Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-02-26
Sad Case Of Neglected
Children in China.
Found ThinIy Glad and Lack
: ing Food by Mrs, Hunt


Mrs. Ada A. Hunt OF TINS city, agent
for the Society for the Preven-
ton of Cruelty to Children, dis
covered Friday in that section of
the northern part of China known as
Yorktown, a case of neglect of chill
dren, which is little more pitable
than anything that has ever come to
light in this county. Four grown
people and four children, ranging in
ages from two to nine years, were
found by ner huddled together
in a little shack with but one
occupied room and the sides of which
were open in many places to the win
ter cold and snow. Two dogs and a
half starved cat were found lying upon
the only bed in sight, while two half
grown pulets We're standing upon a
bundle of rags in one corner of the
room. The only food to be seen in
the house was tin pan partly full of
-four and water stirred together and
half baked on top of the stove.
The attention of Mrs. Hunt had been
called number of times to the condi-
tions prevailing in Yorktown, as this
locality is called, where a number of
families of this name have internar-
ried or have lived together without
legal ceremony, so it is alleged, in small
frame houses hardly better than huts.
Some of the families are not able to
support themselves even in the most
primitive fashion and receive aid from
the towns of Vassalboro, China and
Fairfield, in which they manage to
claim a pauper residence.
Mrs. Hunt promised several days ago
to visit the family Of Alonzo York and
Notwithstanding the fact that that the
day was an extremely cold one and
the driver who had promised to take
her out there was unable to do so Mrs.
Hunt determined to go to Yorktown.
Accordingly she secured the services of
ID. Frank Moore of this city and start
ed on her long cold ride Owing to
one of the cross roads being drifted
she was obliged to go around by
Branch Mills, making the distance of
the round trip about so miles. When
she reached her destination she found
the thermometer indicated "a below,
but that did not prevent her from max
ing her Investigations.
She took with her deputy Sheriff c.
w. Jones of China in order to make
sure that she would be permitted to
enter the house. Some parley was
made by the occupants of the shack
when Mrs. Hunt and her party applied
for admittance, but at last they were
allowed to enter.
The children We're in another room in
which wood was piled and which ap-
peared to be used for IL woodshed
when Mrs. Hunt entered, but she final
ly succeeded in getting them out into
the principal room. All of the children
We're very scantily clad and shivering
with the cold, although the oldest girl.
nine years of age was trying to hug the
other children and keep them warm.
Some Of the smaller children had but
q single garment on, while the two
year-old baby was the best dressed of
the children as far as warmth was con-
cerned and had on shoes and stockings.
The four grown people in the shanty
were Mr.. and Mrs. Alonzo York, the
parents of the children. and an older
couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Wellington York.
Both of the men and one of the women
We're smoking clay pipes and the wo-
man came to the door with q pipe in
her mouth. They seemed highly indig-
nant at the advent of the visitors and
made a great deal of loud talk, saying
that they We're perfectly able to take
care of their children. Mr.. and Mrs.
Alonzo York We're, however, ordered to
appear in the Augusta municipal court
Monday with the children and show
reason why they should not be taken
from them. Mrs. Hunt has also or
dered the selectmen of Vassalboro and
China to he present at the hearing,
The interior Of the house was said by
Mrs. Hunt to be indescribably dirty.
Green wood was used in the single
stove the house afforded and the smoke
from the green wood coupled with that
of the pipes made an atmosphere in
which it was hardly possible to
breathe. This atmosphere seemed to be
telling upon the baby, which had a
very sickly look. The other children
appeared to be we'll and strong in spite
of the daily hardships which they were
undergoing.
Mrs Hunt was informed by the
neighbors that the parents of the chill
drcn were hardly ever known to work
except for the picking of a few berries
in the summer and an occasional days
work. 1t was also claimed by those
living in that vicinity that the children,
including the oldest girl. were frequent
ly seen playing about the house utter
ly devoid of clothing in warm weather
in the summer time.