The morning news., 1899-02-14
SUFFERING AMONG THE room.
City May Have to Provide Means for
Their Relief.

It is feared there will be great suffering
among the poor Of Savannah as a result
Of the abandonment of the charitable as
sociation. The city has not provided any
funds for charity purposes, and the sign
Of the only institution to which the desti-
tute could appeal has been pulled down
and the door closed. There were no
funds with which 70 support it.
Mr.. William L. Wakelee. formerly relief
agent of the association. and who is IA
millar with the conditions among the poor
people of the city, said last night that
there is no doubt that the present cold
weather viii cause much suffering. This
will be the case particularly among the
negroes n the western portion of the city,
and also among the poorer class of whites
in the Cdd Fort district Mr.. Wakelee
comes to this conclusion from the number
of demands made on the association short
ly before IFS abandonment, and from the
destitute circumstances of large num-
Der of fam .Iies he recently visited.
The woru sufferers - said Mr.. Wake
lee, will be the aged, the blind and Grip
pied persons, who are unable to stir for
themselves. They have no means with
which to buy fuel, and even were this
not the case, they could not get out to
order 1t. | fear the unexpectedness of
the cold snap has caught the poor in pad
condition. During the half century 1
have resided n Savannah 1 do not recall
time when the weather was so severe"
If the distTeis is found 90 be very great
it may be pos. sible the city viii do some
thing to relieve the needy. There are no
funds at present at the Mayors disposal
for this purpose, 50 that any who may
Apply would set nothing, unless il were
contributed by individuals.
An appropriation sufficient to cover the
cost Of a few necessities would gladden.
many hearts. 1t is stated that an appro-
priation of 500 for the purchase of meal
bacon arNd coal. which could be dispensed
from SOME central point. would go a long
way toward alfeviating the distress, which
seems undoubtedly to exist. A policeman
is reported TO have been called to the
assistance of a woman and five children
Yesterday, who were hudded in a small
house with ont any fire and apparently
without anything TO eat. Through the
kindness of neighbors the unfortunates
were given fuel, and enough provisions to
carry them along a few days
Until there is some united action by
charitably di. posed persons, or steps ere
taken by the city, much of the burden of
caring for the poor will fall upon residents
of neighborho, DDS in which eases of dis
tress are found. Very little can be told
it is not mildsr to-day, there may be
appeals for help from various portions of
the city.
The fresides of many Savannahians came
near begging yesterday for want of fuel
Coal houses were empty. and the dealers
were not making any deliveries 1t was
stated they could not do this on account
of laborers, who declined 10 work in the
cold. One dealer told a good story in
connection with his efforts TO get a gang
of men to start work He found them
hugging a fire on the river front and
thinking their reluctance to work was due
to scanty clothing, he bought gloves for
each one, and started them to asserting
coal. But no sooner had the employer
turned his back the gang felt the cold
creeping through the gloves, and they cast
aside the shovels and sought "their own
fresides." This state of affairs practically
shut down the coal business. at least. with
a number of the larger dealers. About
the only orders they filled were for per
sons who carried small quantities in
sacks, or those who made their own de-
liveries.
The Kings Daughters are intending 10
do all in their power to relieve any cases
of suffering that may be reported 10 them
Miss Emily G. Kennedy, of No. ag
Broughton street east is at the head of
movement to get information about the
| deserving poor, and to render all possible
assistance.