The morning call., 1893-10-09
THE FOUNDLINGS.
An Asylum in Which So
Many Died.
THE SUPERINTENDENT's SAY
There Was Talk of Shutting In the
Institution Last June-Why 1t
Was Not Closed.

The investigation concerning the cause
OF the death of founding 2437, which died
on Monday last at the asylum that has
for years been at 913 Golden Gate avenue,
has developed a state of affairs which
while new to the public is none the less re-
voting to the sense of right and even hui
mainly
The investigation is to be resumed to-
day, when additional testimony will be
offered.
Dr. Cheney, who was the superintendent
OF the asylum, in speaking Of the institu-
ton yesterday said:
L went into the asylum on the 18th of
April last, and / soon found that il was an
impossibility to do tile work which the
institution professed to do with the conve-
nIences. or rather the Inconvenience,
which we had. The place was old and it
Was small. The asylum had been located
in the same building for fourteen years,
and the house was not new when they went
into it.
lin that length of time the germs Of dis.
ease had so permeated the very framework
of the house that nothing but burning it
down would have sufficed to purify it. We
used all the soap and water that there was
any need of using, but you can't wash out
germs that are fairly ground into floors and
walls.
"And so l advised the board in June to
close up the institution if it was not pos
sible to get place that was better situated
for the needs OF our work. OF course
finances had something to do with it, As
members of the board say. but that was
not the only reason that | advised as did,
for felt that it was not right for US to
continue when matters stood as they did,
and it was this that led me TO take such a
step;
they said, III we do not take care OF the
foundlings what will become of them
There is no one else to do the work we are
trying to do And so they persuaded me
to go on with it. though l was not satisfied
and frequently thought of resigning my
position.
Il finally went to DR.. Mckenzie about
il. and after discussing the matter with
him decided to go on with ii on the princi-
pie that we might be doing little good
and ought not to desert the cause. We had
been able to provide good homes for few
babies, probably from fifteen to twenty. dur
ing the time have been there, they having
been adopted by people whom | knew would
do we'll by them; and ii we could do even
this much it was something, and it was
worth the effort.
But there was another thing that we
aud that was the maternity home, which
we maintained in connection vii h the asy-
lum. Indeed. 1t was as a lylDg-ln hospital
that the institution as originally started
and the founding department was late
addition.
"But we saved many a girl who might
otherwise have fallen into the hands or
DR.. West and his lk. And we were able
to shield them and finally TO send them
back into society and into the path OF
virtue. when they might. but for US. have
been driven into life of shame.
And it was this thought. that we might
still do some good, that Kept me in tho
work at all. But the board knew tb]t
things were not as they should be. So
many of the children died that it seemed
almost as if they had no chance for their
lives from the time they were brought into
the institution.
'But all of this was known to the board.
1t has been talked oil again and again, but
they thought best TO continue. probably in
the hope that we might be BILE to better
ourselves, and build home that would be
suitable to our needs.
$50 far as this present state of affairs is
concerned, l am very certain there was no
effort to keep it from the mem bers of the
board. and the records are supposed to
he examined by them, when they visited
the asylum. If they were not informed,
it was certainly not the fault of the people
who are directly connected with tho
management OF the home"
In Speaking of the matter. Mr.. Linforth
said: 1.-The death rate in these irstitu-
tions is always very high. The children
that are brought 10 such places are scarcely
ever in good condition, and 1t is very hard
TO save them.
Personally. I was opposed to closing
our asylum, and voted against 1t, for there
is place in the city that will take up the
work. We were doing the very best We
could, and | think it was mistake for us
TO abandon the undertaking, but 1t is not
probable that we will try to resume, until
we are able to build home for ourselves"