The New York herald., 1876-12-19
Hearing the Stories of the Unfor-
tunate at the Tombs.
THE OLD CRY-"HuNGRY AND HOMELESS.' =
Views of Commissioner Cox on the Pre-
yaiIing Destitutcn.
No HRLf FOB THE POOR EXCEPT FROM TIE RICH.


away IN such poor shelter as the open places Afforded
all OF them wet, cold, homeless and hungry. may be
estimated when tie total number OF the unen npIoyed
is remembered Tie absolute need there IS for warmth
for tho wives and families Of the unemployed men
must have been apparent yesterday TO any one who
humane enough 10 think at all about the matter
and yet the Board Of Apportonment still hesitates
about granting the petition or demand OF the Commits
soners Of Charities and Correction Tor the fund
sary AFFORD this charity to the suffering One would
think that the Commissioners OF Charity ard Correc
ton ought 10 be The best judges to what needed
for the poor and that when they affirm the necessity
OF relieving a particular exceptional distress they
should not be thwarted in the performance OF duties
belonging to their ol1ce
APPROPRIATION
Tho OF 500, 900 absolutely needed for the out
door poor this winter, and the Board OF Apportlon-
mcn has had the records Of The charity commission
before proof OF the justice OF the reauisition
from the Department OF Charities and Correction.
Tho new Board Of Apportionment will come into
Office the first day OF tho New Year, and then, tho
estimates having been passed upon by the existing
Board, any money 10 be appropriated for the outdoor
poor must be contingent upon balances left over from
other appropriations. L, then, the Board Of Apporon
mcnt does not make the appropriation acked for
there be no adequate means TO supply the poor
with coal this winter. Tho money already appro-
priatcd by tho Board for the poor goes TO chari-
table societies. which, no doubt, are doing excel
lent work in their respective spheres; but either there
is total mlsconception as to the extent Of the
want IN the city the classes who suffering,
this money will bo altogether insufficient to supply
fuel TO the thousands of families who have
| Of buying it, and who cannot be reached by these
associations Every ono at all conversant with the
dcstituton prevailing admits that there has been
long delay in anordng regular system OF relief
to the iamishing people in distress
REAsoSs FOR rhEIR POVERTY.
HERALD reporter visited the Tombs Prison early in
the forenoon yesterday for the purpose OF noting The
investigation made by Commissioner Cox OF the men
who were seeking refuge in tho workhouse the
Island Commissioner Cox attends the Tombs every
morning to perform this charitable duty, and the
amount of good no does by advice by seeing that
those poor and receive the attention their
respective cases demand is OF incalculable benefit
10 them. Tho Commissioner assisted by
Warden QUINN the doctor of the prison, and Keeper
Finn, whlc he hearing the stories OF tho ap-
plicants The following il summary Of the cases
which were disposed OF yesterday
James Smith, u porter by occupation, could not get
work for several weeks past. He was not able TO get
even q meal a day. When asked why he could not
turn out and shovel he said he had no shovel
and did not know where to got the price OF one
EuwaIu NOLAN tho United States Army for
years and had pension. He entitled place
the Soldiers Home but he was dcsrous to stay here
until the death OF his daughter girl thirteen
years Of age who was not expected to hive. HIS wife
had died within year. and tho expenses lett him PEN
niless He wanted 10 wait until the March pension
would como due. when he could pay back his captain
part Of $50 he had borrowed from him at the time
his wc's DEATH and perhaps attend 10 the burial OF
Z his daughter He also has boy, who is being cared
for Out OF the last pay Of his pension he had given
| 50 to his children
James Gordon, plumber. had been all over the city
looking ior work, but failed in getting job at any
thing. He was completely penness and did not know
what to do except 10 go 10 the Island The Commits
soner asked Warden Quinn To givc him something to
do around the prison, AS sonle plumbing work was
necessary. Gordon was accordingly committed 10 the
Tombs.,
Charles Smith, tinsmth had been working for his
work even for that He had no money and no friends,
90 he had to 20 TO the Workhousc.
] Moses j. Johnson. coorcd man, had been en-
ployed waiter in several places. but could not get
anything do in this city. He offered to work Tor his
board, but could not get job even at that. As he
thought he could get work in Pittsburg tho Com mis-
| sioner furnished rim with transportation.
Edward Linden, u laborer, was both sick and out OF
work.
| William Parker, painter, had been In Jersey and
all round this city ooking Tor work. He was willing
10 work Tor his board but could not got job lie had
been idle weeks living meal day. and could
not stand II any longer Parker recommcn dcd by
try again as associations on tho Island would
improve him; but he said he mad suffered too much
| already and he wanted food and shelter.
| john Kane, who was suffering terribly from sick
ness. was an exsodier IN the United States army Hc
had been in the soldiers Home, but came here to get
his pension. The Commissioner rcqucstcu the doctor
| TO see that this man sent 10 BeHevue Hospital
and there cared Tor until he could bc turned TO the
| Michael Murphy boo black, eighteen years OF age
could get nohng TO do AZ his business nor at selling
papers. He had sold his box twenty i've cents 10
pay Tor his lodging and had chance now oI get
| Ting anything to do at anything" The Commissioner
/! told him he was not quite but he lazy, and
asked the Warden TO put him at work around the
PRISON 10 test him. Murphy protested that he was will
ing 10 work al anything il he got chance but hc had
mud he utyt
! Thomas Hand. a United States army pensioncr,
coulu MOI work on account OF one arm bcipc parally
parayzcd He was discharged from the army IN lS6S
| Oil iuii pension but iost his discharge papers and
never rul cent OF his pension since Commissioners
Cox gave Instructions that this mans shou Id be
inquired into and the truth OF his statement nsccr
tained
not admitted In tho soldiers Home as his wounds
! were not sufficiently serious. HIS pension was So
month. He utterly pennlless. aud uuabic TO get
| work at any thing. Commissioner Cox requested
| Warden Quinn 10 SEQ that superintendent KeIloch
| looked after this case.
| DESTITUTE WOMEN.
| The Commissioner next visited the womcns prison,
and MISS Foster, The matron presented the female ap
plicants lor the Workhouse:-
| Martha Collins, a middle aged woman, had been
| hitherto able to make living by hawking round n
basket Of Candles but could no longer subsist tho
Ellen Foster eighteen years resident OF this city,
had been ving oui'' but could not now get place.
Mary DAVIS; residing IN this city Tor thirty years,
had no home ana no friends The husband was killed
sixteen years ago, and her son, with whom she had
| been living, died SIX months ago.
Lima Lubin sixteen years resident in this city, had
been living out her husband died. eight years
ago. She was too old now to get employment as q
domestic, ana had no friends or money.
susan Robinson, ioriy years resident in this city,
had nve chiurcn Of family oil Twelve living but did
not get assistance from any Of them 1ncy wcro
scattered all over, the only one OF them from whom
she heard IN five years being daughter who
Rod out Wcst TINS was tho second time she
Obliged TO 10 to the Workhouse.
COMMISSIONER cox's OPINIONS.
Alter the disposal OF these people the reporter
had conversation with Commissioner Cox rcIative to
the condition OF the poor at TINS time-s there any
probability asked the reporter, 'of getting the ap
preparation OF Sl00, 600 Tor the outdoor poor 2"
1--WE have done all we could The statistics we fur
nished Board of Apportonment ought TO be SUN.
cicnt their granting of the In the est-
matcs'
.'would that amount be necessary TO meet the de-
mand season Y"