Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-21
An AWFUL PICTURE OF PHIIADEL.
PHrA UNDERGROUND SOCIETY.
wsmen and Little Chfidreu Starving
An manufactured 60 Death and Tn
eontued.

W6meu anu Little onftureu StnrNtug-
An Iafangssarvcd 60 Death aad Un-
eonsned.
From the Philadelphia Inquiror
Fer some days past, we have endeayored
TO lay before the readers Of the Inquirer a
truthful idea Of the sorrows and sufierings Of
the poor Of our city, and more especially Of
tbose dwelling IN the memorable vicinities
Of Bedford, Spafford and Baker streets. De-
sirous, however, Of seeing for ourselves, we
Joined an expedition fitted out ON Wednes-
day evening last.
Reaching Seventh and Bedford streets, we
proceeded 10 explore cellars, garrets and
novels in<search OF hexick, the sorrowful
and the destitute, though in truth from the
moment we entered the street we were liter
ally surrounded by just such persons as we
sought akind sir, wont you please give
me some bread for my little children, they
have net had a mouthful to-day" said a
wretchcd looking woman. 81 have three
little ones In that cellar, sir, and they're cold
and hungry" cried another half-clsd mother
''Plesse 10 give me piece Of bread, I'm 10
hungry" cried dozen childish voices, the
owners Of which, bare-fooied and bare-hcad-
ed, crowded sroand ns In that icy street. We
gave 10 eli who applied, and the cagcrness
with which those shoeless children, as they
stood upon the ice, devoured the little pit
lance we were able 70 give them, attested the
sincerity Of their appeals.
Great God ! il il not terrible TO think that
scenes like this should be witnessed in Phil
adelphia the city noted above all others Cor
its wealth and benevolence? Returning 10
the Home, our bags and baskets were replen-
isbed, and we once more entered Bedford
street.
Notwithstanding the number which had
been supplied n few minutes before, the
crowd had not lcssened, nor were the APP
peals for food any less earnest or touching.
We gave TO all indiscriminately, not be-
ing able in the darkness 20 tell who were de-
serving and who were unworthy. The great
fact stared us In the face, that men, women
and children were famishing Cor bread, and
we gave them all We had. Leaving the
street for moment or two, the whole party
would Chamber down unsafe sfairways into
dismal cellars, where grim poverty and
fell disease reigned with undispute< sway.
OIL the scenes Of sorrcw and suffering we
witnessed. Once strong men, lying in filth
and dcsiisution, and seeing hunger slowly
snaring the yitals Of their wives and chill
dreh; mothers pleading for food and ere Cor
their perishing little ones, and little children
piteously crying for bread and something TO
project them from The sharp, biting frost.
In enc ccllas We found three families. an
with children, all without beds. all without
food, and all without fuel, save the handful
Of Goals which smopldered in their poor
apology for a stove. Gods daylight never
visits this abode Of misery save through the
open cellar deor. Plnnging into a dark,
marrow and filthy alley or court along Baker
street, we found a investigated shed, the rooms
Of which were not more than eight feet
seaare. This shed contained some ten or
twelve Of these rooms, all Of which were
occupied.
We ascendcd 10 the upper tier and knocked
Ger Submission. Il was At first refused, but
when We uttered the magic word, dread"