The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-08
LODGING ROOMS
Of the
HOWARD RELIEF COMMITTEE,
No. 40 Leonard street,
For respectable poor men.
GOOD for one nights lodging.
HATCH Il FOOTE, Bankers,
No, II wall street TreaSurers

No. 40 Leonard street, &
For respectable poor men.
Good for one nights lodging.
HATCH FOOTE, Bankers,
No. II Wall street, Treasurers.
On arriving at the Old police station in Leonard
street the reporter presented his card to Colonel
Williamson, the Superintendent. Before the re-
porter had presented his card o cordial 'GOod
evening, sir, was wished him by the Superinten.
dent, who thereupon commenced asking his name,
age, profession and nationality previous to allot-
ting him sleeping place for the night. After the
catechizng had been gone through the reporter
stated that he had come to see the working of this
institution. cordial invitation to step behind
the railing and take notes Of what transpired was
then given.
OUTCAsTs.
Hardly had a seat been taken when tall Scotch
man, with an accent suggestive OF "Auld Reekie,"
entered the place. Alter the usual greeting by the
Superintendent, he commenced to tell his tale.
But the superintendent cut him short and said,
"Friend, you are half frozen, see; come and sit
down by the stove and you will tell me what you
choose afterward." The man, therefore, sat down
by the stove and commenced eating with vOracity
O large hunk OF bread furnished him by the
Colonel After few minutes he said III don't
know your name, sir, but you have saved my lie;
for felt desperate. No work and nobody to say
kind word to yOu-nothing but Sorry can't
do anything for you. II was to give to all who
ask should have nothing left for myself.' That's
the kind OF charity you meet nowadays mans
life Is not so much thought OF as a goodlooEing
dog. man might as well try to fly as to get work
nowadays. am photographer by trade and used
to get good wages. but now have been out Of
work for some time and my friends will give me
no moro money. God help the poor, say, for
hardly anybody. except few will. have pawned
! everything had and am now starving. wish l
| were back in Scotland" The mans hectic iush
and brilliant eye told the story likewise that his
health was ruined ald consumption was last ct
work.
A STARVING VETERAN OF THE WAR;
The ScOtchman was then sent up to his sleeping
quarters. totterng rom weakness as he went
along.
Hardly had be left The dock when another timid
knock was heard at the door. and in came AN old
man, shivering witt the cold and his feet covered
| with snow. After short time he stated:
| my name - Nsciael Fitzgerald, and l am from
ovid Ireland, ahd prOui OF 1t, thank God fought
| for this country in the One Hundred and Fourth
regiment New York volunteers, and was at the
taking OF Richmond. have not had cent OF pen
siOn but now that have found out my Old colonel,
MI. Strang, l hope he will do something Tor me- |
am sixty years old, and l deserve my papers; but
poor man has no rights" The old man was taken
up to his sleeping quarters
A GERMAN TEACHER OF LANGUAGES.
Thc next person was q highly educated teacher
OF languages, looking cold and wan. He SAID he
had been educated at Dusseldorf and had been
very successful in obtaining work; but now oil had
gone wrong, and nobody wanted lessons but in
economy. At this little sally he feebly smiled, and
alter that was SHOWN up to his room.
VICTIM OF DRINK.
Then came young Frenchman Of prepossessing
appearance, whose face was the imprint Of dsspa-
ton. lie stated he came from Ia belle France''
and had been cook, but had lost his place through
drinking. He said he was going to reform. and a
place was foand for him with other suffering
brethren.
DOCTORS WIDOW.
Colonel williamson said:-"Wc also do 4 good
deal OF outside charity. There Is q woman named
Mrs. J. Keene the widow OF the doctor OF that
name, residing at No. 107 Sullivan street. Last
week she earued ffty-nve cents, and in three
months $ll. About three months ago she lost a
little child, through lack OF medical attendance,
and has little sick one with her now. am try
ing" said Mr.. Williamson, 40 make some arrange
ments to get some help for her.n
VISIT TO THE sLEEPERs
The Colonel then went with the reporter up
stairs to see the sleeping accommodations. On the
first moor, in room about 25X30 feet, we're ranged
thyty-fve beds, all occupied In seven other capa-
cious rooms thirty-1ve mattresses, with pillows,
were seen on the moor, all occupied, the
temperature being about eighty-two degrees and
the ventilation excellent. Many had taken OF their
clothes, and many torn ana sOleless pair OF boots
were seen in the centre OF the rooms. several
beds were vacant, their occupants having gone
down stairs to pass an hour in cleaning and wash
ing clothes. Some OF the men snored like trOopers,
while others had their eyes open. All Of those
awake seemed contented and thankful to be out OF
the cold streets.
WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS
we opened here on the 18th OF December, and
have been at work about two months. The station
house has been given VS. free OF rent by the city
till the property IL solo, which we hope will be "A
long time first. We lodge here every night
Seout 30, and, in addition to this. we help
about twenty families day. We receive dodgers
at six O'Clock. and they pour In without stopping
till our reception is full. We then get their names,
&C., and then send them down to supper; after
that they retire to their rooms We have no sit
ting room for them. We have had no disorderly
cases, except by two or three men who would
smoke, and had to be turned out
"BUMMERs" OR ''REvOLvERs."
When we cannot take men in we send them to
the police station on the next block, and tell them
to come back the next morning when we will give
them q breakfast. No man need leave this place
hungry. We hope soon to open place in Thomp-
son street. All men who come here are requested
to wash themselves and their clothes before rertr-
ing; some we have to make them wash. We fed
last week over 5000 people and lodged nearly 1000.
This place was set on foot by the Seventh street
Methodist Episcopal Church, 81 the hands Of Rev.
John Parker. Each meal costs us about three and
hall cents. consisting OF bread, soup and coffee.
We also give fish, beef, pork and beans. We give
suppers to regular Migrants and then send them
to the station house, All are fed; our principle is
to turn nobody away During the day we give
meals to women. In December we fed 9l6s and
expect to feed over 20 900 this month. Our dodgers
are mostly mechanics and clerks, statesmen, teach