The evening times., 1896-06-12

1T does not seem possible that u winsofEe
aud intelligent girl, fifteen years of age,
could remain FOR months cooped up in a
Ioul-sIneliing, dark and noisOme basement
on that busy thoroughfare, F street, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets northwest.
until the roses faded from her pretty face
and sickness, caused by her foul surround
ings, had reduced her to an almost Tying
condition.
|. Yet this is the case which was reported
to Sir Julian Pauncefote. the British am
bassador, today by gentleman OF this city
The matter has already been reported To
Agent Parkman of the Board of ChIllren's
Guardians, ana Sanitary Officer Frank,
who gave The almost dying child a permit
TO enter Garfield Hospital.
The little girl in question is Lillian Love
lace, the deserted daughter OF George
Lovclace, native OF England, who for
merly kept shoe repairing establishment
in the basement at No. 926 street north
west. She is of English parentage. and for
that reason her condition has been brought
TO the attention of the English ambassador.
ON HOSPITAL COT.
If Lillian lives till Independence Day.
July f. she VIII be sixteen years OF age,
Paliid and emaciated. the poor child now
occupies a cot in Garfield Hospital, where
Sue is receiving the kindest attention and
best medical skill at the hands OF Drs. NJ.
Darcy Magee. Wall and Braden.
Her fathcris said to be at Newport News,
Va, Willie the girls grandmother. Mrs.
Phoebe Bent. venerable lady, seyenty-twO
years of age, is trying to manage, in lies
feeble way, the business her son in-Iaw has
forsaken. Her daughter. the mother of
Lillian, has been dead about eight years,
and the grandmother has reared the little
one as best size could under The most adverse
conditions. Recently Lovelace, the father,
married Mrs. Colford. who Conducts mas
sage. manicure, ETC., parlors at No. ! 210
F street.
An Evening Times representative today
| visited the basement, or cellar, in which
Lillian and her grandmother had been
kept, and learned the sad story of their
| sufferings. II is the rear basement, and
Is entirely underground. A few faint GIN
mers OF daylight struggle into the gloomy
place through a small window. or port hole,
near the southern ceiling, but not enough
sunlight is admitted to even call the place
dimly lighted.
As a result Mrs. Belt aud Lillian were
compelled to keep n lamp lighted through
out the daylight hours. The walls and
! floor are damp with mldew and oppres-
sive odors fill the atmosphere. 1t is re-
markable that little Lillian and aged Mrs.
Belt have lived through their experience
in that place for nearly year. They were
compelled TO use that subtcrranean apart
ment for kitchen, dining room, bed cham
ber and sitting room combined.
SHE WAS RESCUED.
Several days ago, after the father had
left the city, little Lillian was found by
Good sama ritan lying upon an unclean
| couch i'll the room She was almost al the
point OF death, and DR.. Charles X. Koones,
OF No. 604 NJ street northwest, was quickly
| sent for. After viewing tie discrdered
and darksome apartment, with its suffo-
eating odurs, and examining the sick child,
he promptly ordered that the poor girl
beremoved toa lospiial forquick treatment
Sanitary Officer Frank, at police head
quarters, furnished permit, and she was
removed at once TO Garfield Hospital
Upon being received at the hospital Dr.
| NJ Darcy Magee made the following sig
| HillCdbl ebtES upon tHt TeRlstTy DOok-
Patient entered hospital with tempera-
| turc 1O3 degrees. and altogether in very
critical condition"
Lillian Lovclace in health is a pretty
picture of innocent girlhood She had 4
| round doll-baby face, with curling dark
hair, a pretty bloom on her checks. while
in form she was petite and graceful Now
she is but wreck OF her former self.
Wasted away to skeleton, the pallor of
death on her pinched features, and her limbs
| shrunken. with her expressive blue eyes
set far back in her head and surrounded
by ominous haios.
The case is pathetic one Almost dead
from want aud neglect, in foul basement,
it will be miracle lift she recovers. Kind
friends are trying to interest some humane
ladies of this city in Lillian S behalf, so that
IL she emerges from the hospital in life,
she and her devoted grandmother may be
cared for properly.