Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25

those Of the cheap lodging houses for
human outcasts on the Bowery. in New
York, and to permit such conditions to
longer exist Is a crying shame and seri-
Gus reflection upon our national generosity.
pride and fair play"
This former national officer OF the Span
ish War Veterans declared it to be his In
tention to see that President Roosevelt was
made aware of this herding together OF
former soldiers of the republic, many of
whom are INDECENT because of injuries
ceived on the firing line. or from disease
contracted while in the service.
Case as Illustration.
One case witnessed in back room of the
"home" by Star reporter will serve as an
illustration. Lying on cot and breathing
heavily was an aged veteran of the civil
war. William Armstrong. whose years
number eighty-two. Sitting by his bedside
was a youthful soldier of the war with
Spain.
The bonds of soldierly comradeship were
strong between them and the young man
was endeavoring to soothe what may De, IL
was said the dying days of the grim, white
haired fighter of the sixties. Vetc"'1 Arm
strong served with honor in the siA M,chl-
gan Cavalry and finally became assistant
surgeon of his troop. He gave his best
days to his country In its hour OF greatest
need. and now he is dying in back room
of the oYercrowded place provided by the
government for the former wearers OF The
blue. Tie old mans home Is in far-away
California He came here urgent bust
ness It is said but was stricken down by
disease before he could settle his AFFAIRS.
He expended all his money, and, It Is said.
the city hospitals refused TO receive him De-
cause his disease was incurable.
The only refuge left for him was the
temporary shelter on Sd street. He could
rot gain admittance to the commodious
Soldiers Home out on the Tth street road,
that Ia nrnVidp6 exclusively for
regular soldiers. Veteran Armstrong was
a volunteer. When President Abraham
Lincoln made his first call for volunteers
he was & young and vigorous and patri-
otto man. The flag and his country were
threatened, and he became a volunteer
trooper in the Michigan Cavalry and saw
hard service with Sheridan. Custer and
other famous cavalry leaders.
When the hospitals declined to admit
the aged veteran and the doors of the
regular Soldiers Home were barred
against him he called at the temporary
home and was received by Capt. A A
Maxim, the humane superintendent
I'VE VIII do the very best we can Tor
you" said Capt Maxim in a kindly man
ner, and he has; but the temporary home
Is entirely without hospital ward or any
semblance of such the disease and age
ridden soldier was cared for as best the
limited facilities OF the place permitted. and
now he Is said TO be slowly passing away
to the grand encampment above" his
Spanish war comrades expressed it, where
he will soon answer the eternal reveile"
The picture OF the young soldier comfort
respond to his last roll call was a pathetic
one.
Another Sad Case.
Capt Maxim today told OF another sad
case of recent occurrence. A veteran.
James r. Erdman. had been discharged
from one of the city hospitals as tncurable
and found his way to the temporary home.
AS he entered the door he fell from ex-
haustion and died on the following day.
These are but few of the sad cases that
have occurred at the home. To write them
all would be TO fill fair-siZed volume, and
each IS tinged with human interest. 1t is
contended that the lives of many OF those
who died at this place could have been
saved had there been a proper hospital
ward and had the other conditions been
favorable.
A typical room in the house which was
inspected by a Star reporter was about 10
by 10 feet, the ceiling being about 8 feet
high In this apartment, originally intend
ed for the accommodation of two PERSONS
were double hunks for ten dodgers, one
bunk being placed on top of another Some
or the dodgers are said to be suffering
from tuberculosis. The atmosphere of the
room was fetid and heavy, and the place
resembled a workhouse cell for prisoners
rather than room provided for volunteer
soldiers who for various reasons found
themselves strandeG-homeless and penni-
iesS-at the capital of the nation they had
served so faithfully and well In the fire
and smoke of battle.
Another small room at the home, with
but a single window, was crowded with
hunks for six dodgers. These apartments
were termed 'veritable charnel houses by