The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-26
mission A RBFUGB
FOR UNFOBIUNAIBS
Shelter Many of the Home
less and OutCaSIS.
PRESENT TOUCHING INCIDENTS
Police Have Word Of Prnisc for the
Coed work BE nE Done-SHd Sto-
ricS Poured Into the Ears Of Those
Who Minister 10 the FricudIcss.

the downtown Police station. when the
green swinging doors were pushed open.
and two emaCiated poorly clothed men.
hobbloj slowly mp to the big brass rail
in front Of the desk sergeant. For a min
ute or two neither @! the men spoke
word. their hats dirty and grimy from
travelling, they held in their hands. finger
ing them, while they surveyed the faces
Of the police officials
Wen what do you fellows want?'' sung
out the desk sergeant At the sound Of
his voice the better lool .ng Of the two.
a youth not more than twenty years Of
age advanced TO the railing and said:
Cold Outside.
Boss. it's awfully cold out there. sir;
we've just come in from Nashville, Tenn.
and are on our way to Philadelphia to try
TO get work. Won't you please let US
warm ourselves and give us a place to
sleep-any old place will do. You see We
Amt so pertickler," and the tattered in
dividual shivered as he heard the roar
Of the cold wind outside of the station
Now, you fellows have been in town
since O'Clock" rang out the clear voice
or the desk sergeant, seated in a large
chair watching them. why didn't you
come TO me early. You could have gone
into the Municipal Lodging House next
door, but you see it's closed now You
look like two honest tramps. however so
III Just give you a ticAet for the mis-
sion" small bundle OF red checks was
pulled out by the desk sergeant from a
drawer, and the names Of each unfortun-
ate inscribed thereon.
Coon. now said the official. you'll
get good breakfast in the morning, and
place TO sleep the balance Of the night"
Return Their Thanks.
Thank you sir" y0u'se don't know how
much We 'preciates what you'se done for
us. spoke the younger of the two. who
folded the little red slips carefully and
tucked them away in mis- pocket
Good night, sir Good night" an
swered the sergeant, and the two shiv-
erlng unfortunBtes disappeared into the
cold, deserted street
Now, that's what we have to contend
with night after night. although Of late
there must be plenty Of work for they are
becoming scarce. God knows what would
become Of the poor wretches if it we're
not for the little missions established IN
the city"
The various little missions located In
Washington are considered by all police
officials as an important adjunct TO the
police system The officials could not do
without them.
Scenes Oft Repeated.
The scene described shove can be wit
messed any night in TIE First precinct
police station, which. together with the
Ninth precinct, in the northeast section
of the city, seems to be the objective
point Of the "hobos." In the latter pre-
einet, however, a majority Of the tramps
are arrested by mounted policemen as
they jump from freight and passenger
trains in the vicinity Of Benning.
Then again, some Of the Weary Will
lies" manage to escape detection at Ben
ming and walk toward the city as far as
Fifteenth and II Streets northeast, where
they are finally caught. OF to a cell the
poor man goes. next L court, and then
long term in the workhOuse. charged with
being vagTant, although he might have
been an honest man looking for work
Washington is one Of the hardest cities
on the ordinary hobo" that there IS in
the country. according TO many of the
gentry themselves. No suspicious look
ing strangers are allowed 10 loiter in the
city. IN other metropolitan centres
Weary Willie" is usually allowed free
entrance. He applie5 at one Of the sta
tiOnhouses and after being registered is
allowed to lay his weary bones down
upon granite 6nor in the cellar Of the
station. kept FOR men Of his class. and
known generally as Hobo ROost'"
Hobo Ronst.
The Hobo Roost" Of Washington. how
ever, is the little missions one may see.
should he walk along Missouri Avenue
northwest, or in the vicinity Of First
and Pennsylvania Avenue northwest
ent, all doing good work in assisting the
police TO care for the poverty-stricken.
The central police station, together
with Police Headquarters both buildings
OF which are located in the downtown
section, are furnished with small red
slips. which are given 10 the unfortUnates-
UpcH presenting them at the mission the
holder is given clean bunk for the
nigb5, and in the morning is served with
q substantial breakfast. Should he pos
ress any money. the small sum OF 10
cents IS deducted from his pile, but If
be IS PenniIess he is treated in the lnme
manner as are his more fortunate
brothers.
Police Given Trouble.
No end Of complaints have been made
60 the police regarding the Municipal
Lodging House, an institution run by the
District and which has accommodations
for nOu-wOrkers. The complaints are
brought forth because Of the fact that
the persons having the institution in
charge close its doors 10 the public at 10
o'clock every night.
This action on the part Of its officials
has caused the First precinct police no
end Of trouble, because, as is we'll
known fact the members Of the weary
gentry do not begin to arrive "a the city
until late at night and that time to-
gether with the minutes lost by them
In finding the various police stations
makes IL a very late hour.
Il is hoped by the police officials that
the Municipal Lodging House viii be kept
open until II CT y o'clock at night in
order that those unfortunates who come
into the stations may be given shelter In
The District institution.
III you want 10 know what good mis-
fiOns are" said a police official Of long
''iust take a trip down to the missions
some time and look over the inmates
You viii find men from every station OF
lifc-mcn who. in their day Travelled IL
the best OF sOCiety-quartered in the va
riCUs little houses Of refuge"
When the reporter did finally make Z
round Of the Institutions he found cOndi
items just as the old police official had
described them. Perhaps Of the three Of
four missions located in the city, the one
pat.OuiZcd the most Is that located OF
Missouri Avenue, between FOur-and-a
half and Sixth Streets northwest. TIT
Fuf1Ffng ia q small one hut is as clear