The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-21
THE FATE OF THE WAITS.
WHY NEARLY AN or NEW YORK
CITr'S FOUNDLINGS DIE
Little Ones for Whom No Funeral IL Had, and
for Whom No Inquiries nre NJ Made-Mnrtin
Jennings, at Least, Likely TO Get Home.

Little Ones for Whom No Funeral IL Had, and
for whom No Inquiries are Made-Mnrtin
Jennings, at Least, Likely 10 Get - Home.
Martin Jennings, the baby foundling
whose story THE SUN printed yesterday. is now
accustomed to his new condition. and has passed
through the experience Of baptism in a faith
that wns chosen for him bv chance. His foster
mother. n pauper in ward 13 of the Infant Hos
pital on Randall's Island declares thnt she has
grown to love him. Her own child will be no
better treated than he will. she says. The pub
lication Of this case has attracted n large num-
ber Of visitors to the apartments Of Matron
Webb OF the Lost Children's Department at the
Police Central Office. The fact that the matron
expressed q hope that this foundling. the best
OF a thousand that had come TO her. would be
spared the usual fate Of waits led kind dhearted
persons to make inquiries about the child. with
view toward adopting him; while many per-
sons were only desirous Of gratifying curiosity.
Mrs. Webb has also received inquiries
through the mail. Despite her desire
TO better the fortunes Of the helpless
baby. she felt constrained to dampen the
ardor Of the first persons who offered adoption.
These were a young German and his wife.
They had children Of their own. but entertained
the incorrect idea that the founding was Of
highly respectable and perhaps wealthy extrac-
tion. and SO was highly desirable. Mrs Webb
told them frankly OF her own supposition.
which was that the mother had supported the
child and herself 10y nursing nm extra infant in
some asylum In the city where n child would
only bo left permanently upon payment Of s25
down or pttance periodically. Knowing this
rule. but unable to conform 10 IT, she spent her
time in dressing her little one attractively. so
that when she abandoned him no might recon-
mend himself to whoever found him. Mrs.
Wehb has often known instances Of this sort,
The German couple were disappointed by this
| heart in their project. William Heese who dis
covered tho child IN his hallway at s9s sixth
avenue. informed the mntron Of his desire TO
adopt the baby. at the time of his necessary
! visit 10 the Central ONCE TO make oath TO his
report. His careful Inquiries us to the mode OF
/ securing "a foundling for adoption convinced
/ Mrs. Webb that he really desired 10 secure the
! wnif; One man. who cross-eXamned Mrs
| Webb upon her opinion Of the child said that
/ he had already adopted negro baby. who had
/ grown W 10 be esteemed: A resident 9i Cats
| Kill wrote to ask whether II was safe and proper
| to adopt child whose origin wis 40 mys-
| terious.
| child TO Randal's Island on the next morning
after its arrival at the Central Qfice.
Because" she replied a baby that is left
! Older children found without projectors are
! deemed likely 10 have wandered away from
| their homes. and we keep them here for several
| days usually restoring them tn their parents.
| who are searching for them. But infant found:
/ lings are sent Immediately TO the hospital. and
| are seldom asked after
! When u child is inquired after by IA parent
who has traced 1t to the island. and II is fonnd
! to have died. can lts remains be recovered 2"
! No. ! went out TO the bnrying ground once
when was on the island. 1t is deep pit, as
| The babies are buried in rude wooden cofiins
laid IN layers u this pit. and left there without
That's dreadful p said a listener. g Dread
iul ]" echoed Mrs. Webb; d" / don't think so.
naiSs Is % more % 10 be desired than that % the chill
dren should grow up for tho wretched future
Or. Howard. in charge ot the hospital was
| asked whether this description Of burial was
! literally true. g The place is just over there"
point OF the island 1t is a large square. rx-
cavatona where YOU see that tall, white. wooden
cross. The foundiings are buried IN wooden
| boxes laid in rows. and 80 arranged that the
! locality Of each coffin is known, aud can be
/ pointed out nj any Ume. The babies are buried
in tiers. however and 1t would be difficult TO
| Tecov'r one from the bottom layer OF collins.
| Indeed. none are ever called for"
He added that children. other than found
lings. are buried in separate graves. with ap-
pE.priqte marks above ground
Mr.. Blake, the Superintendent OF Outdoor
| Poor, has never known request 10 be made for
the remains Of "A founding. although. while the
| children live. their parents frequently apply for
| possession OF them. and confess the circum-
| stances under which they were abandoned.
| Generally poverty is the plea but sometimes il
| happens that the mother is arrested. or leaves
| the city. and believes the child Is secure with
some friend who has promised TO provide Tor II.
| but who tires OF tho charge, and d!spOses OF II
in the streets at night.
DR.. Howard did not mean to be understood
rs saying that u majority OF tho ioundlings
under his care die because OF neglect or mis-
management on the part OF the nurses or
Foundlings" he said. are seldom in good
| condition when they arrive here. Their moth
| ers have drugged them to keep them still while
| they are carried out at night to be left ia the
| streets. or they ARE almost starved when We get
them Then, again. the little ones take, cold
and are almost dead from exposure from lying
on damp ground or IN the night air In alley
ways. hallwnnys. and deserted or unfinished
| buildings Tho chances OF their living would
BE- slight even il they secured prompt attention
Superintendent Blake does not believe the In
| fant Asylum II distinguished by excessive NOR
jority Of the children reach the age Of 8 years.
| at which period the city disposes ot them t. the
Home for the F5iendless, in Tweniy-nnth
street II they are Professionals. or to the lnstitu-
| ton OF Mercy, in Houston street. If they are
| Roman Catholics.
Pnice Superintendent walling spoke Of the
| subject only in general way. ii" said there
were fewer and fewer foundlings delivered 10
the authorities every year. The grow;
10 prevent the crime OF child desertion
has brought about a good result. Foundlings
! are as often discovered by private individuals
| Ms by policemen, but the law requires that lhey
be- turned over to the police, and that an afflda-
Wit OF the facts OF the discovery be made and put
| on record Occasionally the police detect n
| mother in the act Of abandoning her child.
| Then she is arrested, and her offence is deemed
felony. A strange hut not uncommon oc-
| currrnce Is the finding OF n lost child Of tender
| years who has reached ecity from the suburbs.
| " Not long ago" the Superintendent sald a
| tiny child walked into the Hoboken terry house
| by the side of a richly dressed woman, and WAS
| supposed to be her child. II sat by her on the
| ferryboat passed through the New York Terry
house with, her. and, still accompanying her.
| entered a West street car. and was lifted by the
conductor to a seat at her side, In time. the
| woman left the car and the child in II, ana then
the conductor called the police, euppORlng the
case 10 be one OF hrartess deserton. The
woman had not observed the child"