Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-01
oRAzY FRoM STARVATION.
Pride and Poverty Drive a Young Couple
Out Of Thor Minds.


Starvation in this great metropolis Of
New York. which is so admirably sup
piled with charitable institutions, seems
almost impossible, but its exists neyerthe-
less, as is proven by the case Of a woman
now suffering from malnStrition at Bel
leyue Hospital.
Several days ago w arden O'Rourke re-
ceiyed word from Father O'Keefe, OF st.
JOseph's Roman Catholic Church, corner
Of Sixth avenue and Washington place,
that a family in his parish was IN very
destitute circumstances and in need Of
remedial attention, not only az regarded
their physical condition, but also their
mental condition. The appeal was at
once needed and an ambulance was sent
TO No. 70 Commerce street, the address
given, whore the surgeon found Mrs.
Charles O'Neil in pitiable state of mani
ton. The house was kept by a good old
lady named Hamilton. and from her it
was learned that Mrs. O'Neil and her hus-
band had come TO her as dodgers about
seven weeks ago and that after they had
been in the house about a month she no.
tced the falling condition Of the young
woman and endeavOred 10 learn the
cause, but at the time failed to do so. The
couple did not sake their meals with the
landlbdy, and as few meals were noticed
to come into the house Mrs. Hsmilton's
suspicious were aroused, and she finally
discovered that, while paying their room
rent promptly, her dodgers were without
means tor Obtaining proper food. Pride
prevented them from making known their
distress, and it was only after a patient
struggle that Mrs. Hamilton succeeded
IN persuading the young woman to ac-
cept OF her hospitality.
TOO PROUD TO CONFESS THEIR POVERTY.
"Oh those large, black eyes, they haunt
me STILL" said Mrs. Hamilton to the sur
geOn when Mrs. O'Neil had been conveyed
10 the ambulance, her cheeks streaming
with tears. "She was good woman, but
oh, 50 proud that if I asked her to come
and take breakfast or lunch or tea with
me she would refuse my invitation. The
only way ! could help them was by send
ing food to their room. Mr.. O'Neil lost
his position before he came 10 me, and
it was out Of their little savings that
they paid their rent. So jealous were
they Of keeping the knowledge of their
poverty to themselves that he pinned pa
pers across the windows and over the
transOm and keyhOles, 50 that no one
could look in upon them. If ! had not
become aware Of their plight Mrs. O'Neil
would have certainly died in a few days
more. Even as il was / was almost too
late, for l noticed that the poor woman's
mind was wandering, and, thinking she
would die one night last week, I sent for
the priest. Father OKeefe, God bless
him! came and gave them money. But
Mrs. O'Neil did not improve.
SPENDING HER TINE IN PRAYER.
The ambulance drove OF with its deli
cate charge, and when it arrived at Belle
vue Mrs. O'Neil was found to be raving.
Her husband, who had accompanied her,
appeared helpless and feeble Of mind, but
he was placed in one Of the wards Of the
hospital and soon recovered. His wife,
however, mad TO be confined in the insane
pavilion, where she is now, ard where
she will remain until sent to the asylum
on BlackWelPs island.