Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-24
RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERING
The Cold Snap Causes Dema1ds Upon the
Charitable.
Agents Kept Busy Dispensing SUP
plies-Work of tha'Paiice and
Associated Charities.

The change in the weather Yesterday had
the effect of largely increasing the number
of applications made to the police for as
sistance, and some of the stations were
oVerrun. Fuel was in great demand last
night, although there were also many call
ers who wanted food. This morning
brought an additional number of applicants
and many of them called on Chief Clerk
Sylvester, at headquarters, with stories of
distress. large majority Of these callers
were women and some of them had chill
dren with them. Many of them were there
for the first time to ask for aid
The lieutenants were yesterday allowed
$40 each to pay for provisions and fuel for
the poor, or $12O in all. Today a similar
allowance was made. While this amount
is not sufficient to meet all requirements,
great amount of suffering was prevented
through that medium today, as we'll as yes
terday
Even before breakfast time this morning
children and women were at some of the
police stations looking for fuel or anything
else that might relieve want. Some of them
had suffered all night from the effects of
the cold, not having had sufficient bedding
and the small orders given by the officers
for temporary relief were gratefully re-
ceived
Cold Drives Them In.
All the tramps and people without homes
were driven last night to the Municipal
Lodging House, Central Union Mission and
other charitable institutions. Sixty men
were accommodated at the lodging house,
while the mission lodged a large numhnr
of transients. Five dodgers were accommo-
dated in the South Washington police sta
ton. While the number who were assisted
in this way was large. there were not so
many as during some of the cold weather
last winter
Matters Well in Hand.
The agents of the Associated Charities
have been kept busy all day relieving the
suffering among the deserving poor of the
city caused by the sudden cold snap but
they report they have matters well in
hand 1t was a pleasant surprise to the
officers of the Associated Charities to re-
ceive. from the children of the public
schools a bountiful supply of good things
to be distributed. All Of yesterday and to-
day packages of edibes have been coming
in from the little ones and the pleasant
part about 1t is that the donations are
voluntary. no appeal having been made
therefor. There are hundreds Of packages
of oat meal, canned goods, sugar, -four, tea
coffee, potatoes. There Is clothing also
and some little fuel
The secretary stated to reporter for
The Star today that his greatest demands
had been for fuel yesterday and today, and
these had in a large measure been met.
The children of the public schools also sent
in a lot of toys and books, which have been
distributed to agents who are providing
Christmas trees. All the edibleS will be
distributed from the headquarters ON &
street The agents locate the deserving
ones. and they are given orders which are
filled from the supply on hand.
Donate Christmaa Dlnners
We have had" said the secretary, "a
larger number Of requests from persons
who wish 20 furnish Christmas dinners,
than ever before, and the lists have been
made up and sent out. a great many peo-
pie like to give in this way. They get us to
furnish the names of those In need. and
then they provide ii big. Christmas dinner
for them.
Contributions of all kinds are always
gratefully received by this organization,
winch guarantees to see that they are
placed where they will do the most good.
Just at this time fuel is badly needed
II IS expected that the Christmas supplies
now on hand will be distributed by tonight.
II not, certainly tomorrow morning