The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-02
LOOKS LIKE PERSECUTION
Phase of the Pittsburg Social-Evil Cru
sade That Was Evidently Not Studied.
Mayor Gourley Besieged by $50 Women Who
Had Been Driven from Houses Into the.
Streets Like Dogs-Many Penniless.

PITTsBURG, Dec. 1.-Never before in the
history of Pittsburg was such q scene wit
messed as was enacted in City Hall this
afternoon. At least $50 inmates of disorder
ly houses, who have been ordered to
leave the city by tomorrow afternoon,
gathered in the Mayors Office. They were
of all grades and conditions of their class
of society. As early as 1880 o'clock the
women commenced passing into the City
Hail.. The scace was a most unusual one.
and q large crowd was attracted. The
women insisted upon seeing Mayor Gour-
ley. and when he made his appearance
they wanted to know what they were to do.
Mayor Gourley then made speech to them.
He said:
II am very sorry for you women. / SYM
pa:hlze with you from the bottom of my
heart. did not close you up for thirty
did not think it would help this evil.
When the ministers of the city. wives,
mothers, sisters and brothers came to me to
insist On the law being enforced had to
issue the order. / took all the response
billty. and do not know what you can do.
have nothing to offer you. / think that
Mr.. Browns order was too hastv. do not
believe In hurrylng you out into the streets
like dogs. Some consideration should be
time.a ~ Wv ''As
Miss Cora Hastings then step ped up, and
said: Some of these women. in fact a
greater number of them, live away from
here. They have no money and no friends
and what are they to dot"
"ThatI do not know" said the Mayor,
"but will try and see what the ministers
will do and let you know by tomorrow
afternoon" The Mayor was very vigorous
IN his language. and told them that they
would have to see Chief Brown about ex-
tending the order. The women then went
to Chief Browns Office. but the Chief was
out and they departed. They went down
Smithfield street TO Fifth avenueiu q body,
attracting great deal of attention.
The ministers of the city propose TO at
once take caro- of the women who have
been ordered out of these houses. Although
no special meetings have been called yet at
the headquarters OF the United Presby teri
an. the Methodist Episcopal, the Bap-
tist ana other ministerial associations il
was learned that the care of the fallen
would be the sole subject for discussion on
Monday, and active measures would be
taken to provide homes for those who
would lead moral lives. In this connec-
tion an employment agency will be es tab
lished,. if the Methodist Association can
prevail.
Hundreds of the women left today for
other cities many going to Wheeling, Gin
cinnati. Cleveland. Columbus and Chicago
Several said they did not know what they
would do when they reached their destina-
tion. Very few of them had more than
enough money to purchase their tickets
and they feared If they were refused ad-
mission to houses in other cities that they
would be dependent on charitable institu-
tions Tor support Three or four stated
that they had homes in other Cities and
proposed to 60 back and REFORM and see il
their parents could not do something for
them.
This evening n delegation of twelve or
fifteen colored NJ embers of the demi- monde
called at the residence OF Rev. Dr. McCrory,
of the Third United Presby terian Church,
and asked for protettion. DR.. McCrory has
been leader in the movement against the
social evil. and was also prominently
identified with the Sunday closing crusade.
he told them he could do nothing for them
W bile he was talking q large crowd gath
cred about the house and INDUCED in
cat-calls. The reverend gen ntleman made a
speech, in which he aaid that the women
could not expect protection in that way.
The deml-monde then sang Nearer. my
God. to Thee" but the changing of the
gong of an approaching patrol wagon sud-
denly stopped the singing and caused the
crowd TO quickly dlsperse. number of
Catholic institutions and the Protestant
Bethesda Home for Fallen Women were
thrown open to the ontcasts to-day, but
there were no applicants for shelter.