Evening star., 1895-11-08
H. DUNN DEAD
Superintendent of the Municipal Lodging
House Passes Away.
A Victim of Brisht's Disease-His Good
Work for the Unfortunate Tramps
and the City.

Mr.. William H. Dunn, the superintendent
of the Municipal Lodging House, died this
morning at Garfield Hospital. He had been
suffering considerably for some time past,
but kept at his work faithfully until Sunday
evening, when he was compelled to give up
Tuesday morning he was removed to the
hospital, but it was too late and he sank
rapidly until the end came. He had been a
sufferer from Brights disease, and this was
the primary cause of death. He was great
user of tobacco, but recently he took a
"cure" for the habit and, in the opinion Of
the physicians this aggravated his trouble
Served in the War.
Mr.. Dunn was in the neighborhood of
fifty-fiva years of age; possibly little more
He was from Michigan, and served with dis
tinction during the late war in the volunteer
forces from his state. He was an active
member of the G. A. r. He came to Wash
ington seven or eight years ago, with the
political backing of the Michigan delegation
and of the legislature OF the state. expecting
some desirable appointment. but, like many
another, he did not get all he had hoped for
and ended UP with position on the Capitol
force. He was a faithful official, however
and three or four years ago he was ap-
pointed superintendent of the lodging house
next door to the first precinct station house
on 18th street. He filled that position with
large measure of success. and brought the
establishment up to point of usefulness it
had not known before.
Work at the Lodging House.
In the death of Mr.. Dunn the hobos and
weary wanderers of the land lose at once
friend and an enemy. He had a large
acquaintance with the idle and worthless
class, well as with the deserving poor,
and he had an unusual knack of separating
the sheep from the goats. He was strict
disciplinarian in the home, and men who
were unwilling to saw enough wood to pay
for a nights lodging were accustomed to
give the place a cold shoulder. He had
stringent code Of rules for its manage
them. During the cold weather the house
Usually accommodates about seventy-five
dodgers, but just now the average number
Is about fifty a night. The most of these
are on their way south 20 see the Atlanta
exposition and to spend their winter in the
sunny south. To unfortunates who were
honestly trying to get work Mr.. Dunn was
a genuine friend, and there are many men
today who can say that they got fresh
starts in life through his efforts. But by
men who would rather face the plague
than honest labor he was Eever looked
upon as an "easy mark" and, as rule,
they gave him the go-by. In the opinion
of the police force, who were cognizant Of
his work, the home accomplished as much
good with as small an expenditure of
money as any institution of the sort in
the country. He was a firm believer in the
virtues of cleanliness and manly labor, and
he carried his creed into effect at all times;
yet he was never without kindness and
sympathy for the men who are "on the
road" either from choice or necessity. The
place left vacant by his death will not be
easily filled.