The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-23
A SAD CASE.
Three Little South Carolina Girls
Who Knew Nothing or God.

Three Little South Carolina Girls
who Knew Nothing or God.
Three South Carolina waits, Hattie
Irene and Anna Benton, who have
been cared tor in St. Joseph's hospita
for the last seven weeks, will be sent
to Charleston to be placed in an or
phan home, Mayor Myers having pro
vided tickets for the children'S trans.
po,tation, says. the Savannah News
When the three little girls we're
brought to Savannah less than two
months ago, they had never heard Of
God, Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, OF
any OF the things that are usually i'm
pressed 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.
Thorgh 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 i'm
provement. The children we're
brought to Savannah by an aged man,
who gave his name as William Ben
ton. He arrived in the city on Sun
day morning, September 255h. 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 at
tempted to avoid all strangers who
approached.
The sympathy Of parties visiting
the union station was aroused and DR..
J. G. Keller gave certificate to send
the old man to the hospital, while the
three little girls were carried to po-
lice headquarters for time. There
Mrs. Thomas took them in charge and
later turned them over to ST. Joseph's.
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. G. BE claimed the chill
dren as his own daughters, though it
is more likely they are his grandchil-
Gren. 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
a, great Geal OF sympathy and be was
taken in at the Savannah hospital.
FATHER RAN AWAY.
After he had been in the hospital
for 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 at
tendan:s. He is supposed TO have
wandered away duriI 6 spell OF men,
tai alteration. No trace Of him has
been found sinca. The little girls
Were kept at St. Joseph's and cared
tor there. A hospital, 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
Thursday and their tickets turlsd
over to the conductor. One Of the
officials OF the orphan home will meet
the train In Charleston, and the waits
will be cared for until they are large
an0isrh To hanin life fn,. thenncoluas