Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-30
Victims of the Hard wiater.

PUILIC MEETING TO BE CALLED, ETC.
The excessive cold weather here the past two
weeks, and especially since the snow fall has
brought great distress TO the poor OF this city.
Most Of the destitution is In the subui ps and
is not under the observation OF the public in
the central portions of the city. Ii is general
among both colored and white people, and Is
mostly caused By want of employ ment the past
season. Major Brock says that during the last
fiscal year he received from the relief fund for
the worthy poor s. 400, which was carefully
distributed In the shape OF food and fuel: that
1870 families were relieved, each case being
thoroughly investigated before relief was fur
p1shed. In this connection he states that in
distributing charities the police have more
facilities Tor ascertaining what parsons
are best entitled than any association
can have. He says there Is o large class
OF our worthy poor who are too sensitive 10 ask
for relief, or make known their sufferings.
Many such were relieved last year. when
through inquiries, 1t was discovered that they
were actually destitute of the necessarleS OF
life, and yet would not report the fact, but pre-
1erred TO suffer In silence. He states that the
poor fund supplied from the District authorl-
ties Is divided up for so many charitable aSsocia
tons that he has but small portion or what Is
IL ally needed 10 extend relief. All that ne nas
received the present fiscal year Is $40 which he
las spaT1ngly doled out TO the most needy In
tie way OF provisions and fuel. The Olly vol
untary contributions he has received from
private parties this season is s., one OF 8
recti sed yesterday from a business man
With note requesting that II be- expended by
III 10 the best advantage for the poor, aid 81
received this morning from a weli-knoHn te
eyCieDt gentleman who is always giving char
Ity. In the past few days there have been calls
without number made at bis Office from DO h
White and cOlored families Their cases have
been investigated in most Instances by the
lIeutenantS, and but few have been found to be
impOstOrs- He has expended every dollar, aud
has now some orders given out Gu gr0cer5 and
coal dealers which he has no money to pay. lie
hopes he Will soon be able 10 get something
more from the charity fund to Keep up the re-
IynY n nys,yc-
erS this morning 1t was found that these officials
are fully aware OF the situation and are exert
ing themselves to prevent the suffering preva-
lent. They state That the fund at their com
maud has TO be distributed between i've or six
charity organizations, and that they propose to
divide what little remains at once, and that
Major Brock will receive by a draft, what can
possibly be given. They Will also exert them
selves at once on the reassembling OF Congress
to have an appropriation made to be added to
the deficiency bill for means or relief The ao-
preparation LAST made OF $40 600 includes the
market house fund, and is nCtindependelt of It.
as many suppose.
ONE HARD CASE AMONG MANY
Lieut.. Austin, OF the 9TH precinct, says he was
requested TO invests ate the situation OF poor
white family about O'Clock yesterday after
noon, and found the whole family In bed to
keep from freezing. and with nothing TO eau
Tie man said he had been striving TO get work
for weeks past, without Success, and had en-
tirely exhausted his means He could not beg
Tor charity.
About 1880 O'clock this morning Officers Howe
and hing found man named Charles Jones'
lying at The corner OF 9th street and PenLSyl-
venia avenue southeast in a very low condi-
ton from the excessive cold. They removed
him to his home On 6th between Pennsylvania
avenue and ID street south where medical
attendance was rendered. About the same
time Private Watchman Gibson, In the same
precinct found Awhile man named Jasper Y.
Rogers In a frozen condition. On L. between 7Jh
and sub streets southeast. He was removed to
md
Kim called. who rendered medical aid. HIS
feet, hands and ears were badly frost bitten.
THE NIGHT LODGING HOUSE
during the past few nights has not been SD
much thrOnged as before the present cold snap,
This is probably owing to the fact that thiniy
clad persons, feeble from hunger. are unable 10
reach the lodging house BY the exertions OF
and others OF the managers, and through the
contributions OF those who understand the
practical workings OF this institution, together
with monthly contribution made by the
Commissioners from the charity fund, there
have been comfortable accommodations made
for As lodgers. The bill OF fare has been changed
this wear by substituting soup for coffee, which
is civ dodgers at night With wholesome bread,
aha coffee and bread In the morning before
they are required to turn out. All are required
to take Dath and ere furnished With hight.
shirts before going 10 their cots.
considerable part OF the materials used for
the soup, such as meat and vegetables, are con-
trihuted by the market men ana cooked in the
lodging house.
CoLORED EMIsRANTS GOING BaCE SOUTH
Last night between 10 and II O'Clock twelve
colored persons arrived there in a squad two
lne Il ana two women, the rest being children
tut arrived from the township OF oxford But.
Ter County, Ohio, by way OF the Baltim ore aud
Oolo railroad, and are on their return to Ma
con, North Carolina. from which place they had
been induced to em1grate last March, as they
stated, b misrepresentation. They were Ia
deplorable condition-Without cent. poorly
from hunger and cold. They were thawed oll
and made happy By as much good soup aad
bread as they could eat, and after getting
thor0ughiy warned were each given a
for the night They left this morning
with the purpose OF seeing Mr.. Frederick Doug
lass, through whom they hoped to get trans
portation to their old homes. which they were
very anxious TO reach again. From their state
ments they had seen hard times, and had been
linposed On In many ways. The excessive cold
with restitution, had made them SICK of the
western country, and they said they preferred
their old homes One OF the men lett 10 acres
or land In North Carolina, which he owns
thinking from the representations made that
he would better his condition by going west
They state that they knew nothing about the
exodus, but the brother OF the wife, who Is 10.
Gated In Butler county, Ohio, wrote for them to
come out, pictuIing everything as lovely 10
that section, and JDey finally left In March
last put they found that there was more labor
sN~>~N e''i~>N 'o'-H SSosN W pcpppittI.
FAMILIES WITHOUT BREAD OR Feel,
This morning an honest eoi0red man applied
to Major Brock, stating that he had wife and
nVe children destitute of bread and fuel, ana be
was afraid they would die. He did not ask for
money, but If he could get something to do to
earn his bread he was satisfied. H. had no
work except tFihlng jobs all last summer and
could save nothing for winter use. Mai. BROCK
sent man TO investigate his home and the
report was just as he had Stated. His family
were grouped together In rags to keep them
selves from freezing by animal warmth. Not
InoISel OF bread nor fuel could be found In the
novel Hundreds or similar cases might be
cited, especially among the colOred poor OF
South Washington, where there are go many OF
them.
HOW TO RELIEVE THE SUFFERING.
In conversation as to the best system OF re-
lel Win wellknown gentlemen residing and
doing business on Capitol Hill, he stated to a
STAR reporter that the most enectual wav tn
reach the really deserving poor Throughout the
District was for the churches eacn to organize
and canvass cases In their own parishes and
circles he stated that the Catholic chnrchas
all have organizations OF this kind. and the
most practical results follow. the churcn
people generally know the cases OF dest;turton
and II each church would select, say, two deie
gates TO a general meeting and compare nsGs
they could avoid duplication and do great GOOD
The great trouble is, that there is no general
and well defined system OF charities In This
District and fl large number OF cases the