Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-30
LEFT TO THE WORLD.
Pitiful Plight of a Little Buffalo Maid
of 10 Summers.
STORY OF TILLIE HAMMERS LIFE.
Her Mother Dies in o Strange City, Leaving
Her Penniless.
SHE RUNS AWAY FROM MERCY CONVENT

Under the care of the police matron at
the Twenty-eighth ward police station is a
little girl who has, if her story be true, re-
ceived more stones than pillows from the
world. Her name is Tillie Hammer and
her home is, or rather was, in Buffalo,
N. Y. AT present she is homeless, friend
less and penniless. She was picked up on
the southside by Officer Wright. She had
been wandering aimlessly about the streets.
She said she had searched in vain for work,
every door was closed against her. When
she had been comfortably fixed up.at the
police station she told her story.
She was only Is years ofage. Until three
weeks ago she had lived in Buffalo. Part
of that time has been spent at the home OF
Mrs. Mary Brown, in East Liberty.
The Girls Story, as She Tells 1t.
Her father died at his home at 80 Bendley
alley, Buffalo, two years ago, leaving her
mother with four children, including. her
self. The other three are boys and now
live with relative at Alden, N. Y.
Her mother brought her to Pittsburg three
weeks ago, presumably to visit relatives,
but on the way Mrs. Hammer took sud
denly i'll. When Union station was reached
she was in such a condition that
she had to be removed IN
carriage to Mrs. Browns home. Two
days after her arrival she died. What little
money the woman had was eaten up, and
the girl was left without scarcely cent.
Word was, of course, sent to her relatives
in Buffalo. They sent her some money, but
it was barely enough to cover the funeral
expenses. An aunt also sent her a small re-
mittance, but after paying all her debts she
did not have enough left to take her back to
Buffalo.
She lived with Mrs. Brown for almost
three weeks, but as that lady was not able
to support her she was taken to the Mercy
Convent on Webster Street and placed in
charge of the sisters Thursday morning.
Yesterday she was given a partly finished
garment to complete. By mistake she
pulled out some of the basting threads.
One of the sisters reprimanded her
severely for her carelessness. The
girl became angry, and said she would
rather work as a domestic than stay there.
The sister only told her she was old enough
to do that kind Of work and ought to be
doing it.
Watched Her Chance and Ran Away.
The sewing was then taken away, and
she was sent out in the yard to gather some
wood. While there she watched her oppor-
tunity, ran away and started out to hunt
work. While doing this she says she wan
dered over to the Southside.
Miss Hammer is only an ordinary looking
girl, and cannot read or write English,
although she has some knowledge of Ger.
| man. Her mother once told her she had g
brother living in Pittsburg, and Miss Ham
mer thinks if she could only find him she
would get at least a temporary home.
Although the girl apparently told hel
story straight little doubt is thrown on il
from the fact that a. girl answering the sam'
description, and almost the same name, wa
arrested in Allegheny by Detective Steel'
for running away from her home in Buffalo
The girl had seemed penitent and promised
to return without her mother coming fol
her. She was started for home, but it is no
known whether she reached there. Detect
i've Steele will go to the Southside to-day tt
see if she is the same girl. The police will
however, try to find her relatives.