Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-12-16

teen persons. John Mcclure, lad of
sixteen, was frozen badly about his face
and hands while going to tell the priest of
the fire. Mcclure asked permission OF the
priest to move into one of the vacant shan
ties, but was refused that precious boon.
Here are two old women and little chill
drcn with no shoes. The fuel is almost |
gone, and on all faces look of dispair.
Next came to the family Of Mr.. Earle,
eleven in number; next found Mr.. Burke's
family of six; Michael Curran, six; Joseph
Coney, six; John Folan, six; Pat Flaherty, |
eight; Tom Green, seven; Tom Curran,
eight; all of them destitute; very little fuel
and provision, the latter all corn-meal; all
say they are suffering, and their appear
ance strongly corroborates their words.
Next found Coleman Malone, family of
eight, son badly frozen, man worked six
teen days for the priest, Ryan, who prom
ised him one dollar per day and his dinner.
but when the work was done, only gave
him bag of corn meal. Malone said,
1--WE want something TO eat and some
fire." He has no shoes or boots. Wife
and children also bare footed. The man
said, "Bishop Ireland gave me ticket for
a bag of meal. l took it TO Father Ryan
to get the meal he tore it to pieces and
gave me no meal. Mrs. Malone said, II
asked Father Ryan for shoes, he said go
home, you need not come to mass till fine
weather." Thomas Conroy's family of
four was the next, all very destitute of
everything on which fife depends; old man
confined to his bed from being frozen.
Next found B. Mcdonald, eight in family,
all need clothing badly, woman's legs
frozen. They have one barrel OF meal
sent from the bishop. Many complaints
here at treatment of priest. The man said,
They have placed us here where we can
get no work, and are letting us starve.
Children small, bare footed, and nearly
naked. Next found Jimmy O'Bryan, nine
in family, he said, I'VE want clothing,
food, shoes and fire. asked the priest for
shoes for self, wife and children, but could
not get them. Antony Connolly, with wife
and nine children, were next found. The
mans been sick seven weeks from exposure
while going for provisions. They have
one barrel of meal, no shoes, no clothes to
speak of, no bedding. The woman said,
'Indade the praste don't kape us supplied
with wood, then we all suffer especially
these little childer, Father Ryan is not good
to us, we would like new praste, for he
lets US suffer-" BOY said, We were better
off in Ireland, for there we had lots of po
tatoes, here we go hungry" A. Burke,
three in family, same condition of want
and misery. John Greeley, six in family,
children small, all want clothes and shoes
badly The woman said, II asked the
priest for clothes, shoes and food. He
said, Put your hands in your pocket and
take out your money and buy them, when
we had not one cent, tut he thinks we have
money, so he gets US nothing. We brought
one pound with US from Ireland, which
was given US by our old landlord, and have
had none since, and here we are suffering
with cold and hunger" Next found John
Gallagher. seven in family, nearer to Grace
vile. has had some work for self and wife,
is better fixed than others, but the children
are very short of clothes. Saw two sacks
of -four there and one barrel of meal The
man said, 1--WE have had from priest since
T,,lxy 60 IF hr,t /
get no work now, and nothing from him,
| because have been able to earn some
thing We have one quarter of cord of
wood, but burn hay, because We don't
know how to get more wood" Next Aus.
tin Rudy, nine in family, mans fingers
frozen badly. "All want shoes, clothing
and fire." said he. Next John Ward, eight
in family. same condition. Barty Melon
nough, seven in number, same condition
Johr Kyne, ten in family, children al
have shoes. Hoase very cold, nearly
freeze every night. Have fifty pounds OF
flour and eight pounds of meal. Have ter
dollars and fifty cents coming from the
railroad company on December 10. l.
Flaherty, ten in family, better fixed thar
most Of them, but three children bare
footed.
l met John Haggerty, of Browns Valley
to-day, who told me that his neighbor:
instructed him to make inquiries at Grace
vile in regard to these people, with view
of helping them if necessary. He called OIL
Father Ryan, who told him they were "al
right"
l think, from the situation I find these
unfortunate people in, that should pro
tracted and severe storm occur, many o.
them would perish, and all suffer Re
specially submitted, Fl. HUTCHINs.
In ordering an investigation into the con
dition Of the settlers in the Connemari
colony near Graceville, Big Stone county
the board of trade of Morris did timel,
and proper act, as the report elsewhere
published of the situation and condition
of these unfortunate people, is certainl.
not only discreditable to the management
but criminal Oh the part Of those to whom
was entrusted the care of these miserabl
suffering persons. From time t
time the TRIBUNE has called al
tention to the reports in circulation regard
| ing the deplorable condition of affairs il
this colony, but these rumors were indig
nantly denied, and the public were posi-
, lively assured that there was no foundation
whatever for the report. The denials
however, did not silence or stifie the man,
| stories afoat, on the contrary they in
creased and continued to grow worse an,
! worse, until at last it Was determined t
! probe the matter to the core, and ascel
} tain positively the true condition of affair
t hence the investigation.
OF the facts as ELECTED by the committe
t we have only to say, as the report is il
+ full detail, that the condition or these sci
tiers is unquestionably discrcditable.
{ makes no difference who or what thes
people are, or what they may Lave been