National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-04
FREEDMAN'S VILLAGE.
A Hamlet Of Squalid Want and Dostituton
Inviting tho Charitable
A Graphic Account Of the Way 1900
People Live Just Across the River.

Freedman's village is a struggling sottlo-
mont of colored people on the opposite shore
of the Potomac from Washington. 1t occu-
pies portion of the old Lee estate ana
stretches from tho river on the cast to a
point west of Arlington cemetery. Thc soil
is too poor. in the language of one of the set
tiers, to raise anything but toad frogs and
weeds Therefore, tho 1000 colored vii.
layers are left almost without AGRICULTURAL
resources.
A REPUBLICAN reporter, having learned
that much dCetitutiOn, sickness, and poverty
prevailed in the village, drove through that
locality Yesterday After AN hours drive
over Virginia roads. on which the sacred soil
appeared to be bott0mlcss, the outskirts OF
lroedmau's village was reached. Tho first
house wa, occupied by an old colored man,
his wife, and seven children.
"nc government he said, owns dis land.
Day let's, us liz ON it for dc rent. Durin' dc
summer we works out de rent by workin' on
do roads. In dc winter, boss, it's mighty hard
scratChu'."
This old man told the reporter that no had
not eaten ~ ythiug but q SINAI, quantity OF
cornmcnl nush daily for nearly Two weeks.
Entering the village sccnc Ol slualpr ana
misery was presented. Children, enaciatcd
By hunger, and men and women trembling
and veal. from the same cause stood idly
about Tho lol ard rdIt fences had long ago
ceased to he even Cow tight" their timbtr5
having provided warmth aud light III many
novels during the bitter weather Of the past
few weeks. Packs Of lean and hungry dogs
of every known breed stood about licking
their chops in anticipation of paltry meal,
How do you manage to livcY asked the
reporter addressing an old man who stood
by the road.
we doan't lib Mt all, sah," was the feeble
reply; food is mighty scarce, tell you, sab.
Use bin tempted to eat de mud in dc road
sumtimcs"
Proceeding through tho village tumbled.
down houses and half-starved animals and
children were seen on every side There
was pDverty-strickcn air everywhere, even
to the cant aud half-decayed vegetation in
the adjoining fields. One old man was found
who had earned "a living for his wife and
several children since Christmas by shooting
and trapping rabbits.
sum weeks he said, 81 doan't kill
moro'n two or three oh de animuls. Zen il
goes hard wild ny. | amt tasted anything
but corn bread, without lard. Tor long time.
How do your dogs manage TO liver asked
the reporter, observing pack of hungry
looking animals nosing around.
"Duy hunts rabbits for derselves at night,
was the reply, "an | reckon eff dey kin cotcl
one a mite dcys libbin' high"
Other residents were interviewed, and eacl
OF them related a tale of suffering anC
misery. One old fellow said he could moi
count on hy ten fingers tho number of people
who have died from exposure and hunger dur
ing the past two weeks
Many of the mon find employment in tn,
ncighboring brickyards during the summer
but at this season the yards are closed and Q
vast number ofmen are left without resources
visit was paid TO the country store that
previously did Il rushing business. II was
"stock barren" and u small coorel boy stood
behind tho counter. In answer to the in.
quiry "What have you for sale?" he replied
mot much. sab. Bizness has been mighty
dull. We can't sell any more whisky. Dc
Onliest stuff we keeps is corn meal and sum
bacon. People out dis way is too poor to buy
anything else. Dey is glad to get dat"
A white farmer told the reporter that desti
tuition had almost converted the entire settle
ment of colored people into thieves. Why
he said, lone night last week some Of then
entered my cellar, which is directly undc
INV bed room, and stole my entire winte
supply of potatoes and cabbaCcs. IL woult
BE- very good idea if the government woulC
Issue rations to them during the winter
solsOn."
The reporter learned while in that mud
ridden country that no less than 100 familie
depended Oh rabbit squirrel, aud bird shoot
ing Tor n livelihood Many boys and IL ei
shoot and trap sparrows, pick them, and sci
them in this city rs reed BIRDS. There Gr,
many also who visit Washington and receive
aims and aid from the police aud charitable
AS matter of fact Freedman's village, oppo
site this city, is dilGpidated and povert,
| stricken settlement,