The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-25
THE HERALBS RICHMOND HORROR
The Richmond Correspondent in Announ-
cling the Death OF the Woman Pollard Ex-
onerates the City from Amy Blame that
Might Have Been Construed from the First
Story.

been afflicted with the smallpox for the
/ past month, and whose infant child sue
cumbed 10 the fatal effects of the disease
on the 18th instant, died herself this MORN
ing OF smallpox in is most malignant
form. The pitiable story OF this unfortu-
nate family has already been twice told in
the columns OF the Herdld--frst. IA Il was
related TO your correspondent, and second,
as the result OF q personal investigation Of
the facts In the case. In the latter IL was
shown that the stricken family resided
without the corporate limits OF the city Of
Richmond, in Henrico county; that the
city Board OF Health had no jurisdiction
there, and that whatever official attention the
case required deyolyed on the county author
tiles, aud especially on the county Superin-
tendent OF the Poor. 1t was further estab-
| ished by persOn,l investg ton that the
people living in the vicinity Of the Pollard
family, az soon as their (the Polards) dcsti-
tute circumstances became known, did
everything in their power TO ameliorate
their sad condition. Cooked food and
small quantities Of fuel were literally con-
tribuied and left on the premises by the
neighbors, and rs best he could the five
year-Old boy. who escaped the malady, car
ried these supplies into the house and up
a fright Of steps TO the sufferers. IL should
al. o be borne in mind, as previously stated,
that the people Of Richmond. and those in
the vicinity OF the Pollard family, are rs
benevolent and charitable community as
there exists in this or any other country.
/ These stubborn facts, however, remain.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF TIE CASE.
-Four weeks ago the oldest OF the woman
Pollard's four children, a girl, was taken
sick, and city physician who was called
/ pronounced it n case Of smallpox. Upon
ascertaning this the doctor quickly left
the house, and calling the other members
OF the family into the street there vac
cinatcd them. lie advised that the girl
should be sent 10 the hospital, and stating
/ that ne could not continue 70 attend the
| ease left. never 10 return. In conformity
with the legal requirements in such case.
| the usual white fag, indicative OF the
| disease, was displayed from the front gate,
and in consequence the tenement was shun
ned. One by one the mother and other
children. excepting the dve-year-old boy,
were laid low with the malady. On the
/ 18th instant the infant died. Il remained
/ in ihc house two days, and was then in
tered in the rear OF the premises, it is
said, by the county authorities; that the SUI
perintcndcnt Of the Poor in IIcnricO county
was repeatedly notified Of ths condition OF
/ the family, but since the day the city ply
stefan above alluded to visited them not a
/ living soul, excepting the hve-year-old
child. crossed the threshold Of the house
until Saturday last. On that day DR.. G. +
/ Anderson, who was engaged by the county
I Superintendent OF the Poor, visited the
/ family He found the mother, wcaried by
suffering and priyation, in the last stage Of
/ the repulsiyc disease, and in an almost
moribund condition. The girl, after q
months sickness. was still confined to her
| bed.
The oldest boy was convalescent after
severe attack Of yarioloid, and the five
ycar-old, and now the youngest child, was
still in good health. The latter, whose
/ little woolly head would scarcely reach =
| table three feet high, has been the constant
and faithful nurse Of the afflicted family
| through all their misery and woe. Until
I Or. Anderson visited them on Saturday
/ there was no other hand TO give them
drink OF water or a mOuthiul OF nOurish-
ment but his. DR.. Anderson further stated
that he had with his own hands put away
the wood sent for the use Of the family, ~
the boy nurse was unequal 10 that task.
The Doctor administered the usual RENE
dies. but the mother being at that time de-
lrious, and covered with an eruption, he
entertained little hope OF her recovery.
AROrsING PUBLIC SYMPATHY.
This brings the history Of the case TO
within the past few days, when the disclo-
sures in the HcrQld OF the Goth and DIST
instant concerning ii created a profound
I f,,,, <. IN honest
nation among q great many citizens, both
in the county and city. Some Of the peo-
ple refused TO believe that such suffering
and misery existed here; others regarded
il As a pure sensation, while still others de
nounccd it as an inhuman outrage. 1t be-
came theme Of public discussion, and
finally. at "the eleventh hour" the cown-
ty Superintendent OF tine Poor was forced
TO do something. lie did what should have
been done nearly one month ago, and thus
would have saved two human lives. He
Yesterday hired q nurse TO attend the fam
ly, at compensation of $Gj0a week. The
expenditure ut this rate Tor four weeks
would have been only S3O-a small sum,
even for IIenrico county, 10 save two lives.
He also sent load Of mixed wood and coal
yesterday.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR TIE NEGLECT.
This is in brief the terrible story Of the
Pollard family, and q more shameful in
stance OF official neglect has scarcely ever
been heard OF. The county authorities can
not in this case plead ignorance rs an eX-
cuse for their tardineSS in coming to the
rescue Of this poor woman and her chill
dren. II was by the order Of the county
Superintendent OF the Poor that the child
was buried on the premises. The county
authorities were also frequently notified by
the neighbors and resident magistrate,
but nothing for the relief Of the sufferers
was done. In Justice 10 DR.. W. W. Parker,
of this city, IL should be stated that he
went 10 the door Of Mrs. POllard's
house on the 1St OF December, after
learning that she had no physician, and
ndcred his services. He told her that
i she wanted him 10 send for him, 10
which she responded that she would do so.
She never awaited herself, however, Of this
kind offer. Probably She had no one TO
send. or in her affection she did not know
what 10 do, isolated and deserted rs she
WIS. In speaking to DR.. Anderson when
he first visited her, the poor woman remem-
bercd DR.. Parker's offer, but stated that
she did not see him and did not know who
ne was. The county superintendent was
to-day notified by a colorcd man OF Mrs.
Polard's death. The nurse remains with
the sick children. who are now amply pro-
vided for with medicine, food and fuel.
one dollar was received from gentleman
in Washington as a contribution to the
Pollard family. 1t was sent to them by the
Doctor.
Accident Oh the Pennsylvania Road.
PHILADELPHIA. December ga pas
senger train from New York bound for
Washington ran into the rear end OF a
freight train, hear IIolmesburg, early this
evening. The engine and several freight
-,,.;1 ,r,l.v dq,oo0pd and fhp