Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-04-05
THE TRANSFER MADE.
Not an Incident Tending to Mar the Trip
Occurs Anywhere Along the Entire
Route

people who are cared for by the county
because of the aff1iction that causes
insanity, will never cease to feel kindly
toward the gentlemen comprising the
managers of the County Hospital for In
sane, for the manner in which the ar
rangements were made for the removal of
the patients from Trenton here.
The Trustees of the new Hospital are
George Reeves, B. Frank Hires, Eli E.
Rogers, Samuel B. Pagan and Albert
Harris. This Board desired that when
the nearly one hundred patients were
brought here from Trenton there should
be no publicity and nothing that would
cause annoyance to the unfortunates or
their funds.
Scores of curious people have en-
deavored to use every means to learn
when and how the transfer was made,
but so complete were the arrangements
tha n tomore than score of people all
told knew anything of the movement
Monday Afternoon, the members of the
Trustees left Bridgeton and Millville at
different times, as did DIR. T. Smith,
Hospital physic.a an, and member of the
PIONEER staff. Mr.. Rogers and one OF
the attendants of the Hospital, and DIR.
Smith went right through to Trenton.
The other members of the Trustees went
from Philadelphia early Tuesday M orn-
ing.
Arriving at the listle station near the
State Hospital, the Committee found that
State superintendent Ward and DIR. Smith
had arranged everything. Ninety-one
patients, forty-five men and forty. six
women were all awaiting the special
Pennsylvania train, which was made mp
of four first class coaches. The patients
were so divided, that they could be put
upon the cars arranged for them without
trouble and demonstration There was
not the slightest friction, not the remotest
suspicion of rebellion or trouble, and ex-
cepting in one or two cases there was not
excitement.
All OF the patients were under the care
of certain attendants, while DR.. and Mrs.
Ward also made the trip to have general
supervision. Various members of the
local Trustees were in various cars to
keep personal supervision.
The baggage was soon loaded, and
promptly at 8 80 O'Clock, the special train
left the asylum station with right of
way to Camden, without stops.
1t was strange excursion for those
people, and yet the great majority fully
understood that they were being brought
to their native county. They were calm,
and with two or three exceptions, ra-
tional. They had all been told two or
three days previous that they were to be
removed to Bridgeton, and excepting two
or three, all we're apparently quite anxi-
Gus to come,
When the train pulled out there were
few in tears. They seemed sad to think
OF leaving the place that mad made home
for them so long. One old man in the
party had been in the institution since
1864. having been committed thirty-six
years ago, and until yesterday had never
had his feet off the State Hospital
grounds. Another patient of thirty years
standing was in the party.
One or two of the patients were all the
while talking and laughing. but the ma
earnestly. all the while out of the car win
dows upon the panorama that was spread
ing itself before them.
Without incident the train arrived in
Camden at As, and change of engines
and crews were made, and on TO Bridge
ton. 1t was evident that arrival here
would be made an hour before it had peen
arranged, and at Glassboro Mr.. Hires
telephoned to Bridgeton to have the
coaches meet the train at the earlier hour
At the Central junction another change
OF engines and crews was made. and the
special ran over the Central road to a
point nearly opposite the hospital, known
as Wynder town, and where the coaches
arrived on time
There we're not dozen people outside
of those employed who knew anything of
what was going on. Those who had been
watching and had noticed the train pull
ing through Bridgeton made rush for
the Bowentown crossing, but they only
had their hurry for their pains. Not, in
all, more than a score of people witnessed
the transfer from car to hospital, and this
was done quietly and without Incident.
Before noon all of the ninety-one patients
were in the new home provided for them
by Cumberland county.
There are still three patients from this
county in the State institution. One is
quite i'll; the other two, Antonio Jorio
and Mormon Biddle, are held by court
IN.
Eighteen unfortunates from the Aims
House will join the ninety-one at the
Hospital. making in all one hundred and
nine patients now to care for.
These patients will be cared for by nine
all experienced people. Four
men and four women will be on duty all
the time, with one extra person to relieve
The others from time to time. The pa
'ients Will be separated so that each
attendant will have an equal number to
care for.
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