Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-31
LITTLE LIVES SAVED.
What Kind Charity Is Doing for Des-
titute Children.
PITTSBURG'S FOUNDING HOSPITAL
Is Already Started and in q Fair Way to
Become Prosperous.
IT'S NECESSITY HAS LONG BEEN FELT

| lis NECEOSII MAO UUNU DEEN ELL
Pittsburg at last has founding hospital
After several months effort on the part of
benevolent people interested in the public
welfare, such an institution has been started
and gives every promise of prospering.
The Iron City, abreast of the times in
almost everything else, has up to this time
been sadly lacking in accommodations for
its unclaimed children. Benevolent people
have frequently urged the necessity of
following the example of sister cities in
such matters, but heretofore stheir efforts
have been in vain. One week ago, as a re-
suit of the active work of several parties.
the Pittsburg Founding Hospital was
/ started
A twe-story brick house at No. 1885
Forbes street was secured for the purpose.
| Six Sisters of Charity from Greensburg vol
unteered to assume the management and
care of the institution. A small amount
of money, sufficient to make start, was Sc
cured by subscription. Mrs. Mary Bren-
nan, matron at Central police station, started
81 subscription list and soon had several
others enlisted in the work. By these
donations sufficient sum was raised to rent
the building and get things started. Those
who interested themselves in it felt that
also realized that the only way
to secure sufficient funds for the
maintenance of such an institution was to
make a start and thus demonstrate its feast
bility and usefulness. This has been done,
and those in charge now hope to obtain
more liberal support from the charitable
public. Mrs. Brennan, when asked about
the prospects of the hospital, said:
HOME FOR THE DESTITUTE
''The object of the institution is the care
of the abandoned and destitute infants of
Pittsburg All children under 2 years of
age will be taken. There are accommoda-
tions for 35 now, and more room can be
made if necessary. The hospital has been
running several days, and now has IL chill
dreu in charge. Six Sisters of Charity are
present day and night to minister to the
wants of these babies. In addition to these
a trained nurse from the Found
ings' Home at Cincinnati has been
secured, and her services in
assisting the Sisters are very valuable.
L
of children in this city cannot imagine the
condition in which nearly all of those were
who are now at the hospital. The Sis
tiers report that with one or two exceptions
all the babies were suffering and i'll from
neglect and ill-treatment when received,
and the greatest care and attention are re-
quired to make them strong and healthy.
''The Founding Hospital has great
work to perform. At present it is an en-
tirely charitable affair. 1t is supported by
no society or organization, is non-sectarian,
lence of individuals for support. A COM
Portable building has been secured, but it is
very scantily furnished and is wanting in
many things which would tend to make it
homelike and comfortable. 1t will
take money to operate such an insti-
tuition. We have several subscrip-
tion books out, but of course,
cannot reach everybody. 1 have no doubt
that many charitable people, when they
hear of it, will send us pecuniary help to
carry it along. Children will be kept at
the hospital until they are two years of age.
The sisters will then see that they are pro-
vided with proper homes"
The necessity of home for foundIings
has long been felt in Pittsburg. 1t has been
needed not only as a measure of humanity
for the scores of helpless infants not prop
erly provided for, but also to prevent the
death of many others. The crime of infan-
ticide is almost daily brought to light in
police and court proceedings.
SAD CHAPTERS OF CRIME.
Public records are full of awful chapters
in which few words tell stories of many
child murders. Nowhere does this feature
of crime reveal itself more terribly than in
the records of proceedings of the coroner's |
Office. The following, extracts from the |
coroner's books will more than suffice to |
impress on the minds of public spirited |
people the necessity of providing some anti |
dote for this species of criminality:
March, lSS7-Male child found in cesspool.
Cedar alley, Eleventh ward.
June, 1ss7-Colored male child found in |
cesspool, Second avenue, Pittsburg. Mother |
found, held tor murder and sentenced to |
Western Penttentiary.
August. lss7-Male child found in cesspool, |
Braddock.
November p, Iss7-Male child found on |
Thirty-third street, Fifteenth ward, Pitts !
burg. Parents not found.
March, lsSS-Male child found in Mononga-
neck. Mother apprehended. was a do
mestic. Was sent to the workhouse for Is
months. This was her second offense.
March, 1sS7-Male child found in cesspool,
Mother domestic. Sent to penitentiary for
one year.
July 2, 1SSS-Female child found in cess |
pool, Second street, Allegheny City. Mother
sentenced to penitentiary.
MAY Z, lSS9-Male child found in cesspool |
Windsor Hotel, Baldwin township. Mother
domestic. Sentenced Is months to the
workbouse.
September 1ss9-Female child found be-
tween bedticks, Ridge avenue, Allegheny
City. Mother domestic. Held for court.
November, lSS9-Male colored child found
in stable, East End. Mother a domestic
Not found.
Eleventh ward, Allegheny. Mother do
mestic. Sentenced one year to the peniten-
tiary. \
March G, 1s90-White male child found in
river. Throat cut from ear to ear. No per-
son apprehended.
July Il, Is90-Male child found in cesspool,
Spring alley, Twelfth ward, Pittsburg
Mother a domestic. Sentenced six months
to Jail.
THE RECORD FOR THIS YEAR
July Is, 1s9l-AIale child found in river.
No person apprehended.
June, 1s9l-Two male children found in
river. No person found
February, lS9l-Unknown male child
found in the Allegheny river No person
apprehended.
February, 1ssi-Unknown male child
found in cesspool
January, lS9l-Unknown female child
found in:the Monongahela river No person
apprehended.
This is only a portion of the records.
During Coroner McDowell's term of office
fully 25 children have been found in rivers
and cesspools concerning whose parents No