New York, New York, April, 1884 - How the battering-ram process is applied by the bulls and bears to while away the idle hours of the dull season.

The members of the New York Stock Exchange are a frisky set, and as one who knows says: "Brokers will be boys." Their wild freaks would sometimes lead a stranger to believe that they were just fresh from college.

Mr. J. C. Carey, better known as "Crosstown Carey," who has been a member of the Exchange for twenty years, was lately the victim of a terrible hazing on the floor of the Board. His arm is very lame, his chest black and blue, and his ribs an object of solicitude to his physician-all the result of the rough treatment received in the Board Room the other day at the hands of the younger brokers. Their propensity for fun had been fully awakened by hazing Mr. H. D. Knowlton, on the occasion of his debut on the floor. This gentleman being young and prepared for the reception always given to a new member, escaped from the clutches of "the boys" after a few minutes, considerably the worse for wear. Just then the hazers caught sight of Mr. Carey's portly form, and, in a spirit of pure fun, they went for him.

It was in vain that he rushed to the water cooler and threw glassfuls of the icy beverage at the advancing foes; it did not damp the ardor of their pursuit. They drove the victim into a corner, and, forming a long line, shoulder to shoulder, they rushed upon him with the force of a catapult. Many of the younger members of the Exchange are trained athletes, and this line of men swaying to and fro, gave him a terrible pounding before he could escape. Horseplay is tolerated by the laws of the Exchange, but if a member strikes another on the floor he is punished with suspension; consequently the victim of an assault of this kind is at a disadvantage. Even if this law did not exist, however, he would hesitate to strike his tormentors, knowing that there is not a grain of malice in the attack.

Reprinted from The National Police Gazette - April 5, 1884

Source:

Triplett, Frank. History, romance and philosophy of great American crimes and criminals: including the great typical crimes that have marked the various periods of American history from the foundation of the republic to the present day .... Hartford, Conn.: Park Pub. Co., 1885.