The Washington herald., 1911-08-22
DESTITUTE WIDOW
Of LIEUTENANT
IS SEEKING A|D
Six Children Brought from
Panama Without Money.
WAR VETERANS TO HELP

Absolutely penniless, with Six small
children dependent on her and without
relative or friend in the city to whom
she can appeal for aid, Mrs. Martha R
Dennis, widow of Lieut.. L. R. Dennis
who died last June in the hospital al
Colon, Isthmus of Panama. is stranded
at the Confederate Memorial Home
1922 Vermont avenue northwest.
Mrs. Dennis and her children arrived
at the Union Station with the body OF
her husband Friday night. They had
expected to be met by delegation OF
Knights of Pythias, her husband having
been a member of that order, but for
some unknown reason they failed to be
on hand. Mrs. Dennis, a frail little
woman, had only one scent piece, and
she was a stranger in Washington.
wANDERs THROUGH DEPOT.
For several hours she wandered w
and down the long concourse, carrying
her two-year-old baby girl in her arms
while the other five tots wandered up
and down with her. The unfortunate
woman, nearly heartbroken over the
loss of her husband, whose body was
lying in its coffin downstairs, could
think of no plan whereby she might OBJ
tain shelter for herself and babies.
Finally, when she had been forced
to stop her restless pacing to allow her
babies to catch a little sleep. she was
noticed by a policeman, who asked her
what the trouble was.
I'VE are alone in the world, and
have no money" replied Mrs. Dennis
her sent to the House OF Detention. SO
he called up Mrs. Estelle Emmart. ma
tron of the Confederate Home. and
asked her If she would give food and
shelter to the woman, who is a South
erner. and her babies.
Mrs. Emmart only had her own room
in the Home, but, like a good Samari-
tan, said she was willing to do what
she could for the stranded woman and
children. She took a car Immediately
and went to the station. where she saw
Mrs. Dennis, surrounded by six children
and a pile of baggage. including baby
carriage and other infant belongings.
Mrs. Emmart did not hesitate mo-
ment, but put herself at the head of
the flock and took them to her home.
She made pallets on the floor for the
children, who were crying for food,
and, after supplying them with bread
and milk, she put them to bed, in her
own room. Mrs. Dennis was SO nerv-
Gus and respondent that she could be
of little assistance.
Pythians' Help Was Expected.
Mrs. Dennis told the matron of her
husbands death several weeks before.
and how. after the funeral expenses had
been paid, only enough mopey remained
for passage to the United States She
said she had understood from Knights
Of Pythias on the Isthmus that a delega-
ton would meet her in New York. There
was no one at the pier, and, leading and
carrying her little ones. Mrs. Dennis took
the train for the Capital where other
knights were supposed to meet her.
She said she had letters from her hus-
bands friends in Panama to army off,
GERS here, whom she thought would try
to get her a position as charwoman. Il
am willing to do anything" she sobbed.
"to support my darling boys and girls. !"
Saturday morning Mrs. Emmart called
on H P. Wiley. past grand chancellor
Of the Knights Of Pythias. He was not
at home and Mrs. Emmsrt left card
telling Of the plight of Mrs. Dennis, who
had a claim on the organization by rea-