Hi Coyote Breath, sorry there was a gang call the Dead Rabits. Here's a song about them & the Bowery Boys. First from the sleeve notes of June Lazare on Folkways #FH5276 "Folk Songs of New York City", 1966. (I don't know if it's at all possible to get your hands on it anymore.


"In the 1800's the 6th ward of Manhattan contained some of the worst slums of the city. It was from these slums that many of the most infamous gangs developed, bearing such colorful names at the 'Roach Guards', the 'Plug Uglies', the dead Rabbits', & the Bowery (her spelling not mine). All the gangs, as a matter of course, fought each other indiscriminately, but the latter 2 gangs were particulary hostile to each other & maintained a vicious feud.

The perticular battle discribed in the song was touched off by a raid on the Bowery Boy's clubhouse at #47 Bowery. The BBs successfully defended their stronghold, but the following morning when the DRs wrecked their favorite hangout, the Green Dragons & the BBs came rushing furiously into battle.

The 2 gangs clashed head-on at Bayard St & there followed one of the most ferocious encounters in the already turbulent history o NYC. As they fought other gangs came rushing in to assist their allies. The melee reached such porportions that the militia was called in to assist the outnumbered police force. After 2 days of desprate fighting the combined strength ot the police & the militia finally quelled the conflict. After the rioters collected their daed & wounded, the inhabitants of the area crept back to rebuild their shattered homes as best they could.   

"Dead Rabbits Fight with the Bowery Boys- July 4, 1857

1.)

They had a dreadful fight, upon last Saturday night

The papers gave the news accordin

Guns, pistols, clubs * sticks, hot water & old bricks

Which drove them on the other side of Jordan

CH.)
Then pull off the old coat & roll up the sleeve

Bayard is a street to travel

Then pull off the old coat & roll up the sleeve

The bloody 6th is a hard ward to travel, I believe

2.)

Like wild dogs they did fight this 4th of April night

Of course they laid their plans accordin

Some were wounded& some were killed & lots of blood was spilled

In the fight on the other side of Jordan

CH.)
3.)

The new police did join the BBs in line

With orders strict & right accordin

Bullets, clubs & bricks did fly & many groan & died

Hard road to travel over Jordan

CH.)

4.)

When the police did interfere, this made the Rabbits sneer

And very much enraged them accordin

With bricks they did go in, determined for to win

And drive them on the other side of Jordan

CH.0

5.)
At last the battle closed, yet few that night reposed

For frightful were their dreams accordin

For the devil on 2 sticks was a marching on the bricks

All night on the other side of Jordan


I hope this was worth while in this tread, I haven't seen the movie & I've only heard about it hear. Barry