The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-23
First WARD.

Some Very Distressing Cases brought to
Light-where Extrnmo Want Stalks.
"I hope that the Good Man above will
doubly reward every man in this work
who is trying to do good to his fellow
man."
This expression was mado by an old
man who had not been able to work for
two years, and who has been suffering
from kidney disease, and the only sup
port OF the family OF four was the wife,
who made a little now and then by
working out by the day and doing odd
Jobs for the neighbors. His little girl
was without shoes. and the larder was
virtually bare of food. This man said
he came to Wheeling shortly alter the
Grant house fire and worked steadily
until two years ago. The habitation
was very modest, but what there was to
keep clean, the bed, the floor and the
few cooking utensils, showed that the
household had seen better times,
This was only one case, and, perhaps,
the mildest that officers Ritz, Desmond
aud Snyder and the INTELLIGENCER re-
porter struck in their rounds in the
Eastward yesterday afternoon. Through
some misunderstanding mono of the
committee OF citizens met the officers at
the city building, and it devolved upon
the officers themselves to do the arduous
wori;an well was it accomplished.
FAMILIES IN WANT.
The three officers above named ex-
erted themselves solely to find out the
most needy. and at the same time the
most worthy. In the brief space of
time devoted to the <, over twenty
families were discove TO be entirely
worthy OF immediate help. There
should be no red tape about the cases
reported by these officers. The need is
pressing and imperative. All of the
men, heads of families, are worthy OF
of the largest charity that can be be-
slowed upon them; they are willing to
work, but, alasl no work can they find.
In every case they were found to be
sober, industrious citizens, whose mis-
fortune was not OF their own making.
They once enjoyed the benefits of good
times, and their tables we're then spread
with plenty, and the pantry aud the
coal house were always filed. These
men, and their wives, too, had pride, but
in the face of actual want grim despair
has broken down all barriers, and in
every instance the parties called upon
yesterday were grateful for the help
they saw in sight.
PICTURES oF.DEsPArE.
It is not necessary in public prints to
publish the names and locationso OF those
found to be in want. They have been
recorded by the police and they will be
known only to the general and ward
committees.
In one place sat man who has lived
twenty-four years in the county, the
most Of that time in the city, having
worked seven years at the Top mill blast
furnace. When employed he made
81 45 u day, and on that amount he sup
ported family Of five. He hasn't had
stroke of work for five weeks. His
wife was out, having obtained days
house cleaning "God knows" said
this man, as he sat in squalid room
by fireless stove, 81 would have gone
myself if could have done the work. :"
This man had great deal OF sickness
in the family. and knowledged that
the only coal he got in the past four
weeks was what he picked up on the
railroad track.
What did he want? Anything that he
could get, and it would be extremely
welcome. There was not thing TO eat
in this house, and the man, splendid
specimen of physical manhood. sat in
the middle OF the room, picture OF de-
spair that could not be reproduced on
canvass. And as the officer and the ro-
porter departed the skeleton OF u cat
rubbed against both rs il knowing what
had taken place. This same story may
be repeated throughout the entire list
otfamilies visited.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
On Coal street tho investigators came
across family of twelve, all depending
on one man. 1t has been five weeks
since he has done stroke OF work. The
bare necessities Of life were wanting.
The husband and father was willing and
anxious to work to feed the hungry
children that clustered around his knee,
but there was nothing for him to do.
While this man was being interviewed
as to his wants, the voice OF girl next
door was heard singing a cheerful song.
And thus it was all through the ward
contentment was the neighbor OF want.
But it must be said that those who have
aid the needy who have not.
These instances might be Get forth at
length, but It is not necessary in the
limited scope OF this article TO make the
situation more impressive than the mere
citation Of those mentioned. There arc
other cases, tho degree OF whose want is
not less distressing. What is wanted in
-. .u-L 1. .unsE L. Akn nkIn L.ls.l