Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-26
An Awful Picture OF PhIladelphla
Underground Society.
49, Aa - M
women and Little Children starving.
fFrom the PhslsdslphiA 1nquirsr.l

rad to lay before the readers of the In
,uirer q truthful idea Of the sorrows and
ufferings of the poor Of our city, and
more especially of those dwelling in the
memorable vicinities of Bedford SpRf-
ord and Baker streets. DESTROYS, how
aver, to see for ourselves, we Joined an
expedition fitted out on Wednesday eve
ming last.
Reaching Seventh and Bedford |
streets, We proceeded to explore cellars,
garrets and novels in search of the sick, |
he sorrowful and the destitute, although |
in truth from the moment We entered |
the street we were literally surrounded
by lust such persons as we sought, |
sKind sir, won't you please give me |
some bread for my little children, they
have not had mouthful today" said
q wretched looking woman. ~ have
three little ones in that cellar, sir, and
thay're cold and hungry" cried another
half-clad mother. "Please TO give me
piece of bread, I'm so hungry" cried q
dozen childish voices, the owners Of
which, barefooted and bareheaded,
crowded around US in that icy street.
We gave to all who applied, and the
eagerness with which those shoeless
children, ga they stood upon the ice,
dsvoured the little pittance we were
able to give them, attested the sincerity
of their appeals. raa
(. Great Godl is it not terrible to think
that scenes like this should be witnessed
In Philadelphia, the city noted abovs all
others for it's wealth and benevolence.
Returning to the Home, our bags and
baskets were replenished, and we ones
more entered Bedford street. 4
Notwithstanding the number that had
heen Supplied few minutes before, the
crowd had not lessened, nor were the
appeals for food any less earnest or
touching.
We gave to all unfortunately, not
being able in the darkness to tell who
were deserving and who unworthy. The
great fact stared as in the face that men,
women and children were furnishing for
bread, and we gave them all we had.
Leaving the streets for moment or
two, the whole party would Chamber
down unsafe stairways into dismal cell
lars, where grim poverty and fell disease
reigned with undisputed sway. OH the
scenes of sorrow and suffering we wit
messed. Once strong men lying in filth
and restitution, snd seeing hunger
gnawing the vitals of their wives and
children; mothers pleading for food and
FIRE for their perishing little ones, and
little children piteously crying for bread
and something to protect them from the
sharp, biting frost.
In one cellar we found three families,
all with children, all without beds, all
without food and all without fuel, save
the handful of Goals which smouldered
in their poor apology for stove. Gods
day never visits this abode of misery
save through the open cellar door.
Plunging into dark, narrow and filthy
alley or court along Baker street, we
found q two-storied shed the rooms of
which were not more than eight feet
square. This shed contained some ten
or twelve of these rooms, all of which
were occupied.
We assembled to the upper tier and
knocked for admission Il was at fret
refused, but when we uttered the magic
word, bread doors few open, eager
faces welcomed us, and eager hands
grasped the precious morseL Children
ware awakened from their chaerless
sleep, and received the profered bread
With glistening eyes. oh, how they
seemed to enjoy the little we were able
to divide with them, and with what more
comfortable feelings they gathered the
few rags with which they wese covered
around them, and sought sleep once
more. Mothers, in countless numbers
implored Gods blessing upon those
through whose kindness we were able to
dispense The welcome food.
Every one of these eight foot square
rooms, with a single exception, contain
cd from three to Eve Inmates. They
cooked, ate and slept there. II
Let MS describe the last one We visited.
The husband sat upon box in front of
what We supposed was FIRE. We saw
none, as he was eouched over the fur
nace in such manner as to hide it
from view. The wife, q fine, comedy
looking woman, clad in thin summer
dress, babe MS enter. We did so, and
room, the habitation of q man and wife,
the only furniture was the box upon
which the husband sat, and the frame
(without the seaD of hickory withe
chair.
No sign Of bed, table, cooking uten-
sils, food or clothing was visible. Bleak,
grimmy walls and that chair frame and
little box was these poor creatures only
possessions. A child died in Spafford
street, near Shipper. Mr.. SeRsnfried
had learned of It in the afternoon, and
informed rs that the mother had not
only neither food nor fuel, but was ut
| terly destitute of everything necessary
for the child's burial These were pro-
vided by him. We visited the house,
reaching it by q dark alley and an, M
certain fight OF steps. Entering the
room, we saw at q glance where the dead
child lay.
Removing the clothing from it's little
face, it was plainly and painfully evi
dent that starvation, not disease, had
done the work. We learned from the
sister of the child's mother that they
were wholly without food, and yet at the
foot of the corpse plate Of smoking
tobacco and half dozen pipes were
placed; and in that little ROOM not more
than ten feet square, no less than IA men
and women were crowded, waking the
dead child
In another howell near by we found q
woman with two pretty girls, sleeping
upon pile of scanty straw in the cor
ner. The mother informed us that she
paid rs cents per night for the privilege
Of sleeping there. The children we're
wholly without cover, and the room was
cold an it was desolate looking in other
particulars. Accompanied By three po-
lice, we descended into cellar on Bed
ford street, where dodgers are taken at
FIVE cents per night. A soldier who
had lost both legs in the war had taken
quarters there for the night, while
quite 9 number of very vicious look
ing men were lying around loose.
In the corner next the cellar door,
covered With few rags, three children
were lying. We gave them bread, which
they ate greedily. The mother, who
seemed to have temporary charge of the
place, stood guard over them. We
aEa1 hAp whara che oIm~k - thnm~ -