
or favor either contestant during the two or three minutes this inhuman
struggle lasted. But Morrissey was underneath and was doomed to defeat. And
soon his voice was heard, hoarse, breathless and suffocating with blood.
"I'm satisfied," he gasped. "I'm done."
A cheer went from the crowd and the shout rang out and repeated till
it swelled into a roar that carried through the streets half a mile away:
"Poole's won! Poole's won!
8) AFTER THE FIGHT MORE TURBULENCE
That was the end of the great fight between John Morrissey and Bill
Poole, but not of the day's excitement, nor of many more days of turbulence.
A number of outsiders had drifted by to see the battle. They had reason to
wish they had stayed away before the pugnaciously inclined Poole minions
were through celebrating. An attack was started on Morrissey as he started
to depart from the scene of his defeat and but for a few brave friends and
the aid of some fair-minded ones among the enemy he would have been carried
off bodily to Lord knows what fate. He finally got safely away to the Bella
Union saloon on Leonard Street, of which he was part owner.
Within less than an hour after the crowds had cleared from the Amos
Street dock "Smut" Ackerman, in trying to illustrate how his friend Poole
had thrown Morrissey, slipped and suffered a fatal fracture of his skull in
the fall. As the dying man was being taken in a cart to the New York
Hospital, then at the corner of Broadway and Anthony Street, they drove by
the Bella Union saloon. The street was jammed with friends of Morrissey all
hot with rage against any one who had concern with the man who had worsted
their champion, and soon the cart and dying man were hemmed in by this
threatening crowd. Directly opposite the Morrissey saloon was the Fifth
Precinct station-house. As the infuriated Morrissey men closed in on their
prey the door of the station-house opened and the knights of the club made
a sally. Beating back the mob they escorted the cart to the hospital. That
same afternoon Ackerman died in the arms that had beaten Morrissey into
submission.
9) ALLEN UNDER ATTACK BY MORRISSEY SUPPORTERS.
Ackerman was not even in his grave before the two factions were
fighting again. The Bowery Boys and the Short Boys, who supported Morrissey,
had it in for Allen for the part he had played in Poole's victory. "Paugene"
McLaughlin soon after ran into Allen and challenged him to a fight on the
New York Hospital grounds. At that time, though the gates to the hospital
park were pad-locked, there were many who had keys that fillted the lock and
it was a common practice to fight out differences there. "Paugene," however,
was so "spoiling for a fight" that he smashed Allen in the jaw on the way
and there was scrimmaging all over the street. "Paugene" had enough for the
time being, but Harry O'Donnell, who had fired a pistol at Allen during the
scrimmage, was challenged to battle on the Harrison Street wharf on the
following night. The gangs rowed down to the wharf, for this was in the era
before street-cars roamed this district. O'Donnell, though he boasted some
reputation as a professional pugilist, was well handled by Allen and wound
up by being thrown into the water. The evening was topped off with a general
fight in which knives, slung-shots and brass knuckles were brought into
play. This succession of defeats had the Morrissey men thoroughly aroused
and greedy for revenge.
A few nights later Allen and two friends were trapped in Brady's Hall,
at Bayard Street and the Bowery, which was close to the headquarters of the
Bowery Boys, which was at No. 40. In the desperate fight for life of the
Poole trio two policemen, Rogers and Sullivan, were so terribly beaten that
the latter died soon after. Allen was taken away insensible to the Star
Hotel, Frankfort and Williams Streets; his eyes had been gouged from their
sockets and hung out on his cheeks. A skillful operation restored them to
place; he lay in bed several weeks stone blind.
10) ALLEN SEEKS REVENGE
The first day he was permitted out by his physician, he hunted up Bob
Linn, who had been the ringleader of the attack against him. Linn was found
at supper in Spring Street and almost brained with a vinegar cruet.
And the following morning Allen lent a hand with the Sandboys___all
Poole followers___in an attempt at revenge against a crusty mail-agent named
Peck. The sandboys were in the habit of loading their carts from the hills
of sand left by the sloops and schooners before daybreak each morning. There
was so little room between the dock and the railroad-track that the carts
would be backed up against the sand piles and the forelegs of the horses
would be on the tracks. Peck was in the habit of speeding down in the
mail-car without warning and smashing over carts and horses. The mail-car
was stoned this morning and in response to pistol-shots from the car window
by Peck. Allen procured an ancient blunderbuss loaded with nails, which was
possessed by one of the sand-schooner captains, and blazed away at the
mail-car.
11) POOLE AND A COURT OFFICER GET INTO A FIGHT IN THE COURTROOM.
For this, three days later, Allen was arrested and taken before Judge
Davidson in the Jefferson Market Court. Poole accompanied him to go on his
bond. Morris Underhill, a court officer and friend of Morrissey's, got into
words with Poole and soon the two were fighting wildly right there in the
courtroom and Underhill lost the use of one of his eyes. Poole, however, was
never to have to answer for this disrespect to the court. He was to suffer
his death wound a few days later. But first he was to have the pleasure of
one more good rough-and-tumble fight.
12) POOLE AND TRAVERS FIGHT AFTER THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE BALL.
A night or so after the court fracas Charley Lozier, who was in the
butcher business in Barrow Street, held his annual "Slaughter House Ball."
Lozier had his slaughter house cleaned out specially for the event and here
the followers of the Poole aggregation and their good ladies, danced and
drank and a grand time was had by all. During the festivities Poole and Bill
Travers got into an argument as to their respective manhandling abilities,
and though they were of the same political faction, nothing remained but
that this matter must be settled once and for all and in the usual way.
So at 5 a.m., when the ball broke up, all adjourned to the blue-stone
yard a step away and the two Bills went to it. In no time the two were
struggling on the ground, which was strewn with chips of stone that cut
through their clothing and gashed into their skin. The friends of the
combatants perched on the mounds of stone and made a living wall about the
two and cheered impartially as they battled away in the gray of the dawning
day. When Travers finally agreed he had enough he was in need of one new
eye, and Poole, who was well damaged himself, assured his opponent that
never before had he enjoyed such a fine struggle for his honors. Which was
well, for in less than forty-eight hours the Tammany thugs got him.
We will let "The" Allen tell how.
13) "THE" ALLEN TELLS HOW POOLE MET HIS DEATH AT THE HANDS OF
TAMMANY THUGS.
A) STANWIX HALL
Bill Poole met death on the night of February 24, 1855. A little
after 10 o'clock that evening Charley Lozier, Cy Shay, Jimmy Acker and
myself (Allen) dropped into Stanwix Hall, which had been newly opened
opposite the Metropolitan Hotel, then regarded as the finest of the two
hemispheres, and where on that particular day William Makepeace Thackeray
was quartered after delivering his delightful lecture on the Four Georges.
The Stanwix, with its glistening mahogany and cut glass, was one of the
handsomest liquor stores and bars in the city. There was a yard in the rear
giving access to Mercer Street, and which in warm weather was to be used by
Charley Dean, the proprietor, as a summer garden. There were several parties
in the barroom, including Mark Maguire, who was known as "King of the
Newsboys." He was said to be in control of five hundred newsies, and boasted
that among his customers were or had been, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster.
B) MAGUIRE RESENTS BEING SNUBBED BY POOLE
Poole did not like him, for some reason or other, and invited
everybody to have a drink with the exception of Maguire. Mark resented this
and said if he was as big as Poole he would show him what he thought of him.
Poole took a bread-knife from behind the counter and tossed it to Maguire
with the remark that the two were now equal, as he was unarmed, and he
exposed his pockets in proof of this claim. Chris Hogan, of the detective
force, came between the two to smooth out the trouble. At this injuncture
the door opened and in came Morrissey with several of his friends.
C) MORRISSEY ENRAGED PROVOKES POOLE.
Morrissey immediately walked over to Poole and began pouring
out a torrent of abuse to which Bill responded by stripping off his coat.
Morrissey tore off his collar and ejaculated a remark, that while pointless,
was equivalent on his part to saying that he was primed to do bodily injury.
"I'm John Brown, the Button Man," he said. There was an attempt by Hogan and
some of the onlookers to prevent the fight, which only enraged Morrissey
more than ever, and drawing his revolver he snapped it three times at his
enemy's head, but the gun missed fire. Some accounts have it that Poole then
drew a pistol and would have fired at "Old Smoke" only that Maguire asked
him reproachfully if he would kill a helpless man in cold blood. The truth
is, Poole was unarmed and the coolness of the unarmed man only made
Morrissey wilder than ever and he hurled his own pistol to the floor and
begged some one to loan him another.
D) POLICE ARRIVE AND MORRISSEY IS ARRESTED, THEN RELEASED;..
Then the police, led by Captain Charles Turnbull, arrived and
Morrissey was placed under arrest, while Poole and I escaped by the back way
into Mercer Street. Chris Hogan tried to stop Bill, but I yanked the
detective aside by his tie and Poole got away. He went right to the Eighth
Precinct station-house, where Morrissey had been taken, and gave himself up.
There were no charges, so the foemen were not held. Before releasing them,
however, Captain Turnbull exacted a promise from Morrissey that he would not
come above Canal Street again that night. Morrissey is understood to have
gone down to Lyng's Sporting headquarters at Canal Street and Broadway,
where he remained until he went home to his newly married wife. Poole and
the rest of us went back to Stanwix Hall, as Bill insisted on making his
apologies to Charley Dean. We stayed there drinking and talking until some
time after midnight. The saloon was supposed to be closed and the curtains
were all down. Poole had just announced that it was time for him to go home
when the front door opened.
E) THE MORRISSEY THUGS ARRIVE AS POOLE WAS LEAVING. BLOODSHED
INEVITABLE.
In walked Lew Baker, "Paugene" McLaughlin, Dad Cunningham and
several others of the Morrissey bunch. Among the party was Jim Turner, who
had just come back from California, having been run out of San Francisco by
the Vigilantes. "Paugene" was the last to enter, and as he came in he turned
the key in the lock and made the door fast. Every soul present knew there
was to be bloodshed. Poole leaned coolly against the bar and watched
"Paugene" drop the door key into his pocket. "Paugene" returned the glare
and asked:
"What are you looking at, you black-muzzled bastard?"
"At you," was the reply.
"Well, you're looking at a better man than yourself when you
take a look into the glass. So you're the American fighter? Why, Morrissey
can lick you on sight."
As he said this "Paugene" leaped at Poole, seized him by the
lapel of his coat and spat in Bill's face. At the same time there was a
general drawing of revolvers among McLaughlin's followers. Poole calmly
shook his insulter off and offered to bet $500. that he could lick any of
the party fairly and he drew five golden eagles and slapped them on the bar.
Turner, who had been fidgeting about nervously, yelled:
F) THE MOMENT OF BLOODSHED.
"Oh, hell! Let's sail in." And with that he pulled aside his
heavy cloak and drawing a long-barreled "taranta" pistol of the type then in
use by the Mexicans and the miners, leveled it over his arm at Poole. As he
pulled the trigger some one jostled him and the ball ploughed through his
own arm.
That was the signal for a general fusillade, and also for a
general scamper. Unable to get out, those who had no stomach for the deadly
sport took refuge behind counters and stools. One chap, George Deagle,
actually walked into a pier mirror, supposing it in his terror to be an open
door.
One of the shots had taken effect in Poole's leg. He clinched
"Paugene" and as they struggled toward the door another bullet hit Bill in
the shoulder and he dropped across the door, which some one had forced open
by now.
G) A DEADLY BLOW TO POOLE
Lew Baker made a rush for the prostrate man, bounded upon him, and
with his knee pressing into Bill's chest and before his friends could get to
him, he placed the pistol against Poole's body and fired twice. One bullet
lodged in the heart and the other in the abdomen. There was scarcely a
second's interval between the two reports.
The sharp barking of the revolvers, the jangle of broken glass,
the oaths, blows and cries suddenly ceased. Then, as Poole's friends sprang
for the assassin, Baker jumped to his feet and dashed through the open door.
He would never have escaped then had it not been for Turner. Directly after
that personage had injured himself he dropped down and hugging the floor
during the shooting, he had dragged himself toward the door. He was close to
the exit when Baker fired his last shot and leaped away over him. Lozier,
Shay and several others of us tripped over Turner and were still mixed up on
the floor when the police came surging in.
H) POOLE STRUGGLING TO LIVE, BUT DEATH IS INEVITABLE.
Poole was alive, but insensible. The ambulance was sent for as
he lay there breathing in short gasps. In the wrecked saloon, filled with
smoke that hung over it like a gray pall, he was cared for by his anxious
friends till the ambulance arrived. The dawn was brightening in the east as
his body was borne away through the city streets on his last ride in life.
14) POLICE SET OUT TO CAPTURE THE ASSASSIN.
The entire police force was set to work to capture Baker. He concealed
himself in Lyng's saloon until the following night, from where he was
smuggled through the scuttle and over the roofs to the Apollo Hall Assembly
Rooms and then out of the cellar into a coach that had been provided for
the purpose and was driven to Jack Wildey's place on Broome Street. It was
from here he shipped aboard the brig Isabella Jewett as a common sailor.
This vessel was already cleared for the Canary Islands and the next day,
March 10, sailed. Five days later the secret of Baker's flight was divulged.
George Law thereupon placed his speedy clipper yacht Grapeshot at the
disposal of the authorities and she was dispatched with a strong crew and a
number of officers aboard. The Grapeshot made Teneriffe two hours before the
Isabella Jewett made that port. There were no extradition laws in those days
and the Portuguese minister in Washington had already refused to give up
Baker, should he come ashore in Teneriffe. So the Isabella Jewett was
boarded on the high seas and Baker was placed under arrest and removed from
the brig, to the indignation of her captain. Baker was brought back to New
York and was indicted along with Turner, McLaughlin, Morrissey and others.
After three trials, each of which resulted in a jury disagreement, the
authorities abandoned the prosecution and no punishment was meted out by the
law.
15) POOLE ACCUSES MORRISSEY FROM DEATH BED.
In the meantime Poole lingered for two weeks before the end came. He
had been removed to his home and examination showed that, while the heart
had not been reached by the bullet, the pericardium had been pierced and
there was no possibility of saving the victim's life, as it was impossible
to reach the bullet. Poole recovered consciousness and made a statement that
his death was due to an organized plot of Morrissey. Further, he swore that
he had been unarmed on the night he had been shot.
His recuperation was only temporary and on the fourteenth day the
physician in attendance announced the last hour was at hand. Poole heard the
announcement with a placid face, looked up at Hyer, who had been constantly
at his bedside, then drew his last breath and managed to gasp:
"I die a true American!"
16) NEW YORK IN A CONDITION OF EXCITEMENT, THE ENTIRE AFFAIR
FRAUGHT WITH POLITICAL AS WELL AS PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
In the meanwhile New York existed in a condition of excitement no
words can adequately describe. The entire affair was fraught with a
significance that political as well as personal. It would have been worth
the life of any person even suspected of being remotely connected with the
Morrissey faction to come anywhere close to the district of the home on
Christopher Street near West where Poole lay dying. The vicinity had taken
on the appearance of a camp. A steady line of vehicles poured through the
street depositing their freight of anxious inquirers at the Poole door. Not
alone the comfortable equipage of the sport, but the wagons and carts of the
venders and butchers halted long enough for the latest bulletin. Many
strangers from out of town traveled to Christopher Street before seeking
their hotel. The Herald, Tribune, Times and every other New York paper of
consequence had their reporters on hand day and night. But there was no
serious outbreak until the day of the Poole funeral. That a day in New York
to be remembered. It was a pageant, this funeral, the like of which the city
has probably never witnessed. The funeral was set for Sunday and it seemed
as though all New York was out on that eventful day.
17) THE DAY OF THE POOLE FUNERAL
Again we let "The" Allen resume the story:
The sidewalks all along the route of the funeral procession were
jammed, and every housetop and window was clustered. The very trees, awnings
and projecting signs were seized on as points of vantage and the air was
alive with the great roar of the multitude. Opposite the dead man's
residence was a carpenter-shop owned by a man named Onderdonk. It was a
sturdy two-story frame building with a stairway on the outside giving access
to the upper floor. The spectators packed this stairway as one solid mass
and every inch of roof space was also taken up. The structure began to creak
ominously, then the roof and stairway gave way, and the people and the
timbers fell together in one common wreck. Four people were killed and
thirty injured. To add to the excitement, the firebells were set ringing
and several companies were called to the scene of the casualty.
It was amid this turmoil that the funeral cortege got under way. It
was headed by a detail of several hundred of the old police force. The van
of the procession was led by the Poole Association, 2,000 strong. Then came
deputations from the Order of the United Americans from various cities
forming a body twice as great. The famous Shiffler Hose of Philadelphia
followed with about 1,000 members, and then came various local and visiting
fire companies headed by the Red Rovers, Engine No. 34, of which Poole had
been a member. Deputations of the volunteer fire companies had traveled
hundreds of miles to do the occasion honor, the Mash Markey Hose coming from
Baltimore, and Boston also being represented. Then came thousands of
citizens in advance of the hearse in which the casket rested under the stars
and stripes and which was guarded by two companies named in the dead man's
honor as the Poole Guards, and the Poole Light Guards, captained
respectively by Captain Jim Bannon and myself.
The course lay through Christopher and Bleecker Streets on to Broadway
and every foot of the way had to be cleared as the cortege slowly made its
way downtown. At Grand Street, a body of five hundred men in the familiar
attire of working butchers knelt with their heads uncovered as the
procession passed. They fell in behind and accompanied the march to the
ferry. The funeral and its immediate excort crossed to Brooklyn and
continued on to Greenwood Cemetery. There, after most impressive ceremonies,
Bill Poole was committed to that last long rest which comes to busy and
troubled lives such as the like of his as well as to those of less troubled
men.
18) POOLE FOLLOWERS, AND INNOCENT SPECTATORS, AMBUSHED BY THE
MORRISSEY MEN
After the ceremony the procession broke up into parties and returned
to New York by various routes. The Poole and the Light Guards marched
together and reached Broadway and Canal Street late in the afternoon, where
the New York and New Haven Railroad depot then occupied one corner. Opposite
the depot a house was being torn down and work had been stopped in
consequence of the parade. Behind the brick and timber barricades made by
the wreck and that lined the gutter a strong party of Morrissey followers
had ambuscaded themselves. They consisted of members of the 36th Engine,
known as the Original Hounds, reinforced by a gang of Buttenders and Short
Boys, led by Larry Aiken and Dan Linn.
As the Poole volunteers came within range a volley of stones and
bricks darkened the air. Another and another followed. The attack was so
sudden and unforeseen that the spectators who were gathered in the street
watching the parade had no time to get out of the way and a woman on the
other side of the street was killed, while a number of men and women were
badly wounded. Five of the Poole Guard were included in the list of the
injured. They were not long in recovering their order and Canal Street soon
became the scene of a pitched battle. The howls of the ruffians and the
cheers and shouts of the volunteers made a ringing chorus, through which was
heard the sharp crack of pistols, the crash of stones smashing windows and
doors, and the shrill screams of the wounded.
19) THE POOLE GUARDS WITH BAYONETS SCARE OFF THE MORRISSEY MEN.
The fight continued for an hour, when the Morrissey men, having used
up pretty much all of their barricades for missiles, were left without cover
and the Poole Guards proceeded to charge them with their bayonets. The
Morrisseyites had no stomach for cold steel and they scattered just as the
Seventh Regiment, which had its armory in National Hall over the depot, and
which had been called out to suppress the riot, appeared upon the scene. The
assailing party had a number of its members disabled and two lay dead. The
Poole Guards marched off to the Village, bearing their wounded with them.
20) THE POOLE GUARDS BENT ON VENGEANCE, COUNTER-ATTACK .
That night the Hounds were gathered around the stove in their
engine-house discussing the events of the day, when a menacing murmur fell
upon their ears. In a moment more there came a crash which shook the
building and split the doors. Another and another followed until the doors
fell open. Then, dropping the beam that had been used as a battering-ram,
the besiegers poured in upon their demoralized foes. The assailants were the
Poole Guards which had come down bent on vengeance.
Separated into a number of detachments to prevent the suspicion which
would have been roused by the passage of such a large party as their
combined one through the streets, they had come together undiscovered at the
portals of the enemies' stronghold, which they lost no time in storming.
When they got through there was nothing left of the engine-house but four
blackened and smoking walls. The Hounds narrowly escaped with their lives.
After which the Poole legion returned to the village and celebrated long
into the night. Bill Poole's burial had certainly been a grand and exciting
occasion.
"The" Allen's story was not exaggerated in the least, as reference to
the old newspaper files readily verifies.
His was a true picture of New York and of politics in the Fervid and
Frantic Fifties.
21) MORRISSEY RETURNS TO THE PRIZE-RING, THEN BRANCHES OUT TO
POLITICS.
A little more than two and one-half years after the Poole murder
Morrissey returned to the prize-ring and defeated John C. Heenan. Soon after
he was being acclaimed as the great American prize-ring champion, even by
the Poole adherents, and he became the owner of many prosperous and
luxurious gambling houses in New York and branching out to Saratoga; in time
he was a Tammany Hall leader and climbed to the Legislature and to Congress.
22) MORRISSEY LIVED AND PROSPERED LONG AFTER HIS ENEMY, BILL POOLE, WAS
COLD IN HIS GRAVE.
Some historians have endeavored to make Morrissey out a heroic figure
of the prize-ring and an admirable one in other ways. But the Gazette
estimate finds him "a bold man, a strong and courageous man, also a shrewd
one in a bluff and rugged fashion. Luck played him well in his career until
his downfall started with the overthrow of the Tweed ring. Luck played an
important part in his ring eminence. He was by far the worst punished of the
two when his fight with Yankee Sullivan broke up and he was ruled the
victor. Tom Hyer would almost surely have bested him in a square fight; they
were matched once and Morrissey forfeited his appearance money, and after
another meeting was agreed upon the Hyer's following was so greaty
outnumbered by the armed Morrissey gang that the match fell through. When he
did fight Heenan, the latter had the misfortune to injure his hand against a
ring post. Morrissey declined a subsequent challenge and retired from the
ring thus forfeiting the title to Heenan."
So Morrissey lived and prospered long after his enemy, Bill Poole, was
cold in his grave.
Sins of New York
As "Exposed" by the Police Gazette
By Edward Van Every
Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company--New York
Copyright: 1930 3 Printings October 15, October 23 and October 30.
Prepared and Transcribed by Miriam Medina