The New York herald., 1876-12-16
Hunger and Distress Among the
Unemployed.
FEARS OF A FAMINE ENTERTAINED.
An Appeal to the City Authorities fol
Work and Bread.
MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR

the coal regions Is assuming an alarming aspect.
Thousands, who have neither work bread, nor the
prospect OF obtaining any for themselves and families,
are on tho verge OF starvation and do know what
to do or which way turn Tho destitution wido-
spread and distressing and is not confined 10 ths
aborng classes alone therc numbers of skiilce
mechanics who have been idle for many months and
whose little store has long since been exhausted.
There hundreds OF families in and about Scranton,
and not in this city alono, but in every settlement
throughout the canal regions who do not know where
10 get to-days dinner and who would be shivering BY
cheerlcss hresdcs IL not for tho heaps Of coal
dust that lie scattered along the valley and from
which they draw their supply OF fucl, such is
So many poor people or such intense downright de.
spang distress have not been in this section OF
the country for many years II Is actually painful
10 witness the want and sorrow sxtanI Unlike
the great cities, toward which the wrctched Of all
classes tend and in which poverty is all peri.
ods the towns Of tho interior generally tree from
any considerable share Of needy people in prosperous
times, but change has come ovcr the land, and
VINO year ago would deem It disgrace to ask fol
assistance under any circumstances, are absolutely
fsmshng for the ordinary ncccssarics OF life. Mo
chanics too. men In receipt of wages varying iron
81 SO TO So so at the opening of the centennial year.
are now TO tho verge Of pauperism, anxious
Afty cents day II they get anything to do
MEETING or TIE DiSTRESsED.
They talk easily their distress and no longer make
any effort to hdo their poverty. and at q meeting Of
their number held tho other night, asking tho city
authorities furnish them with and broad, some
sad stories were rotated The pitablc pictures pre-.
senied at their homes are touching, and in in.
stances would wiring tears from the most calous
heart 1t is sad spectacle to SEQ broken
spirited husband in the midst OF his little,
feeble family. for which he is unable to provide bread.
though their appeals arc like many daggcrs 70
his heart The patient mothers invariably seek to
stne their grief, and wherever have called they
endcavorcd TO hide the poignant features OF their
sorrows. But the wan face and prematurcy old and
haggard looks have told story that the coqacnce OF
the sweetest voice could not gainsay II sremarkabo
how patient in most cases the womea have shown
themselves wherever have been. In the same homes
where dcsparing men raved lncoherentiy and cursed
corporations the government as well as thor
bitter fate air of quiet resignation and
weak submission on the OF The women that were
truly heroic. 1t is the fact that women endure moro
in any great ordeal than men endure IL better
Where burIy man will 60 bowling about with big
sorrow. showing u to his ncghbors, = little woman
Will hor face against late and hdo It in her breast
Tho that Kill men only bring out the sweeteHt
nobest natures OF women.
SUICIDE WANT
II only yesterday morning that druggist In the
Fourth ward OF this city, who had been out of work
Tor months, committed suicide TO escape the pain
OF Seeing his wife and little ones suffering ior bread
He had prospect, hopes Of being able TO assist
them and he closed his forever to their distress
Hts name was Harry Moncli and among other cares
his bercavcd and much afflicted wife called upon
to endure is shat o providing tor thcr infant babe.
The manner OF his death was by poisoning This
would bc DEPRESSION wore II not melancholy In
stance Of tho general destution which exists II IL
predicted that thcre will DC many suicide from tho
in this locality during the present winter
PETITIONS REILEr.
The Mayor Of the city. Robert H. McKune was peti-
toned yesterday by mass meeting OF the unemployed
poor, who asked him to his influence with the
City Councils for the purpose Of pushing forward pub
lie Improvements and creating work for the dcsti
~lt>A~ srsv,t cf fkA AAtn
and Common Councils and a meeting OF these bodies
held last evening 10 consider tho important sub
The situation, from which mako the following extract
which win give the readers Of tho HExALD good idea
OF the grave state of anairs:--
transmitting you the mpanying resolutions Of
the citizens Of this city take she opportunity
Of saying that the signs OF distress .nong the deserving
sights are presented 30 mo almost daily. Men young.
Sope q work. while men viii. wives and charea to snppo
are in the most ssss OF 4 from day to
PEELED 20 80 their homes without word Of cheer tor
enlarge upon the suffering that is in our midst.
sons ' 4 ~o,ng m y 'as ss ,5s
summer here has not been the activity in building and
suffering are IN our midst beyond Sc Of ALL
o,s n ea%E sossne s this svsns o
views cond be obtained in regard 20 any proposition that
be mao whereby tho wants OF these people could DO
PUBLIC WORK nxcoxnRxDEn
HIS Honor then proceeded make suggestions rea-
tive 10 the construction OF sewers and such other
work necessary the cily's welfare with view
to giving employment TO tho poor and Moody The
matter was discussed length by tho councils, and
committees appointed 10 lock alter the location aud
plans OF the proposed sewers
One member said that they wcro not charitable
body and that II immediate relief we're needed tho
Poor Board was the proper place to apply. II was
cnsued that the word charity has but small place
In the heart OF thsclty councils and that The unem
pioycd poor will before those tardy bodies do
anything to ameliorae their distress II Will take the
committees week or moro to report then II will tako
and by the time tho proposed sewer would be begun
would be time look out Tor proper place 10
bury the dead paupers o the city.
COURSE
for the Mayor now that he has engaged in the good
work and asccrta,ned that the distress alarming u
to appeal 10 the pubic, call public meeting OF busi-
and ccrgymen--if the latter can unite on
the same patform-and urge the organization OF re-
iicf csnmtccs to and distribute food
and clothing for the destitute Every heart should DO
enlisted the good work. II ~ crime to be stoiid
ana indifferent while people are dying Tor tood and
those who intend TO give should remember tho old
muxim-"Bis dat qin cito dat"
INDUSTRIES
Id addition to the causes Tor the general distress
already audcd TO the Industries Of the city
idle and will continue for several months 10
Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company upon
which the poor OF Shanty Hill, thicklv
populated portion Of the CITY, are dependent dependent
operations until the lst oI March, and IS natural
consequence their employees who at the very best Of
times iound II difficult matter TO sustain themselves
airiy dismaycd and dlshcartened at the gloomy
prospect. Pincning paihd poverty sits by many
6csdc day, and the indications that the coming
Christmas viii be the saddcst experienced IN tho
anthracite coal regions OF Pennsylvania
HITTER COLD
The recent heavy TAIL ol snow aud accom- panvug
bitter cold the situation iet moro keenly,
scanily clad and starving people are reduced
10 tho lowest depths OF despair with not single ray OF
hope in the immediate iulurc 10 light their footsteps
along the dismal and III drcnry way. The coal IN
dnsuy, too has recently been falling oil,
and In many of the settlements mining
has been suspended altogether. Merchants and small
dealers who were wont 10 encourage the miners and
iaborers from time to tmo with credit compelled
TO refuse mem their sclf-protcctoD and this
supcradds aud ntensics the bitterness
OF thor chcericss and unhappy lot
have gwen the subject good deal OF thought and
much personal attention, aud have hesitation In
that the extent magnitude of the prcss
ont suffering among the poor OF the coal regions,
we'll MS tho discouraging ASPECT OF the future,
such ns call for mediate action and large hearted
Christian iberality the part OF those among who
arc blessed with fair share Of the worlds wealth.