The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-02

A report that the family Of Abram
HOWE, living on the East mountain,
back of Marshwood, had eaten horses
head as food was investigated yester-
day by Mrs. w. B. Duggan, agent for
the Associated Board of Charities, and
resulted in the discovery of great pow
erty and degradation. a Tribune re-
porter accompanied Mrs. Duggan to the
scene. Three and one-half miles from
Marshwood, the house where the fam
lily live, was found.
AS the visitors approached two small
faces protruded from n single window
in the house, which Is made of rough
logs and about 10x12 in size. The
building stands alone on high stony
ground and is about three miles from
any other house.
Inside the scene was repulsive. Be
sides the two children who sat upon
a dusty table and looked out of the
window there were other youngsters,
the eldest q boy, II years of age.
STRANGERS TO WATER.
All looked as If their bodies had
touched no water in many, many days.
The dirt seemed q part of the flesh. A
popularity was noticed in the closely
cropped hair of each. When question
ed one of thu children stated that the
father cut their hair with n shears.
They were dressed in ragged, unclean
clothing. A five-year-old boy wore
nothing except his sisters cloth sack.
There was but one room with an
attic and in the room was a rusty old
stove without any fire, and in all the
furniture amounted 10 two broken
chairs and the table. In far corner
was a heap of rags.
What are th-se used for?" asked
Mrs. Duggan.
"Oh, that's our bed" explained one
Of the children, a girl years old. PA
is going to bring home some straw to-
night" she added.
What does your father do?"
He sells things in a wagon"
HAS he q hOrsa?'
"No, he has a mule though"
II was learned that their mother has
been dead two years. and that the
father, Abram Howie, goes away to
Marshwood to peddle produce, leaving
the children from early morning until
night in the house ID take care of
themselves.
what do you have to eat?' asked
Mrs. Duggan.
"Oh, pa brings us home some things
people gives him. We had loaf of
Tread last night" said the girl
"Is it true that YOU ate u horses
head the other dar ?" asked the char
ity agent.
ooh, no, it was a cows head"
WAS A CALLS HEAD
The girl said this as If a very Sc.
rious mistake had been made. She
explained how things are cooked-by
a wood fire in the old stove. A lamr
without a chimney was burning or
the table. Mrs. Duggan, in looking
about noticed this, and asked what II
meant. The girl exclaimed that they
| had to keep the lamp burning so thai
| they could light the fire.
All the water they use is carried by
| the 11-year-old- from a spring or
| the mountain, over a mile away. The
| children, despite the dirt which cluns
| to their flesh, were fat and healthy
looking. They had never been t
school.
A visit was made to the attic. Here
the floor was covered with clothes OF
| which some of the children sleep. Ia,
stencil was terrible.
Mrs. Duggan last night, by virtue o
| her authority as a state snecial of
ficer, appeared before the Olyphan
poor board and laid the case befor
them. Action will probably be takei
to have the surroundings of the chill
dren improved.