New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-01-30
FAMILIES STARVING AND FREEaIrfG TO DEATH
DISTRESSING CASES OF DEsTITurIoN.
!. lrrop the rAilaaslpAia Inquirer. jan Is !

ttrom the Philauelphla lnqurcTr Jan
For some days past we have endeavored to lay
before the readers of the Inqurera truthful idea
of the sorrows and sutferings Of the poor of our
city, and more especially of those dwelling IN the
memorable vicinities Of Bedford Spafford and
Baker streets. DESTROYS, however, Of seeing for
ourselves, we joined an expedition fitted out on
Wednesday evening last.
Reaching Seventh and Bedfosd streets, we pro-
ceeded to explore cellers, garrets and novels in
search Of the sick the sorrowful and the destitute
though in truth, from the moment we entered the
street, we were literally surrounded by just such
persons as we sought. " Kind sir, won't you please
give me some bread for my little children; they
heye not had mouthful today said wretched
looking woman. ~ have three little ones in that
cellar, sir, They're cold and hungry cried another
half.clad mother. PLEASE to give ne pieceNpf
bead, I'm so hungry cried q dozen childish
voices, the owners OF which, barefooted and bare
headed crowded around US in that icy street. We
gave to all who applied, and the eRgerness with
which those shoeIess children, as they stood upon
Tie ice and dsvoured the little pittanee Nc wereable
to give them, attested the sincerity of their
Great God is it not terrible to think that scenes
like this should be Witnessed in Philadelphia, the
city noted above all others for its wealth and be-
nevolence? !? Returning to our home the bags and
baskets were replenished, and we once more en-
{tered Bedford street. M
Notwithstanding the number which had been
supplied few minutes before, the crowd had not
lessened, nor were the appeals for food any less
4 earnest ertouching.
We gave to all iadiscriminately, not being able
| in the darkness to tell who were deserving and
4 who unworthy Phe great fact stared us in the
face thatmen, women and children were famishing
for bread, and ws gave them all we had. Leaving
| the streets for moment or two the whole party
twould Chamber down unsafe stairways into dismal
| cellars, where grim poverty and fell disease
lreigned with full sway. Oh. the scenes of sorrow
and suffering We Witnessed Once strong men
lying in filth and destitution, and seeing hinge,
slowly gnawing the yitals Of their wives and cIil
| dren; mothers pleading for food aud fire for the
pcrishing little ones, and Atte children piteopsll
/ crying for bread and something to protect then
| from the sharp, biting frost.
| In one cellar we found three families, all viii
children, all without beds, all without food AM
all without fuel, save the handful OF Goals wlic
/ snouldered in the poor apology for stove, Cod
i daylight never visited this abode OF misery say
through the open cellar door. Plunging int
d dark narrow and filthy alley or court along Bake
street, we found two-storlea shed, the rooms y
4 which were not more that light feet square. Thi
shed contained some 10 or IL OF these gooIns, a
of which were occupied. NJ
VI We ascended to the upper tier and knocked fe
admissions 1t was at first refused, bnt.when w
uttered the meagre word /" bread" doors dei
open, eager faces welcomed us, and eager hand
! grasped the precious morsel Children wer
walked from their cherries sleep, and receive
= the proHered bread with glistenins eyes. ~
| how they seemed to enjoy the Little we Wer
able to divide with them, and with what comfai
table feelings they gathered the few rags HRt
II which they were covered around them, and so1gh
ii sleep once more. Mothers in countless number
! impiorcd Gods blessings upon those thFougi
whose kindness we were able to dispense tht
welcome food .s3s
Every one of these eight. foot square rooms ON.
| with d single exception, contained from three q
i've inmates. They cooked. ate and slsRt n, tnefe
T. Let us describe the last one ne visited, ne hes
\, band sat upon box, in front of what 1e
/ | was a fire. We saw none, az he was cfoMenes
:, over the furnace in such a. nannes as 70 hfoe
. from view. The wife, o fine, conlesy looking wo
" man clad in d thin summer Dress bade us enter
n We did So; and will it be believed tilas. in tha
II desoate room tine habitatiOn oi . man and wife
Z | the only furniture Mas tile box upon which til
y husband sat. and Tie frame without The scat.
\ | Il hickory withe Chair. No sign of he'd, tabl,
Il | cooking utensils, food or clothing was visihl,
!, Bleak, grilnmy walls, ana that chair frame ai
y ttle box were chose poor creatures oniy posse
ols.s A chi!a had died IN Spafford street, nel
1 Sbippen Mr. Segeniricd ha1s learned of il iii I'll
al afternoon, and informed US that the mother ha
! not only neither food nor fuel, but was inter
: destitute of everything necessary for the child
burial. These were provided by him. We visit,
the Lease, reaching it by dark alley and an n
certain flight il steps. Entering the room,
at glance where the dend child lay.
"A Removing tie clothing from its little face, it W
plainly ard pninfnlly evident ttat starvations
ldisease, had done tile work. We learned iro.ni /
t sister OF the chiid's mother thatfhey wers who