Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1912 — Reports Twenty-Four Children Living in Four Rooms. [ARTICLE]

Reports Twenty-Four Children Living in Four Rooms.

A story of hardship and neglect is told by the officials of the board of state charities in Indianapolis in a report issued Friday on the conditions found by investigators in a children’s home in Randolph county. The report in part follows: “The board of state charities was informed that twenty-four colored children, who have been living in a little four-roomed house in Losantsville, Randolph county, have been taken to Springfield, Ohio. The children came to Indiana several weeks ago. "Twenty-seven came to Indiana in charge of a colored housekeeper. Three were placed in private families and the agent found the remaining twentyfour in a residence of four rooms. “The only furniture was two tables, a gasoline stove and a bed for the matron. The children were sleeping on the bare floor with old clothes for cevering. Their food and clothing were very scant. Their food, consisting mainly of apples or raw onions and crackers, was eaten from tin pans and the children sitting on the floor. “Mrs. Steel, the matron, said the children were sent to Indiana simply for an outing and that she intended returning them to Chattanooga in October. When informed of the Indiana law which requires that such homes be licensed by the board of state charities, she requested a license, but the board refused to grant it and the children have now been removed from the state.” It is understood that Mrs. Steele travels much of the time, making addresses in the interest of her work, for which she receives liberal donations?