The Portland daily press., 1896-03-24
AT HOTEL WHITE.
How the Homeless are Cared for In
New York.

A Nights Rest and Breakfast for Three
Hours work-How Weary Willie
Takes His Bath.
The New York authorities are trying
an experiment in dealing with the hun
dreds of homeless and penniless men
found every night in the metropolis. If
the experiment is a success. it may lead
to the establishment of municipal lod &
ing houses on an extensive scale. Now
it Is being conducted in an old steamer
moored to wharf. The New York Times
in recent number thus described the
opening Of Hotel White, as Sit is called
The Hotel White" opened it's doors to
the public last night. and by 9 O'Clock
man was asleep in every one of its 100
beds. 1t would be more correct to say
that the hotel opened its portfolios, for
the ''Hotel White'' is the old excursion
steamer which Commissioners of Charities
John P. Faure has transformed into
clean, cozy, and comfortable lodging
house for homeless men.
Any man who had Is cents in his pos
men were admitted. To regular tramps
was refused admittance.
Doors were opened at 7.3O P M. and
the bolts were drawn at midnight, but
long before that hour there was a chorus
OF snoring such as never before echoed
between the old steamers decks.
The high tide rocked the vessel gently,
Int ho
tired, homeless men, whose expressions
of gratitude and pleasure were as genu-
inc as they were pathetic.
Commissi oner Faure went up stairs
about O'Clock, with reporter for The
New York Times, where City men were
snugly tucked in warm beds They had
enjoyed warm baths, their clothing was
being disinfeoted, and there was prospect
OF good, substantial breakfast in the
morning.
'sWell, boys, how do you feel?" asked
Mr.. Faure From every bed came a re-
sponse:
ooh. it's great, that's what it isp'
Cpd work half day for this"
Only three. hours work is required of
each man.
''These nightshirts do feel that good"
said another, "and the beds is SO soft and
NICE"
One old soldier. who had lost leg and
uses orutch, seemed to enjoy his warm
shower bath more than the rest.
"Good isn't it,'' said, Commissioner
Faure.
ooh! 1 have bath once a week, Sir,''
was the proud reply "Still, this is very
nice.'
The first man to apply at the desk in
the stern of the vessel for a nights lodg
ing was a espeotable-looking fellow,
whose bronzed face and hands showed
evidences of work. The official in uni
form behind the desk took his pen, and
asked the questions:
''Your manner"
"John Morris"
"Where were you borng'
"England.
Chow long in this country?,
"Three months -
"Age?'o
Twenty seven"
"Em ployment?''
painter"
Morris received key attached to a
neat white cord. He was searched. No
weapons were found on him and no
money. He was examined by the doctor
and found to have no contagious disease,
and he then made his way below deck
where he took off his clothes and enjoyed
q warm bath and a shower, with lots OF
soap. Meanwhile his hat and shoes were
subjected to heat of 1870 degrees and
other clothing to 24O degrees for disin-
fection. After his bath, a big, rough
towel, pair Of warm slippers, and a
wooden nightshirt were given to him. He
then went up to the upper deck by an
other staircase and got into the bed
which bore the same number as his key.
Many of the men were puzzled by the
nightshirts. Some had never seen such
garments. One put his on upside down
and then, when he was informed of his
error took it off and put it on again
wrong side front
"What does it ma5ter?'' he said. 81
ever way it is.
Another nearly lost his bed because 25
cents was found in his pockets. He proved
that it had been given to him a few
moments before by reporter to test the
thoroughness of the searching, and he
was allowed TO go TO his bath and bed.
Others tried to smuggle their pipes and
tobacco up stairs in their shoes and night
shirts, but none succeeded. Razors,
knives, and dangerous articles were all
taken away. In the middle CT the pro-
ceedngs the high tide raised the old YES
sci so thet the electric light wires were
torn from their plugs, and the boat was
plunged in Egyptian darkness. Superin-
tendent Ackerly, who is something of an
electrician, soon had everything right
again.
Not fifty feet away from this scene of
comfort and cleanliness, tramps and re-
peaters lay huddled together in the foul
atmosphere of the mems waiting rooms
on the pier head. Every night these
rooms are. crowded. Tho men sleep in
their clothes. Some of them stand all
night.
Tiff dfr,fn6S