Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-02

In the City Hall this afternoon. AT
least one hundred and fifty inmates or
disorderly houses who have been ord
cred to leave the city by tomorrow az
ternoon gathered in the Mayors office.
They were of all grades and conditions
Of their class of society. AS early as
I:SO O'Clock the women commenced OHs-
sing into the City Hall. The scene was
a most unusual one and large crowd
was soon attracted through curiosity.
The women insisted upon seeing
Mayor Gourley, and when he made his
appearance they wanted TO know what
they were to do Mayor Gourley then
made a speech to them. He said:
81 am very sorry for you women;
sympathize with you from the bottom
of my heart. did not close you up for
thirty-two months OF my term for the
reason that 1 did not think it would
help this evil. When the ministers OF
the city, wives, mothers, sisters and
brothers came to me to insist that the
law be lived up to had to issue the or
der. l take all the responsibility and l
90 not know what you can do. have
nothing to offer you. l think that Mr..
Browns order was too hasty. l do not
believe in hurrying you out in the
street like dogs. Some consideration
should be given, and ten days would not
be too long time"
Miss Cora Hastings then stepped up
and said:
"Some Of these women, and in fact a
great number Of them, live away from
here. They have no money and no
friends, and what are they to do?"
THAT 1 do not know" said the
Mayer, "but will try and see what the
ministers will do, and let you know by
tomorrow afternoon"
The Mayor was very vigorous, and
told them that they would have to see
Chief Brown about extending the order.
Two men then went to Chief Browns
office, but the Chief was out, and they
departed. They went down Smithfeld
street to Fifth avenue in body attract
ing q great deal of attention.
The ministers OF the city propose to
at once take care 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 Presbyterians, the Method
ist Episcopalians, the Baptsts, and
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
connection, an employment agency will
be established, if the Methodist ASso-
citation can prevail.
Hundreds Of the women left to-day
for other cities, many going to Wheel
ing, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus
and Chicago. Several said they did not
know what they would do when they
reached their destinations. Very few
OF them had more than enough money
TO purchase their tickets, and they
feared, IL they were refused admission
to houses in other cities, that they
would be dependent on charitable insti-
tutions for support. Three or four
stated that they had homes in other
cities and proposed to go back and re-
form and see if their parents could not
do something for them.
This evening a delegation Of twelve
or fifteen colored members Of the demi
monde gathered at the residence OF Rev
DR.. McCrory, of the Third United Pres
byterian Church, and asked for protec-
tion. 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. While he was talking large
crowd gathered about the house and in
dulged in cat-calls. The reverend gem
tleman made a speech, in which he said
that the women could not expect pro-
lection in that way. The demi-monde
then sang Nearer My God to Thee, 4"
but the changing of the gong Of an ap-
preaching patrol wagon suddenly
stopged the singing and caused the
crowd to quickly disperse.
A number Of Catholic institutions
and the Protestant Bethesda Home for
Fallen Women were thrown open to the
outcasts to-day, but there was no ap-
plication for shelter.
There was q singular appearance in
the First ward last night. All the
houses Of disrepute were closed, there
was not even light in any room of the
houses, although the police were not ap-
parently exercising any unusual vigil
ance. Yet there was feeling Of ter
ror which animated the bosom of every
inmate. The proprietesses ordered
their women to leave and in some cases
forced them out into the streets at II
o'clock last night. A number Of wit
nesses are authority for the state
ment that at the above hour
three women stood on the corner Of
Market street and First avenue crying
bitterly; they had been forced out of q
house and did not know where to go.
One had a trunk beside her, another q
satchel and the last bundle in which
her tinsel inery was hidden. They
were all penniless. The embargo on
the LIQUOR traffic had cut down their
following, but they remained hoping it
would be repealed. The last order was
so unexpected that they could not pro-
tect themselves, and were forced out
into the night. While those women
we're weeping fully so cabmen were
sTake this cab to Alleghy." Only SO
cents apiece to Alleghy," and similar
cries.
PARrIzs trying to introduce new couch