The Hudson Dusters crushed local gangs like the Potashes, and the Boodles, and then they took command of the rackets in Greenwich Village. The Hudson Dusters also made big scores, plundering the docks along the Hudson River, a few blocks to the west.
After the Hudson Dusters committed one of their varied crimes, the snakelike streets of Greenwich Village were perfect for their getaways. Their most accomplished thief was Ding Dong, who would roam the streets with a dozen or so youths. When the opportunity arose, Ding Dong would direct the kids to jump on passing wagons, and to toss to him any valuables they could get their hands on. Before the police could respond, Ding Dong was long gone, having disappeared through the maze of streets that comprised Greenwich Village.
The Hudson Dusters became street legends, but they were not particularly famous for their fighting prowess, as were other brutal New York City gangs. The Hudson Dusters hung out in the taverns and gin mills of the Village, mingling with the famous writers and artists of their time. The print journalists also favored the Hudson Dusters, whom they portrayed in the newspapers as nothing more than a fun-loving bunch, who drank more than they committed crimes. One of Hudson Dusters' party pals was playwright Eugene O'Neil, who frequented the gang's hangout - the Hell Hole on Sixth Avenue and 4 th Street. It was there that O'Neil garnered most of his characters for his most famous play: The Iceman Cometh ; the Iceman meaning “death.”
At their inception, the Hudson Dusters moved their base of operations frequently, finally settling on a house on Hudson Street, just below Horatio Street, later the site of the Open Door Mission. More interested in partying than pillaging, the Hudson Dusters installed a piano, and they danced the nights away, in a cocaine-induced stupor, with the prostitutes who prowled the West Side piers a few short blocks away. This annoyed the neighboring homeowners and business owners to no end, but they all were afraid to make a complaint to the police, because the Hudson Dusters had the reputation of seeking revenge in a hot moment against anyone who dared rat them out. After a night of carousing, the Hudson Dusters were known to parade in the streets, boozed out and hopped-up on coke, looking to cause mayhem on anyone or anything in their path.
One night, the Hudson Dusters asked a local saloon keeper to provide them with a few kegs of beer for a party, on the arm, meaning they did not expect to pay the man for his stock. The saloon keeper refused, and the Hudson Dusters descended up his establishment. They wrecked the joint and carried away every ounce of booze on the premises. The saloon keeper ran to his friend, Patrolman Dennis Sullivan. Patrolman Sullivan opted to declare war on the Hudson Dusters. He rounded up ten Hudson Dusters, including their then-leader Red Farrell, and arrested them for vagrancy.
The Hudson Dusters decided to retaliate, and with the blessing of a Greenwich Village politician who used the Hudson Dusters for intimidation on Election Day, they ambushed Patrolmen Sullivan, as he was about to arrest one of the Hudson Dusters on a robbery charge. The Hudson Dusters attacked Patrolman Sullivan from behind and stole his jacket, gun and shield, while beating him with stones and blackjacks. As many as 20 Hudson Dusters took turns kicking and punching the distressed policeman after he was down. When Patrolman Sullivan was finally unconscious, four Hudson Dusters rolled him onto his back, and then they ground the heels of their boots into his face, causing permanent scars. Patrolman Sullivan was finally taken to the hospital, where he stayed, recuperating for over a month.
The Gophers Street Gang congratulated the Hudson Dusters on their cop-beating accomplishment. Gopher leader, “One Lung” Curran, felt moved enough to write a poem praising their actions. The poem reads:
Says Dinny "Here's me only
After the Hudson Dusters committed one of their varied crimes, the snakelike streets of Greenwich Village were perfect for their getaways. Their most accomplished thief was Ding Dong, who would roam the streets with a dozen or so youths. When the opportunity arose, Ding Dong would direct the kids to jump on passing wagons, and to toss to him any valuables they could get their hands on. Before the police could respond, Ding Dong was long gone, having disappeared through the maze of streets that comprised Greenwich Village.
The Hudson Dusters became street legends, but they were not particularly famous for their fighting prowess, as were other brutal New York City gangs. The Hudson Dusters hung out in the taverns and gin mills of the Village, mingling with the famous writers and artists of their time. The print journalists also favored the Hudson Dusters, whom they portrayed in the newspapers as nothing more than a fun-loving bunch, who drank more than they committed crimes. One of Hudson Dusters' party pals was playwright Eugene O'Neil, who frequented the gang's hangout - the Hell Hole on Sixth Avenue and 4 th Street. It was there that O'Neil garnered most of his characters for his most famous play: The Iceman Cometh ; the Iceman meaning “death.”
At their inception, the Hudson Dusters moved their base of operations frequently, finally settling on a house on Hudson Street, just below Horatio Street, later the site of the Open Door Mission. More interested in partying than pillaging, the Hudson Dusters installed a piano, and they danced the nights away, in a cocaine-induced stupor, with the prostitutes who prowled the West Side piers a few short blocks away. This annoyed the neighboring homeowners and business owners to no end, but they all were afraid to make a complaint to the police, because the Hudson Dusters had the reputation of seeking revenge in a hot moment against anyone who dared rat them out. After a night of carousing, the Hudson Dusters were known to parade in the streets, boozed out and hopped-up on coke, looking to cause mayhem on anyone or anything in their path.
One night, the Hudson Dusters asked a local saloon keeper to provide them with a few kegs of beer for a party, on the arm, meaning they did not expect to pay the man for his stock. The saloon keeper refused, and the Hudson Dusters descended up his establishment. They wrecked the joint and carried away every ounce of booze on the premises. The saloon keeper ran to his friend, Patrolman Dennis Sullivan. Patrolman Sullivan opted to declare war on the Hudson Dusters. He rounded up ten Hudson Dusters, including their then-leader Red Farrell, and arrested them for vagrancy.
The Hudson Dusters decided to retaliate, and with the blessing of a Greenwich Village politician who used the Hudson Dusters for intimidation on Election Day, they ambushed Patrolmen Sullivan, as he was about to arrest one of the Hudson Dusters on a robbery charge. The Hudson Dusters attacked Patrolman Sullivan from behind and stole his jacket, gun and shield, while beating him with stones and blackjacks. As many as 20 Hudson Dusters took turns kicking and punching the distressed policeman after he was down. When Patrolman Sullivan was finally unconscious, four Hudson Dusters rolled him onto his back, and then they ground the heels of their boots into his face, causing permanent scars. Patrolman Sullivan was finally taken to the hospital, where he stayed, recuperating for over a month.
The Gophers Street Gang congratulated the Hudson Dusters on their cop-beating accomplishment. Gopher leader, “One Lung” Curran, felt moved enough to write a poem praising their actions. The poem reads:
Says Dinny "Here's me only
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