The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-17
CHILDREN KNEW
NOTHING OF GOD
WHEN THEY CAME HERE
SOUTH CAROLINA WAITS, CARED
FOR HERE, SENT TO CHARLESTON.

Were Brought to Savannah by Will
lam Benton, Aged Confederate
Soldier, Who Afterwards Left the
Savannah Hospital and Wandered
Awny-FOr Seven Weeks the Chill
dren Have Been Cared for at ST.
JOseph's Hospital.
Three South Carolina waits, who
have been cared for in st. Joseph's
Hospital for the last seven weeks, will
this morning. be sent to Charleston. to
be placed in an orphan home. Mayor
Myers having provided tickets for the
childrens transportation.
When the three little girls were
brought to Savannah less than two
months ago. they had never heard of
God. Christmas. Thanksgiving Day,
or any of the things that are usually
impressed on the minds of little ones.
They had never heard the words, and
had no idea what was meant. Mrs.
Alice G.. Thomas. who took charge of
the children at first, says she never
saw such wild, little creatures in her
life.
Great Improvement Noted.
Though still shy in the presence of
strangers and very easily frightened,
the three little girls have shown great
Improvement during their stay in Sa-
vannah. Kind words and patient work
have worked wonders, though there is
still plenty of room for Improvement.
The children were brought to Savan-
nah by an aged man, who gave his
name as William Benton. He arrived
in the city on Sunday morning Sept
25. He was very ill at the time and
lay on the floor of the Union Station
all day Sunday, an object of pity. The
three little girls grouped about him in
frightened sort of fashion and attempt
ed to avoid all strangers who ap-
preached.
Carried to Hospital.
The sympathy of parties visiting the
Union Station was aroused and DR.. ].
G. Keller gave a certificate to send
the old man to the hospital, while the
three little girls were carried to po-
lice headquarters for a time There
Mrs. Thomas took them in charge and
later turned them over to st. Jo-
sephs.
The old man was unable to stand
alone and seemed to be suffering from
partial paralysis. He said he was a
Confederate veteran and lived at Wal
terboro, S. c. He claimed the children
as his own daughters, though it is more
likely they are his grandchildren. He
said their mother was dead, Though
it is not customary to receive patients
from out of the city at the hospitals
free of cost, Benton excited great
deal of sympathy and he was taken in
at the Savannah Hospital.
Father Ran Away.
After he had been in the hospital for
a short time, it was apparent his mind
was weak. About three weeks ago he
left the hospital without the knowledge
of any of the nurses or attendants. He
is supposed to have wandered away
during a spell of mental alteration. No
trace of him has been found since.
The little girls were kept at St.
Ioseph's and cared for there. A hos
pital. however. is not place to raise
children, and it was decided to try
and get them into an orphan home.
The authorities of one of the homes in
Charleston agreed to take them after
it was learned they came from South
Carolina.
The children will be placed on the
train this morning and their tickets
turned over to the conductor. One of
| the officials of the orphan home will
] meet the train in Charleston, and the
wallis will be cared for until they are
large enough to begin life for them
selves.