Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-28

Pride sa1 Poverty Drive Yssns s'sssss 0ss
or Their slinds.
fN..v vxrk Vfarafdl

Prtde ooa fevertJ UTtve HeSnss~SD'
or Their slisds.
New York Hsrald.l
Starvation in this great metropolis Of
New York, which Is so admirably sup
pied with charitable institutions, seems
almost impossible, but it exists never
theless, as is proven by the case OF
woman now suffering from iaalnntri-
ton at Bellevue Hospital.
Several days ago Warden 0'Rourke
received word from Father O'Keefe, o.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church,
corner Of Sixth avenue and Washington
place, that q family in his parish was
in very destitute circumstances and in
need Of remedial attention, not only as
regarded their physical condition, but
also their mental condition. The sp-
peal was at once needed and an ambu-
lance was sent to No. 20 Commerce
street, the address given, where the
surgeon found Mrs. Charles O'Neil in a
pitiable state ofinanition. The house was
kept by good old lady named Hamil-
ton, and from her it was learned that
Mrs. 0'Neil and her husband had come
to her as dodgers about seven weeks ago,
and that after they had been in the
house about q month she noticed the
failing condition Of the young woman
and endeavored to learn the cause, but
at the time failed to do so. The couple
did not take their meals with the land
lady. and as few meals were noticed to
come into the house Mrs. Hamilton's
suspicious we're aroused, and she finally
discovered that, while paying their
room-rent promptly, her dodgers wer'
without means for obtaining proper fooD..
Pride prevented them from making
known their distress, and it was only
after 8 patient struggle that Mrs. Ham
ilton succeeded in persuading the young
woman to accept Of her hospitality.
TOO PROUD To CONFESS THEIR Pow
ERTY.
ooh. those large, black eyes, they
haunt me STILL" said Mrs. Hamilton to
the surgeon when Mrs. 0'Neil had been
conveyed to the ambulance, her cheeks
streaming with tears. d" She was a
good woman, but oh, so proud that if |
asked her to come and take breakfast
or lunch or tea with me she would re-
fuse my invitation. The only way |
could help them was by sending
food to their room. Mr.. 0'Neil
lost his position before he came to
me, and it was out of their little
savings that they paid their rent. So
jealous were they of keeping the know
ledge Of their poverty to themselves
that he pinned papers across the win
dows and over the transom and key
holes, so that no one could look in upon
them. If had not become aware of
their plight Mrs. 0'Neil would have
certainly died in few days more.
Even as it was was almost too late,
for / noticed that the poor woman's
mind was wandering, and, thinking she
would die one night last week, | sent
for the priest. Father 0'Keefe, God
bless him came and gave them money.
But Mrs. O'Neil did not improve"
SPENDING HER TIME IN PRAYER.
The ambulance drove off with its
delicate charge, and when it arrived at
Bellevue Mrs. 0'Neil was found to be
raving. Her husband, who had accom-
panied her, appeared helpless and feeble
of mind, but he was placed in one of the
wards Of the hospital and soon recover
ed. His wife. however, had to be con-
fined in the insane pavilion, where she
is now, and where she will remain until
sent to the asylum on Blackwell's
Island.
81 don't think Mrs. O'Neil will ever
recover" said DR.. Wildman, who has
charge of the insane pavilion, to a
Herald reporter last night. She is
raving mad, and whenever the oppor-
tunity is allowed her she gets upon her
knees and prays, in which posture she
world remain for hours if permitted. |
don't know anything about her cass
except what Mrs. Hamilton told me,
and from her learn that Mrs. O'Neil
has already been in the Insane Asylum
at Blackwell's Island. 1t is impossible
to tell the exact cause Of her ailliction,
but her appearance, coupled with the
narrowing story told by Mrs. Hamilton,
leads me to believe that it is due to
lack of food. The husband is worth
less sort of fellow, am told, and left
the hospital Immediately upon re-
coyery.n
Father 0'Keefe told the same story
as Mrs. Hamilton and the hospital sur
geon had, but was adverse to giving the
case much prominence, as he said the
people were very sensitive and highly
respectable, and would be properly
cared for now that their predicament
was known. He said he had obtained
employment for 0'Neil, but could not
recall just where the employment was
nor what was its nature. Altogether
the case is Of the most peculiar kind,
and Herald reporter, upon question
ing Mrs. Hamilton, failed to obtain any
further details. No official inyestiga-
ton has been made.