What many do not know is a charmingly brutal Bill The Butcher Cuttings from
Gangs of New York was based on a historical figure. That figure
would be one William Poole. Born in New Jersey 1821 he grew to stand more than six
feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. He was an enormous and imposing figure
especially for his time. He would move to New York in 1832 with his family where
he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a butcher. He also
volunteered as a firefighter with the Howard Volunteer Fire Engine Company. in
the 1840s. During this time he was busy carving a tough-guy reputation as a
savage bare-knuckle boxer. Before the Queensbury rules were introduced, boxing
was a ruthless sport. Poole took full advantage of the lack of rules and had a
reputation for gouging biting and general destruction.
His butchery skills were also put to use in knife fights around the streets of New
York.
He used his reputation and connections within the boxing, working and
criminal communities, to establish the Washington Street gang. From here he would
later found the famous Bowery Boys street gang. These gangs were strangely
intertwined with competing firefighting crews. The Bowery Boys would fight rival
fire fighting companies at the scene of a fire.
This morbid territorial warfare meant that fires often were neglected as
rival guys fought for firefighter supremacy in Manhattan. This was not
merely for show as fire crews would be rewarded financially for each fire they put out.
The Bowery Boys were tied together by more than just camaraderie. They all shared
an anti-immigration anti-catholic political ideology. They held fiercely
patriotic beliefs and were strongly opposed to the influx of Irish
immigration due to the potato famine. This ideology would spark a violent rivalry
with Irish gang The Dead Rabbits. This was led by bare-knuckle boxing
rival John Morrissey. William Poole was also politically active in a
pro-american anti-immigrant nationalist movement known as the Know-nothings. He
would use his power to threaten and beat Irish immigrants to prevent and stop them from
voting. The aim was to diminish the rights of Catholics and what he deemed
non Americans. Particularly stopping them entering office. The Know-nothing's party
Got it's name from answering 'I know nothing' when party Outsiders ask questions about
the movement. Members of the secretive organization would gather at their
headquarters known as the Americas Club. On the opposite end was the pro Irish
Democratic Party Tammany Hall.
Bare-knuckle boxing champion John Morrissey was a bodyguard for the
movement, who helped protect voters and immigrants from attacks by the Bowery
Boys AKA The Natives. They would also bully voters themselves before for
their chosen politicians.
Together they had a bloody rivalry which are amassed over 200 street battles.
Morrissey first met The Bowery Boys and William Poole after charging into the
Americas club, claiming he could defeat any man in the building. The heavily
weapon equipped Natives proceeded to give him a hellacious beating. However hiss
courage caught the attention of Tammany Hall, and this is how he became their
enforcer. Events were heightened in 1855 after high-ranking members of each gang
were involved in a bar fight with guns. Tom hyer a bare-knuckle prizefighter
and associate of William Poole and the Bowery Boys, was shot with a flesh wound
in the neck by Dead Rabbits Lew Baker and Jim Turner.
Hyer drew his pistol and fired but missed either intentionally or accidentally
reports differ. He put his gun away and decked the two men,
dragging them onto the street. Poole would later fine Baker only a few days later,
and proceeded to beat him into bloody unconsciousness. After this William Poole
challenged the leader of The Dead Rabbits to a fight. The challenge was
accepted and the brawl would take place at Amos Street dock. The events that took
place differ, but one thing is for sure the former world champion John Morrissey
took an almighty beating. The fight was to be no-holds-barred
which suited the vicious sweet fighting Poole. A New York Daily Times article
among other publications alleged that Poole defeated Morrissey in under a
minute, after which a riot ensued. This left the Irish entourage surrounded and
beaten without mercy. Other accounts tell that Poole did not arrive at al, setting
up an ambush of 200 native supporters who attacked the prizefighter
and his 12 or so supporters. Morrissey sought his revenge
On February 24th 1855 at Stanwix Hall bar on Broadway. He spat in the Bower Boy's
leaders face and attempted to shoot and kill him.
But the gun jammed leaving Morrissey looking down the sight of
Poole's own gun. However Poole decided that it was cowardly to shoot an unarmed man and
instead threw him a knife, challenging him to a knife fight. Morrissey declined as
the Butcher's reputation with a knife was frightening. This altercation drew
the attention of the police, who separated the two men and sent them on
their way. However Poole returned to the bar around
midnight. Later on Baker entered the bar with
fellow Dead Rabbit associates including the noseless McLaughlin. Who spat in
Poole's face. In return he bet five gold coins that he could beat any of the
Tammanyite associates in a fight. Again accounts differ but Turner of the
pro-immigrant contingent drew a pistol and accidentally shot himself in the arm.
He fell to the floor where he shot Poole in the leg. Baker then got his cowardly
revenge by shooting him in the chest and stomach as he lay on the floor with a
leg wound. Amazingly with these mortal wounds he lived for 14 days. It has been said
that he blamed Morrissey for the attack and his final words we're 'Goodbye
boys I die a true American' 'thank God I die a true
American' His funeral procession was attended by
over 5,000 people - one of the largest ever seen in New York.