The sun., 1898-01-30
THEIR CRY IS NOT DYING
Poverty of New Castle People
Attractin, Wide Attention.
A GENERAL FUND NECESSARY
Pride OF the People Keep Them
From Appealing to the Charity
Association. Personal lnvesti-
gltio BY a Wilmington Man.

III The situation among the poor fam lilies
y of New Castle continues matter for pro-
81 found discussion here, in New Castle and
a in tact all over the State. The past two
i days has witnessed heroic efforts on the
4 part of Trustee of the Poor James b.
Toman and charitable societies to relieve
the suffering and distress ; but notwith.
standing these efforts the condition OF
the families of the idle men is still ex-
tremely serious. They may not be actu'
ally starving at this moment, but their
suffering is intense and prolonged suffer-
ing will result in starvation.
Another investigation yesterday
brought to light the fact that the suffer-
ing of large number OF families has
been appeased by donations, monetary
and otherwise by charitable persons, and
societies; nevertheless, however, the
fact remains that there are many desti-
tute people in New Castle today.
The associated charities composed Of
willing and earnest persons is doing
good work in the direction of relief but
its scope is limited.
The truth, the whole truth of the situ-
alton in New Castle is that several hum
dred families in the town are in need of
help, and that if work does not come
soon to husbands and sons starvation
will invade their homes. At present
many of these families are hiding their
poverty. They will not appeal to the
Associated Charities because of their
pride, noe will their pride allow them to
agree to have their names in print. This
is one good reason why the Associated
Charities is not aware OF the vast extent
Of the sufferings.
The investigation yesterday revealed
the startling fact that a respectable
woman, the mother of three children
and the wife of one Of the idle iron
mill hands has been feeding her family
on the leavings from the table of well-tO-
do neighbors. This good woman has
pride. She saws she doesn't want every
body to know her poverty, and she
insists that she will never appeal to
the charities. There are thousand
and more like her in New Castle.
Another fact developed by yesterdays
investigation is that the e-keeper
are carrying hundreds of families along
on small rations, with the hope that
work will come soon and that they will
be paid. But how long will the store
kee ers be able to carry these people on
the face Of the present outlook? This is
a serious question among the thoughtful
people of the town.
Still another fact revealed by yester.
days invest stigation is that the farmers
in the neighborhood of New Castle have
been besiged during the past week for
donations Of cabbage, corn and potatoes,
for hn -, * ,rsn f,,nilinc rs la,
farmers are responding generously.
The town OF New Castle has had hard
times before in its history, but never
any like the present. Families of New
Castle have before in its history begged
from door to door for food and clothing
when the various mills were closed,
but never we're they 50 near the point Of
starvation as now.
This statement was verified in an in
tervew yesterday with one Of the Oldest
and best known residents of the town.
The interview was secured in Tie course
of an investigation of the situation by
r. +. Powell, who resides at No. IA
King street, Wilmington.
Mr.. Powell is a democratic citizen,
who, after reading the story in TIE Sun
on Friday, took y trip to New Castle to
make personal investigation of the
situation.
Here is Mr.. Powell'c statement
Il was deeply impressed with the
story On Friday ard went to New Castle
to investigate. found that the situation
thoroughly verified The Suns story in
fact found it to be worse than printed. |
| did not make II house to-house canvass
but got my information from men of
reliability. This information was to the !
First: There are as many as four
hundred families, or more in New
Castle, which are suffering intensely
from the lack Of food and clothing.
Second: That friends of the suffer-
the Trustee of the poor and the usso-
ciated charities are doing all they can to
help the situation.
Third: That the situation is growing
worse every hour and that despite the
efforts of the charities association and
others, il work does not come in,medi-
ateIy a general fund will have to be
raised to prevent starvation.
Mr.. Powell further states that among
his informants were men who have
lived in the town for many years and
are conversant with the vicissitudcs the
poor people have encountered in the
past. These men, he continues, eX
pressed little hope for u betternent Of
the situation unit g.. raj reiicffund
is raised. The present situation these
men info med him eclipses airy previous
"hard times" in point Of number Of fam
lies involved and in hopelcSsness and
despair.
In confraton of Mr. Poweli's story,
q prominent citizen OF New Castle, when
seen in Wilmington last night, said that
an immediate es,igation is absolutely {
necessary. The condition Of the people, 6
he said, has not been exaggerated and !
cannot be exaggerated. They are cry I
ing for food and clothing he said, and
are getting but little Vt the stores {
The citizen of the little town spoke
fearlessly asd honestly, but urgently re-
quested that his name be not quoted for .
very obvious reasons. The publication c
pf his name would be y verification Of t