The New York herald., 1877-01-16
THE OUTDOOR POOR.

THE OUTDOOR POOR.
THE VAST ARMY OF DESTITUTE PEOPLE sEEKrNo
ASSISTANCE AT THE oFr1cE OF sUPERlNTExD.
xNr KELLocK-FIvE THOUSAND APPLICANTS,
REPRESENTING TWENTY THOUSAND Pxnsoxss
RECEIVED IN TEN DAYS.
During tho past ten days rush OF applicants fol
assistance at the ofice OF Mr.. George w. keleck su'
peintendent Of the Outdoor Poor mas been unprece
dented IN the annals OF that department. Since tn6
beginning OF the month 5000 names have besn regis
tered aud each applicant, at the lowest estimate
represents family Of four persons, the total number
thus far recurring aid from this bureau placed ~
20 600 so0ls As the rush still continues uninerr upt-
edly and tho numbers to increase instead OF
diminishing It is matter OF considerable importance
to the Superintendent to know whether or not the
$4,000 appropriation will last long enough TO 60
round Several times during yesterday the spacious
apartment facing Eleventh street was 50 densely packed
with forlorn looking creatures OF every age SEX color
and nationality that the attaches OF tho Office found
q difficult matter to moye from point TO point with
freedom. Many Of the heterogeneous throng had been
awaiting tho opening the doors since sunrise. and
were chilled and benumbed with cold. The warm ali
of tho room had tendency to render the visitors
drowsy and not a few sunk back in the seats ranged
along tho walls aud temporarily lost to their mis-
cry in slumber Oilers, VINO were either old hands at
the business worn out by exhaustionrom long
waiting even slept by snatches IN a standing position,
and were only aroused 70 OF their danger by
tho nudges Of their wakeful neighbors who were
the lookout for tho approach OF an officer. AN
seemed TO DO suffering less from colds,
Judging from the incessant chorus Of coughing that
broke the stilness Wan faced, holIow-eyed women,
n tnfpn I'm thofr mt but
cresfallen men, evidently mechanics out OF employ
ment aud on tho verge Of starvation feeble old men,
scarcely able to hobble along; weak looking girls and
young well dressed and IN rags-al met on COM
level and appealed for assistance Tor themselves
and those dependent upon tnem presenting sad pcS
ture of the misery aud desttuton prevailing in the
metropolis this winter. superintendent KeocK sat In
an armchair In rear room, but portion OF
body being visible to the multitude Ia the room.
BY his side was a small wooden box aud basket each
oi which was nled to with written appi.
for aid received during The morning. To hM
lett wac assistant who has beon busy from morning
TIL night tho great rush began. his basket likewise
being ovcrburdcned With mute appeals from the p0v.
erty stricken. long string OF people forming half
head reaching to the platform fronting Mr.. Kcl0cks
desk slowly passed In front Of the latter Each appl
cant required TO give his her number and
name Of street. aye and condition, and no long wnded
harangues pfu stories were allowed to preface or
20 up me- o %y 1eao
would DO completely turned and would have time TO
attend TO but ttc business, remarked Mr. Keliock
Occasionally poor wretches venures0me their
desperation than others would manage " get hall
through narrowing story before tho superintendent
would ~ onco be reDuked, their names taken down
and lastly told 70 move on for the othera
hundred applications have been received per day
since the opening OF tho now year. BY an arrange.
ment effected with the board OF United Cnaritios :
appeals Tor aid lett with Mr. Kelock These visitors
act according TO Instructions given them by the chair
Autlv
the OF the Outdoor Poor oil petitions
lott with him. Every family is ut once visited and II
ments coincide with those given in their application TO
Mr.. Kellock, their names are marked accordingly.
dent and each family ts supplied with hall ton OF
coal
EXTENT OF THE DISTRESS.
THIS part of the business commenced yesterday,
the coal being delivered the great host from almost
evcry coal yard In the district In which the applicants
live, throughout the city Thus far no measures have
been taken Tor aiding tho destitute either with grocer
les money, but It Is thought that such IN ar.
beius Ound absolutely necessary 10 keep people from
starving DEATH 10 accomplish It is manifest that
superintendent Kellock will require more money than
menk One striking peculiarly has Impressed the visi
tors and the and this Is The discov:
this year ninetyve per cent OF the vast NUMBER who
have applied Tor aid having been found 10 be as they
themselves, and In many Instances great
deal worse. In speaking OF the misery and hardship
existing IN this city at the present time Mr.. Kellock
sad:-
THE s'PRoFRssIoxALs." +"
~ have had many years OF experience In dealing
with the poor OF Now York. but never In my long
have seen SO much real sickcning poverty and
desttutIOn as now The $50 900 appropriated by the
Board OF Apportonment Tor tho relief Of the outdoor
poor good enough far AS goes, and will do vast
deal OF good but It will require Tho best efforts and
cath0c spirit among the united charitable associations
OF the city 10 alleviate tho distress THO general stag.
nation in business and the hard inci.
dent to the same have been the principal causes
OF the trouble" When questioned q. 10 me
shn tAnrnt hat
spurious and the genuine applicants Tor charity
usccrtuined he replied that certain extent IL
cerned he found no trouble In detecting the bcals"
when they presented themselves to him. Long ex.
periencc and thorough knowledge Of faces, togethei
with certain questions, generally exposed the fraud
Still hs liable to be. and had been frequently, de-
ceivcd by professionals II recall 70 my nina Two
instances, he said. (which often think or The first
was tho q widow Sho repeatedly called Ut this
office for assistance and received ton Of coal aud
her healthlu luness and general bearing led finally 10
think that everything wasn't square IN her cuse, and
an was % nas isS sSo result n as "" we
posted savings institution. Tho officers Of the
bank were enjoircd from giving her any money and
were directed refer her when she called. She
was greatly put when she learned that had dis.
covered hcr little dodge We let her go after making
her pay double price OF the coal sho had from
this The other that of blind
He too, and related such pitiiul stories OF
and believe he also aid from 0thcr charitable
associations Hts wife eventually gave him away
and somewhat astonshed to discover that the
fraud bad goody sum of money deposited IN the
Third Avenue Savings Bank He was required to dis
gorge double the prico OF the coal VIC gave him. Re.
Gently the officers OF two three charitable assOca-
complained TO me that parties whom they had
sisted were making good thing OF II by getting aid
from this depar tment also. I figured up the wnoe
matter and xplaned that the combined aid extended
by all the charitable societies not enough to keep
family Of six or eight persons from suiierug-neithei
will II. The gentlemen acknowledged that such
the case, and they have called such crrand
second tme'
II the number Of applicants continue at tho Same
ratio throughout the month 1t calculated that zoo
persons will bavo TO bo supplied. Under these crcum.
II will require extraordinary mathe
figure the length Of the $50 900 will last
FUNERAL OF MIR. MATARAN.
Antoine Mataran, tho well known restaurateur, who