The times., 1899-02-13
MORE PITIFUL Cases
OF ABSOLUTE Want
Whole Families Suffer for
Food and Fuel.
Mrs. Granger Divides Supplies
With Poor Neighbors.
Places Where Furniture Is Being
Burned to Keep the Occupants
From Freezing.

SuHcrlnS from lne COiu wave anu StuilIi
is intense. There are many such houses
in the Capital of the Nation. Sometimes
they are in sight of the magnificent homes
OF the afiuent. More often they are hidden
from the gaze of the general public.
These shanties often are without floors
and have leaky roofs. Beds are unknown
in many of these places. The floor is used
as sleeping place and the occupants con-
slider themselves lucky TO have floor.
Fires are made only in the coolest weather,
and these at times consume all the furni
ture which economy had provided during
the warmer months. BY furniture is meant
a chair or table, dry goods packing case
often doing duty as the latter. After this
has been burned there is nothing left but
the charity of the neighbors or to freeze
to death.
Washington has hundreds of such cases.
There are poor and needy within the linz
its of the District of Columbia who have
never applied to the Associated Charities
or like organizations, and have never been
brought to the attention of the real phil
anthropists except through the agency Of
the police. In fact, the deserving poor are
very backward in soliciting aid from any
of the charitable societies, as there is al
ways long period of waiting for the re-
suit of the investigation into the character
of the applicant. which is always made by
these organizations. During this wait in
weather like that experienced for the last
ten days freezing to death is compare
lively easy operation. In numerous in
stances il is only the willingness of the
neighbors of the sick, helpless, and starry
ing to provide food and fuel out of their
own scanty stores that averts such ca
lamity.
a number of cases of destitution have
been reported TO The Times during the
last few days, and several of them need
immediate attention. Mrs. Annie Granger,
whose destitution was exposed to the pub
lie by The Times is now in 4 comfortable
condition.
The truly charitable have responded
generously to the call for help and stores
and money have flowed in increasingly 10
the unfortunate woman. Four ladies called
at the Granger house yesterday and left
supplies. They learned that Mrs. Granger
had given TO her destitute neighbors all
that she could spare from the contributions
received. 4 large number of persons sent
bread to rhrs. Granger, and on Saturday
it was found that there was great sur
plus of it AS there was much suffering
from want OF food in the neghborhood,
Mrs. Granger generously donated ten
loaves to the people who needed it most.
Mrs Jules Broche the widow of we'll
of help. She lives with her five children
in one room at 1911 d Street northwest,
formerly occupied by her husband as
lunch room, the windows and doors of
which are in 4 very dilapidated condition.
There is no stove in the room and the
only heat comes from small lamp which
is kept burning day and night To make
matters worse, water pipe In the house
next door burst several days ago and the
nj Rrpplp hQnEp Hood
ing the floor.
Mrs Broche works at FraZee's laundry
and makes four dollars per week. She
finds that this is not enough to defray the
expenses and is compelled to apply for
aid at the charitable organizations. She
has several times been helped through the
heneficence of the policemen of the First
precinct but is now in dire need. Her
Oldest child, a boy, has no shoes and can
not 20 into the streets to earn something
TO help his mother take care of the family.
Their urgent need is clothing and fuel.
The children are compelled to remain in
bed while their mother is at work during
the day because they cannot stand the
cold 1t is thought that Mrs. Brooches
present distressed condition can be ale
waited with a donation of coal or wood
and clothing for the children.
John Harris. colored, living in Draper S
Court. between Twelfth and Thirteenth
and and Streets southwest is in nced
OF help TO keep him from freezing to deata.
Harris is a hard-working man, but at pres
eut is in bad health. He has d house, but
no fuel and the public has been asked to
supply this need. He will work if he can
get employment.
One of the most pitiful cases OF destitu-
ton and suffering was brought to the at
tention of The Times yesterday afternoon.
1884 First Street southwest, with her nVe
children. is without food, money, or fuel.
There is one bed in the house and on'y one
room. There is no clothing on the bed,
and that is the only piece OF furniture IN
the room. Through cracks in the sides OF
the frame building the sharp and biting
wind whistles, and little riffs OF snow on
the floor show where the roof has gwen
wav. Mrs. Jayson is i'll and unable to do
work of any kind. She has hve children,
the Oldest being a girl of i6. The girl is
willing to work, but is barefooted and un-
able TO go out in the snow.
Everything that was brcakabie in the
house has been destroyed for fuel and the
he'd which is devoid of Stats viii probably
be consumed If fuel is not supplied today.
This is the only thing that keeps the sick
woman off Of the bare earth, as the floor
ing has given way in number of places
and but few boards are left Mrs. Jayson
stated that if she could secure funds she
| would move to more comfortable quarters.
| II was suggested that the children be taken
to some home where they could be cared
for while their mother was III. The hus-
band has been dead about two years. and
since his death and the birth of her young
est child the woman has not been able ia
do much work on account of her poor
| health.
David and Martha Bowie are in desti-
| tutc condition at their home, next door tC
| the Jayson house. The man has been en-
| ployed in cleaning snow from the streets
but his fingers were frozen and he is now
| unable to do any work. Their home is in
| household, although they are Il little bet
! ter off in the matter of furniture Mrs
| Bowie is in poor health and cannot work
They have some little provisions left from
| a supply they received from various char
liable societies. Mrs. Bowie burned hel
| last lump OF coal last night and they are
now without fuel of any kind
family of five children named Jackson
occupy part of 1894 First Street southwest
| father OF the family has deserted his of
| spring, il is said, and left them to shift
| for themselves. The oldest girl takes care
| of the house, and il is TO her that supplies
| should be sent.
Money or supplies for any OF these cases
will be received at the office of The Times
at any hour of the day or night, as is an,
nounced in another column of this issue.
There are thousands OF people in the city
almost dying for the want of food and
fuel. Never in the history of the city has
there been SO much suffering among the
poor people.
Efficient Times Reporters.
| The following letter was received by
The Times yesterday, which speaks fol
itself: