Evening star., 1897-01-25
THE POOR SUFFERING
Worst Day of the Season in This
City.
Many Npplicat ions for ReItef-S~me
sad CaSes-lseiief Commit
tee to Meet.


fering among the poor people and the calls
Upon the police aGd superintendent of char
tiles have largely increased during the past
fcrty-eight hours. At the police stations
there a great many heartrending
scenes this morning. Poorly clad women
and children suffering from cold and hun
ger mate pitiful appeals for aid. Many OF
them had come from houses iii which there
was food or fuel and in which there had
been nor.e for at least twenty-four hours.
The sizes of the families represented varied
from two to dozen, and in number of
cases sickness was present in the families,
Only tC increase both the physical and
mental sufferings of the unfortunate ones.
At police headquarters there were also
many applicants today and most of them
were women. Some of the females brought
their children with them. One mother said
she had brought Ter children. because she
knew they could warm while waiting in
the office and she had fire at home.
The MOI ming mail also brought to Chief
Clerk Sylvester a number of appeals Some
of them had been assisted before. and
while Offering excuses for asking again,
they all came down to the question-pov-
erty and suffering
Although scores of the suffering ones
called the police, none of them were
assisted, for tie reason that the fund for
this purpose was exhausted long ago, so
that all the applicants were referred to
the officials of the Associated Charities.
The police lieutenantS reported an in
crease ir the number of applicants, but
Maj. Moore could take no steps looking to-
ward their rel:-f. because there is no fund
for the puTe Jose.
In the county. as well as in the city,
there many families who in dis
tree-. Fortunately for most of those in
me county. they can manage to get fire
wood enough to keep them warm. and food
n or IA
fourth precinct station, in South Wash
Ington. the applicants were more numer-
Gus than ever, and Lieut.. Vernon, speak
ing of the matter this morning. said to a
Star reporter: The situation is terrible
Particular Cases.
Most Of the applicants, he said. are white.
The colored people. he says. suffer most
when there is snow on the ground. During
&c Cd weather, he says, the poorer of them
manage to get cnders enough for fuel
and they manage to get food enough. He
finds that the colored people help each
other to considerable extent.
There is one in South Washing Ston,
he says, where woman and five children
nave actually suffered for want of the
necessaries of life. The husband and
father, who had been in the hospital was
sent home few days ago. and his condi-
tion is critical. An effort will be made to
have the sick man returned to the hospital.
Another case mentioned by Lieut.. Vernon
is that of widow with five children. who
is not only without food fuel, but who
has been served with notice to leave her
apartments because she has been unable to
pay her rent.
Col. Tracy superintendent of charities,
is experiencing the same trouble. He has
been called upon by scores of poor people
today. but he could only refer them to the
Associated Charities Heretofore, he says.
there has always been an emergency fund
available. but now there is not a cent al
his disposal The money appropriated by
Congress has been expended. and he is
powerlesS. so far as rendering assistance
is concerned.
Associated Charities.
The Associated Charities has received to-
day by far the largest number of appica-
| tons for help from poor people out of fool
| and fuel that has been received any day
| this winter. In all cases where there was
| sickness fuel has been issued. and in as
many other cases as possible.
The central relief committee will meet
Wednesday at 4:1a pm. to consider the
| situation. Unless aid comes i'll promptly
| il is likely the committee will decide to
undertake a general canvass of the city for
help.
| COntributions Received.
| The Star has received the following con-
! tributions for the central relief committee:
/ Heretofore acknowledged. ..............S S4yi. y
w j. ii --.-.-........--.....-.. o1
! Jno. B. Wight Observation-Disclosures. Lon
| CO sh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ......... 2.U
! A. NJ. Observation-Disclosures. so