Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-06
Two Women Caretakers Found
Frozen to Death in a New
York House.
SCHOOL CHILDREN HUNGRY,
Boys said II Was Ne Use to Go Home
mt luncheon Hour-Bread Line at
the Bowery Exceeded the
LOaves-Une Employed Hope
Tor snow to shovel

New York, Feb. 5.-After having
| dropped TO a low record mark for the
| season, the temperature late to-day
| lifted just enough to shake loose the
| second real thing snow that New
Workers have seen this winter
The advent of the snow was timed
to catch the homeward bound thou
sands who had gone TO Office and shop
rubberless and without umbrellas on
| as nearly perfect n winter morning AS
could be imagined. Nearly all day
weather held crisp and clear and
coaxed out tho Fifth avenue throng
and filled the parks where the suspend
cd red ball invited 'he tens of thou
| sands to skate
Wh'io the happy crowds made merry
on the park lakes the charitable So
ci"ties were doing out mercy to the
"other side" Of New York life. Pene-
trating Il dingv nook in the garnet
floor of a Pitt street tenement agents
of the Childrcn's society found moth
or and two children hudd' cd about a
| frelcss stove nutcly waiting death
| from starvation and cold. Lena Brown
Julius, aged s. and Minnie, wears old
crouchcd on tho floor their hands
clutching the stove in which tho fire
had long since died. The stove and a
broken down rocker constituted the
furnishings and there was no food in
the place.
Two women were found dead in tho
kitchen Of house at No. 35l West
list street. Of which they were caro-
takers. They were Mrs. Margaret
Meek BERTHE, n years old, and Mrs
Margaret Kelley. 40 years old. For
many years they had been friends
There was a little coal in bin In
the cellar and Il cents were found
In cupboard. The police say they
thought the women sat by a stove in
front of which they werc found to
keep warm and fell asleep before the
fire went out and they were frozen
to death
Pawn tickets showing that Mrs
BERTHE had. pawned IS articles of dress
and iewelry were found.
While the policemen were in the
house preparing to remove the bodies
to the morgue there called a collector
built for Mrs. BERTHE small monu-
,
John W BERTHE, who served in the
Spanish American war. Mrs Berties
correspondence showed that she had
relatives in Scotland. who have be-
come well known in medicine and
business.
An unnamed philanthropic woman
sent 500 sandwiches to a public school
in Manhattan to-day. The principal
Mrs. G. II. Tower, formed a bread
line in the basement playroom. metcC
out the sandwiches and then cxer.
cised the feminine perogative- tears.
Il used to ask some of the boys why
they didn't go home at luncheon time
: said Mrs. Tower later. but ! soor
learned what was the trouble
Many of them didn't answer. Others
J said, what's the use?'
| The police reported several deaths
from exposure. Many destitute ones wer,
warmed and fed but thousands more
, , those who know said shivcrcd in prouS
: silence.
When the sonw fall began, far NOR
than could be accommodated sougt
shelter at the refuge houses. Faintin,
| women, many with babies in their arms
5 plead pitifully for food first for thei
|
, before eleven o'clock. the hour for foo,
r distribution the Bowery bread line. mum
bered many more than did the loaves t.
. | be dealt out
: In the early night there was little win,
that promised before midnight to reacl
h the four inches depth. That means tn
Y snow removing contractors must tax
Iunhrndy Of m for
x ployment gathered early at the agencie
. and silently prayed that the fakes woul
pile higher. The weather man was in
clined to look for rain in the morning
O and the difference between rain an
Il snow in the next few hours will be
r. difference of many dollars to New York
, unemployed.
IS Beginning at temperature of .
v the snowfall increased rapidly durin
% the evening and by midnight Their
e was six inches on the ground and a
a inch or two more in sight. 1t settle
e down over the street car tracks, an
< soon there were hundreds of stale
Ie cars and teams all over the city.
q Incoming trains on the railway
If were delayed and the fcrryboats lade
with commuters. CROPPED blindly acros
the snow obscured rivers
In response to pathetic appeal fror
school teachers, the Childrens societ
- will undertake to feed all hungry schoc
~ children at the luncheon hour to-morro,
10 and every day that and is needed Th
society is already feeding some 2O0
u children,
~ Reports Of distress increased as tn
IL night progressed but fortunately tn
It, temperature rose steadily and there wer
re indications that rain would carly carr
- away the snow.
u The traction companies were earl
4 hamperod and made desperate efforts
" keep the surface lines clear. The sno'
light and dry vas easily removed bl
more easily replaced. Late tonight IN
rising southwest wind, announced ha
re not struck the town but its coming an
v, it's possibilities for drift making wer
l. anxiously anticipated by millions VIII
& will want 10 use the streets to-mo'
J. row
n, Buffalo. ~ Y, Feb. SIX inches
IA snow and sleet. followed by light ra
'd which turned to ice the moment
e. touched the ground tonight cut down Il
~ enciency of every railroad running in
III the city by one-haf. 1t was n comhin
OF tion Of elements that checked transport
IN tion of all kinds within an hour, At nit
NJ nisht trains In all directions were fro
IN Two To Ave hours late and little progre
had hAAn raada IN clearing rackA