Evening star., 1894-02-26
THE POOR SUFFERING
This is Bad Weather for the Sick and
Hungry.
Chsrity orsani.ations Busy Relieving
want and Suffering The Snow a
Mixed Blessing-Polfce Aiding.

According to reports made at the offices
OF the central relief committee and the po-
lice stations. no decrease is shown in the
numbers of persons who are dependent
upon public charity to keep body and soul
together. The applicants are even more
numerous than ever, although the supply
is getting short. At the headquarters of
the central relief committee this morning
there was a limited supply of both clothing
and food. 1t was stated that the wagons
OF Messrs Woodward and Lothrop would
go out during the afternoon and tomorrow
morning and gather UP donations. as the
canvassers in some of the districts, It was
stated, had not finished their work The
hour received by the committee is put. up
In tweive-pound sacks now, and given out
In this way, SO that the distribution will
go TO make many families happy instead Of
few, which would be the result of giving
out the unbroken packages received. Sat
urday the crowd of applicants was mucn
larger than usual, and at times it was al
most impossible to reach the door leading
to the headquarters of the COMMITTEES. Ii
was thought that this room would be clos
ed before now, but the numerous applicants
ana the generosity of the citizens will not
permit the committee to close its business
there. The police and the Associated Chari-
ties are still engaged In the work of dis
tributing most Of the donations, most of the
applicants going to the police station This
Is, perhaps, for the reason that the stations
are scattered about all sections of the city,
and also for the reason that most of the
applicants are known to the police. and as
sistance is given without delay in worthy
cases.
Yesterday morning the police received
many applications for assistance the re-
suit of the continued cold spell. and this
morning the applicants were more numer-
Gus than ever. Many of those who depend
on the dumps for fuel were in need of wood
and coal because the ash heaps were COW
cred with snow, and some of them also
wanted food. Shoes were also in great de-
mand, as they are during every spell of
wet weather. Owing to the amount of
funds given to the police some economy
has been practiced, and while the police
could expend about $1,000 weekly 10 good
advantage they have had to content them
selves with much less, expending from 500
to 81 600 each week.
A Mixed Blessing.
While the heavy fall of snow last even-
ing caused much alarm among the poorer
classes it afforded work to many men, for
even last night before the snow ceased
falling scores of men were at work on the
railroad tracks and sidewalks earning some
thing for their families, while many more
were able to obtain similar work this morn
ing.
Yesterday morning there was a free
breakfast given the poor by the Central
Union Mission. and 81 persons responded
And they enjoyed the hot meal said
the cook this morning, for all the plates
came back empty" Many of the guests
were strangers in the city and they Were
all invited to services as soon as they fin.
ished breakfast. Mr.. Muncaster had charge
or the meeting in the chapel and four OF
the men led. in prayer. one of them praying
that they would continue to fare as well as
they had during their stay at the mission
Nearly two hundred Of the men ATTENDED
services at Wesley Chapel in a body
Other Stopping Places.
While men are saving wood at the mis-.
sion for their meals and lodgings The
municipal lodging house is not beins
slighted. Three nights is the time allowed
guests at each of these institutions. and
very few Of the guests leave until .Eey
have worn out their welcome at both
places. The class Of men known as "bum
tramps," who do all the begging, have
made themselves scarce along the business
streets since the police commenced to
| arrest them. SO that now they either &c
| right through the city or content taem.
selves with stop at some authorized
lodging place other than the police sta.
tions.
There has been a great amount Of sick.
ness among the poor this winter. and in
addition to the hundreds Of visits llade
by the physicians to the poor. most OF the
poor wards in the hospitals have been
kept nearly filled. During the past few
| days Sanitary Officer Frank has sent to
the different hospitals an average of About
eight persons each day.
Donations of all kinds are still wanted
by the relief committee, and they may be
sent to the headquarters OF the committee
| in the Central Union Mission building OF
to the police or Associated Charities.