Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-02
STARVING AMID SQUAL0R
DID EAGPICKGR NAN FOUND
IN AN UNCANNY DEN.

Supposed to be a VoudoO, her y etghbors
Refuse to Go Near Her and Leave HI
to Wretched Death-i4er Carrot a
Place That Needs Disinfecting With
out Delay,
Policeman Deiguan discovered and re-
ported at the barracks Yesterday alter
noon what was undoubtedly the worst
case OF Indebtedness and squalor in the
city. The officer was passing through a
group Of negroes who were attracted 10
the fire at the cotton factory when ne
heard some one remark that something
ought to be done for the ole woman
The policeman made some Inquiries and
was told that odd rag-pcker Nau" was
living in miserable den on
West Boundary, at the foot OF
Little Jones street. The oflcer
started to investigate. In row OF small
frame houses OF the poorest Kind, one WAS
pointed out to him which was more dl-
lapidated than the others. There was
only one room on the first floor. 4 ilight
of rickety steps led up TO a little low auto
Every inch OF tue steps and boor was
covered tnickly with dust, and the room
down stairs was dingy and unlnytlnR.
There was nothing there and he started
up the stairs. A dozen BACK faces peep
ing in at the door and cautioned him to be
careful. The stairs Creaked al every step
and threatened to tumble down. The
door at the top of the flight was tightly
shut. In response to mis- sharp rap, came
the inquiry: Nv nos darW
Those at the front door urged the po-
liceman not 10 20 IN, telling him That Nan
would coujure him. He did not heed
their superstitious warnings, however,
ana as the door was not opened he forced
1t open. Within was what ne afterwards
declared was the most squalid and SICK
ening spectacle he had ever seen. An
old negress, OF large frame, but gaunt and
haggard, was sitting bolt upright
on the tilthiest OF cots. Her long
Indian.liks HAIR was unkempt, and
with the sunken eyes and almost
naked black body gave her more the APP
pearance OF some wild creature than
human being. All around and about the
room were evidences of her former occu-
patton. Rags covered everything. The
floor was thickly strewn with dirty, foul
rags, gathered from lanes, garbage bar
rels and boxes, ana no doubt from even
flthier places. They were piled up
against the door so that 1t
could hardly be pushed open.
The walls were lined with rags. and rags
hung from every shinge aud rafter in the
room. They fairly reeked with siencn,
and Vermin crawIed about every where.
Ola bottles and empty cans aud Jars were
piled up around the cot and in the corners
OF the room. IL was truly a wretched,
miserable. uuCanny den. tit for nothing
but Vermin to exist in. The Old woman
had been lying there helpless for three
weeks. The negroes in the neighb0rhood
said that they we're afraid to
go into the room to assist
her, as she has the reputation
of being IA cOniurer and able to put q
spell upon any one who may chance to
incur her dlspleasure. She is said to have
a grandson, VINO occasionally took her
some bacon and a few things to eat.
"Od Nan" was for years familiar
character on the streets, begging rags
where she could get them, and pOking
into every nook and corner to find tnem.
She will probably be removed to tue GeOr-
gia Inhrmary to-day. The place is IN a
very unsauitary condition and calls for
the immediate attention OF the health
authorities.