A REMARKABLE CASE OF DESTITUTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 October 1901, Page 4

A REMARKABLE CASE OF DESTITUTION.

A remarkable case of destitution was brought under the notice of the Wellington police (says Saturday's "Post,") when a woman, who stated that she had neither food nor shelter Bince Monday last, was discovered on the ground beneath the flooring of Macarthy's old mill, off Manners street. The building was partially destroyed by fire some time ago, and there now remains of it but a charred and broken skeleton. Groans wore beard issuing from the ruins. Some boards were at once broken out, and there clad in but the remnams of an old petticoat, was a woman between forty and fifty years of age, in a shocking state of filth and woaknoss. So weak was she, indeed, that she was unable to move, but lay in the noisome darkness moaning piteously. How she got there it is hard to say, for more boards had to bo brcken away beforo she could be removed. Dr. Teare ordered her to bo at onco taken to the Hospital which was done. The woman managed to say that her name was Sarah Glenn, and that she had been under the building sioae Monday. It is supposed that, being homeless, she had gone into the ruins to sleep, and, from tli9 appearance of tho rocess where she was found, it is quite probable that she was unablo to get out again. When the state of tho weather during the week is considered, and when it is remembered also that the shelter afforded by the building is practically nil, some idea of die poor creature's sufferings can be formed. Had she remained unprotected another night she must have died.