The New York herald., 1876-12-06
HUNGRY and HOMELESS.
Increasing Numbers Of the
City's Destitute.
TIE "TRAlPS AND THE WORTHY POOR
Mechanics Crowding to the Island
What They Say.
SAD CASES OF WANT.

IT. as many fear the coming winter should provo
hard one, all persons may reasonably cry out
in the prayer that is ever in season, "God help the
poorl" Already the signs Of distress among descrv-
ing classes appearing Most ptiable sights, like
many that have long been hidden in the humble tenc-
ment rooms before the world in all their misery
Men, young. strong and willing to their bread,
are beginning to abandon all hope OF work. last
seek the shelter of public institution to save them
selves from starvation Men with wives and children
10 support eke out the most wretched existence from
day day, depending the wiies efforts to few
dollars or perhaps on the slender assistance given by
relatives VINO have but very ii:tle TO give.
rnE "DuMMERs y
Allusion Is not here made 10 the professional
"tramp," who may be seen Mt all hours in the streets
lazly passing the time IN all the side streets OF the
city, around the low groggcrics, the and in
the ne.ghborhood OF the gin dstllercs these ndoicnt
vagabonds looking the lithy, ood-for-nothng crea-
lures that they may be mot AT night time these
useless members OF tho community seek sndlter In
station house. not always to procure II, as there is
standing order from Police Headquarters not 10 admit
shen We're these people to he allowed lodging in tho
station houses dormtorcs for their special
should be fitted up When they appear at the
geant's desk they speedily disposed Of and they
then disappear loiter in doorways, arsaways or
wherever else they stretch their lazy bones. But
night taking the chance got lodging by accident
In OF the bcsotted looking members OF this
genus the police lodge them for tho night In
coll and next morning present them to q mag gisrate
10 have them TO the Island vagranss 10 the
professional tramp s'bummer" tho Island the
greatest tcrrors Rather than GO thcro these fellows
would suner any privaion in the streets, doubtless
because the Island they would have to stretch their
lazy limbs and do some work. Anything for them
rather than work
Women are always among the number OF the home.
less uniortunates; sometimes children, who always
get the preference of whatever accommodation Ihere
may bo.
STARVING MECHANICS
The number of mechanics desperate want Is
assuming an alarming magnitude from day 10 day II
Is feared that within few weeks the public mind will
be startled by revelations OF distress screened
from the worlds eyes behind the manly pride Of the
sufferers But how have the thousands of mechanics
and iaborcrs lived VINO Idle last summerY There
has not been that stimulus 10 trRdc which
would suffice 10 give halt oi them bread. Many OF
thsm doubt wandered TO other cities, but many
came here IRON those cities in the vain hope OF nndng
work. There many tradesmon out of work that
very little can bc expected from the few employed In
lhe way of comuircd effort assist those who have
been tor long timc Idle for whom ;here very
little chance Tor work Tor the winter. IL Is sure
Indication that all hope be gone when mechanics
are applying station house or police be
the Island and for several days past mechanics
have been asking ~ tho police courts Tor commttas
10 this last refuge
i ISLAND RrpuGERs
HERALD reporter called at The Tombs and had
Mark Finley on this subject Both officials stated
that the present outlook for workingmen seemed
TO be very unpromisng They did not remember that
so many Respectable men mad been In number of
years inmates OF the Iombs on their voluntary way
to the Island.
Warden quinn took the reporter to his record books
anu showed MN therein the register Tor several days
past OF The mechanics who had asked DO tie
Amshouse. The i.Aowns we're the numbers:-