Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-09
Killing of Children
May Precipitdte War


Continued from Page One
Anthony's Catholic Church, Gray's Ferry
road and Fitzwater street They also at
tended the parochal school OF that church
Cornelius, the eldest child, was born at
251S Panama street. April 20, i90i Dr.
Edward " Clark. 1914 South Broad street
was called TO attend 10 the mother, ne
said today, but he sent another physician
because he had another case at the time.
Doctor Clark remembered the incident very
well, he said.
The children had lived in Philadelphia
virtually all their lives. Their mother on
many occasions expressed the wish that
they become Americans.
Details of the death of the children after
the sinking of the California have not been
forthcoming II is not known whether they
were able to leave the ship or pershed
from exposure. Many OF those who knew
them while in this city expressed horror
at the suffering they must have undergone
Mrs. O'Donnell and her husband are said
20 have separated three years ago, She
then obtained work in the Kirkbride laun-
dry, in West Philadelphia in an effort to
support her family. She finally listened to
the pleas Of her family and decided to move
her small family TO their home In Scot
land
The O'Donnells left Philadelphia jan
uary 2s. They sailed the next day on the
California Early Wednesday morning the
liner was torpedoed without warning off
the Irish coast
Mrs. O"Donnell's hardshps in this coun-
| try and the fear that she would be com
PEELED to separate from her children II she
| ayed here gave her no choice but to brave
| the U-boat menace, according to one OF her
best friends in this city, who for three years
| worked side by side with her in the KIRK
| bride laundry This former coworker
| united with Miss Marion lIuntley, head OF
| the laundry. ia praising Mrs. O'Donnells
/ In he gt trnpPlps keen her little
| family together.
Mrs ODonnen was nice. respectable
| little woman" said her friend. Her only
dissatisfaction with America was that she
| could not earn enough money to support
her children The second boy she put i'm a
| Catholic protectory and she was afraid that
| the others would have to go, too. This Is
| what made her accept her parents invita-
| ton to come back to Scotland.
| Il really don't know IL she was afraid o
| the submarines; but even II she was wha
| could the poor woman do? She had to 60
| back to Scotland or see her children starN'
| or be separated from her After they grew
up and were old enough to support her sh'
| intended coming back to America
| A pathetic story of Mrs. oDonneHi
| struggles in this city was told by Mrs ldi
G. Wilde. 3lG North Thirty-eighth street
with whom the O'Donnells made Ciei
home
although she made every effort to ap
pear cheerful IN the letters sne sent uCiilt'
Mrs Wilde said, Mrs. ODonnelIs parents
in Scotland got an inkling of her distress
and repeatedly urged her to go to Scot
| land
Mrs. ODonnell loved America, She hat
told me many times that 1t was the mos
wonderful country in the world. She said
however, that although she wanted her chill
| dren to be Americans, she realized she coult
never give them what they needed in thi
country and decided to leave for Scotland
and home.
| According to Mrs. Wilde, the mother wa
we'll educated and refined. Her parents ar,
, well to do, and Mrs. O'Donnell had neve
worked until forced to do so to support he
children.
Father Curran spoke in high praise o
Mrs O'Donnell "She was faithful an
Woodworking woman" he said Her hus
band took to drink some years ago. l say
her only recently. She came TO the paris
house and told me she intended to cross
Scotland
when I asked her II she was not afrai
of the ship being torpedoed by a sui
marine she said: Wen get along all righ
Nothing will happen to us