The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-12
John Doyle's Pathetic Tale

John Doyle's Pathetic Tale
 The Doyles are fren Siuria. a small community about 25 miles south of Bir- minglam, on the Louisville and Nashville railroad. John Doyles pathetic tale is pitiable:
 My name Is John Doyle, and l am 20 years old he mumbled In a monotone, gazing abstractedly to the sky, my father was a farmer but all that was old enough worked in the cotton mill sther died last November and mother died last February. Minnie, who was r years old. and who worked in the mill died 10 days ago, and now Anna, whose husband left her. will go, too.
 Tn Siluria I worked In the cotton mill with Ola; she is IA years old and Oscar, who is IS years old and we managed to make enough money to eat on and sup port Grady, who is years old and Ida she is 5 years old. Anna also worked in the mill until a few days ago, when she got sick. You see we could not save no money as with sickness and pa and ma and sister dying, it took all the cash. And when Anna took sick the doctor said we'd better leave Siluria and the cotton mill and the bad water or the ceme- tery on the hill would get us all. So I came to Birmingham to prospect around
 'I came to Birmingham last Tuesday and went to Conner cotton mill over there (pointing at the grim structure a few yards away, and the foreman promised me job and a house to live in for my brothers and sisters, so I went back to Siluria to get them. I was happy to get them away from there.
 We arrived in Birmingham yesterday morning and Sister Anna was so sick that an ambulance brought her over here And then they told me that there was no work for me-and no house-so the ambulance men just left Sister Anna on lot under tree and we all sat on the ground near her. 1t looked like the end of the world to me, but now things are looking up as I have a prom ise of a job that will pay me $1.5O a day next week. One of Mrs. Yothers sons is going to get me the place.
 And thus Is explained how the Doyles arrived in Birmingham. They arrived on the Louisville and Nashville railroad about Il o'clock Friday morning and Warner & Smiley's ambulance was sum moned to carry the dying girl to Mill village.
 Under Tree Around Dying Girl
 For several hours Friday afternoon John Doyle, his little brothers and sisters about him sat dsconsolately under a tree while his sister Anna lay dying on a cot near him at First avenue and Thirty-ninth street, within sight of the grim cotton mill. The people of Mill Village came and saw and asked questions. but offered no succor until Mrs. Julia Yother, an old widow, appeared. She said
 "I have a house. It has four rooms and my two sons with their wives and children live with me, but will take them all in-the sick girl apd all Come, my children; come with me-
 And the little Doyles followed and then John Doyle, helped by another man, car -t.d tlA dx~{v. -I x4.-&xr xtxxx1x street, the shack where Mrs. Yother lived, and some unknown philanthropist sent in about a dollars worth of meats and gro- ceries and the Doyles were fed.
 Somehow or other the night was passed. It must be remembered that when Mrs. Yother took in the Doyles she increased by her family of S. and seven additional mouths to feed Is some problem to the poor. But Mrs. Yother. who Is not very intellectual--in fact, she confesses to be- ing unable to read or write-stoutly main tains that she will support the Doyles until the eldest boy and all those able to work can make some money.
 But Mrs. Yother knew her limitations so she came to Birmingham yesterday morning and seeking out Mrs. Wilson Searight, head of the welfare department she told the story of the Doyles and of their sick sister Anna.
 Mrs. Searight Acts Quickly
 Mrs Searight at once called upon the Associated Charities and was promised that the case would be thoroughly invosti- gated on Monday morning. This was not quick enough action for Mrs. Searight, for she called upon Dr. Cecil Gaston and started for the scene. On looking at the girl Dr. Gaston stated that she would probably live a few more hours.
 Noting the poverty, the sQualor of the surroundings. Mrs Searight came back to Birmingham and purchased some sheets and night gowns for the sick girl and also cot, ito die on." Mrs Searight explained. Later, the story of the Doyles was told to a newspaper man who immediately in- formed Commissioner of Public Justice A. O. Lane. Judge Lane at once in- structed Chief of Police Martin Eagan to go to the scene and render aid to the Doyles in whatever way possible.
 The scene that met Chief Eagans eyes as he arrived in Mill Village was one never to be forgotten. Everywhere
 lCpnt1nuoI On Pago Daxl