Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-01

A FAMILY OF SOUTHERN REFUGEEs.-Mr.
Burlison, Infrmary Director, informs US of a
family of refugees, consisting Of an aged
widow woman and her children and grand
children, who have been living atNo. 10
Wilson street in this city, since August last,
the victims of extreme want. The family
is composed OF nine members, Mrs. Horton,
a widow sixty-seven years old, and her
three daughters, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs.
Dunn, widows, with three and two children,
respectively, and an unmarried daughter
who has been partially insane for several
years.
The story of their misfertunes derives ad-
ditional pathos from the fact that they were
formerly wealthy residents in the South,
owning property in Atlanta, Georgia,valued
at from $4,000 to $4,000 a good share Of
which was destroyed at the capture Of that
city by General Sherman. They now own
there five one acre lots and ten half acre
ditto. Notwithstanding they were loyal to
the core, they suffered, the innocent with
the guilty, at the taking Of the place, their
houses being destroyed by fire, and the un-
protected women barely escaping with their
lives. Mrs. Thomas gave birth to a child
on the memorable day ofthe capture, whom
she named after Gen. Sherman. They pro-
cured from the victor passes to come North,
and, as We have said, they set out in August
last, with Cleveland as an objective" ex-
pecting to meet u son and brother here (;
but the climate did not agree with
him, and he had returned to New
Orleans before their arrival. They
were thrown upon their own resources, but
never having been used to labor Of the kind
they were compelled to perform, did not
find themselves adopts at it. Their children
were as good as naked when they got here.
They have just passed an awful winter
having nearly starved todeath. There was
but one bed in the house. The hard floor
received all who could not find place in that
bed. They have not known what tea and
coffee are since their arrival. They have
done what work they could find to do,
and have been compelled, infinitely morti-
flying as it must have been, to Deg, and rely
upon the charities of the good people of
their neighborhood to exc out an all too
seanty subsistence.
Mrs. Horton and two of her daughters,
Mrs. Dunn, with her children, and the
invalid, desire to return TO Atlanta, and, if
they can obtain a government pass, will
set out next Monday. They 90 to look after
their real estate in that city, and must get
there by April LIST. Mrs. Thomas will re-
main here. She talks very bitterly about
the se~cessionists, charges the loss Of her
property upon them, and prefers to- live
among hyenas rather than among
them. All through the war she was
a steadfast friend Of the government.
She claims personal acquaintance with
President Johnson, and speaks with
warmth of his career in Tennessee during
the rebellion. Her husband, who died of
consumption two or three years ago, was
originally a Northern man the fire of
patriotism had never died out in his heart
while living in the South, and the flame
leaped as high in her own breast and burned
as clearly as in his. She is a noble ap-
pearing woman, and gives evidence of
strong native common sense, high spirit
and rare qualities of character. She is
made of heroic stuff, and deserves a more
favorable lot than that which fate has as
signed her for time.
Mr.. Burlison, who discovered their where
abouts and condition yesterday, left with
them ten dollars and a load of coal. The
gift was received with every expression of
gratitude, and was evidently regarded by
the destitute recipients as a veritable God
send. We trust that some of our good citi-
zens, whose left hands know not what the
right hand does, will see TO it that this
worthy, reliable family may be put in the
way of reaching and recovering their
property.