Missoula’s Generosity – 1909
A Warm Account of Missoula’s Generosity -1909
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1909-01-02/ed-1/seq-10/
Article from The Daily Missoulian – Saturday, Jan. 2, 1909.
Actors Extend Aid to Destitute
Unfortunate Family Helped by Subscription – A Story of Dire Poverty
Through the efforts of Manager I. W. Van Dyke of the Sutton Opera company, now appearing at the Union theater, and of Mrs. E. Billadeau, proprietress of the Britton rooming house, on Higgins Avenue, in securing aid for a distressed family occupying a room at the Britton, a condition of extreme poverty was revealed last night. Between acts in the play “Way Down East” Mr. Van Dyke appeared before the curtain and recited a pitiful tale of woe and poverty almost indescribable in its direness. The story related to a family named Haley, which was absolutely destitute, with three of the members ill and two of them not expected to recover.
Early in the spring of 1908 Henry Haley came to Missoula from a little town in Michigan named Turner, and since that time has worked diligently in the woods up the Blackfoot as a logger, managing to save sufficient money to send for his wife and three children. Two weeks ago he was advised that they were about to leave for Missoula, and before they reached here he was taken ill with what appeared to be typhoid fever. When the family reached this place Haley was still in St. Patrick’s hospital, where his wife visited him.
The money which Haley had saved had been expended for hospital treatment and transportation for his family, and when Mrs. Haley arrived there was little available for the immediate necessities of life. To add to the burdens of Mrs. Haley, who is a frail little woman, two of the children, aged respectively 2 and 5 years, were taken very ill with bronchitis and complications which were diagnosed as being brought on by the use of improper food. When the conditions of the little ones was brought to the attention of Mr. Haley he secured permission to visit them, remaining all of one day with his family. Although weak himself, he assisted in every way possible to relieve the distress of the little ones. When night came Haley returned to the hospital, leaving that institution on the following day to minister to the needs of his babies.
On the second day of his absence from the hospital Haley suffered a relapse, which quickly developed into pneumonia, and in a short time he became delirious. County Physician Furman was called to attend the patient, but, on account of Haley’s having left the hospital before being properly discharged, little assistance could be rendered him as a county charge. Dr. Furman advised Mrs. Haley to get her husband back to the infirmary as soon as possible, and to this end the aid of Rev. J. W. Tait was invoked. That gentleman, together with T. T. McLeod, succeeded in returning the sick man to St. Patrick’s hospital on Thursday. The latest reports from the bedside of the suffering man indicate that he cannot recover, and for a time yesterday afternoon his case appeared absolutely hopeless. Last night he was resting easier.
Due to the efforts of Mrs. Billadeau, aid has been secured for the children, and one of them is now reported to be recovering. The 5 – year – old child is still in a very low condition and may succumb to the ravages of the disease. In her efforts to secure aid for the suffering children, Mrs. Billadeau has been compelled to call on her mother and other outside help and has guaranteed the bill for medical services. Mr. Haley is a man of about 30 years, while his wife is several years his junior. Their children range in age from 2 to 7 years, and all show the effects of the hardships through which they have been compelled to pass the past few weeks.
At St. Patrick’s hospital Rev. J. W. Tait was compelled to give personal guarantee for Haley’s treatment before a place could be found for him in the institution.
It is learned that Mrs. Haley and her babies subsisted for four days on bread and water and a few pieces of dried herring, and even this stock was almost exhausted when the attention of Mrs. Billadeau was called to the extremity of the family.
Mr. H. W. Van Dyke became aware of the dire condition of the Haley family and last night appealed to the audience at the Union theater, which responded heartily to aid the distressed mother and her children. The amount subscribed by this means amounted to $50.04, which was taken to Mrs. Haley by a committee composed of Manager Charles A. Harnois, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Van Dyke and Fred J. Murray.
It is said that the county will assist the Haley family in a small way, but on account of Mrs. Haley and the children having arrived here so recently little can be advanced, unless the county from which she came in Michigan will guarantee to reimburse Missoula county.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1909-01-03/ed-1/seq-8/
Article from The Daily Missoulian – Sunday, Jan. 3, 1909.
Missoula Assists Distressed
Community is Generous in Contributing Alms to the Haley Family
Moved as by one thought Missoula showed its bigness of heart yesterday by rushing to the aid of the Haley family, now lodged in one of Mrs. E. Billadeau’s rooms in the Briton rooming house, and whose desperate condition was noted in these columns yesterday morning.
Before the first gray streaks of light had shot across the eastern sky yesterday inquiries and offers of relief began to pour in and from that moment to a late hour last night. Mrs. Billadeau had a busy time with visitors bearing provisions, clothing and other needed commodities for the destitute family. Along with these gifts many contributions of money were sent in from persons who had been doing silent ministry work in the interest of Mrs. Haley and her small children.
The county commissioners have arranged with Mrs. Billadeau to care for the sufferers during this period of anxiety, and will make an appropriation of $10 per week, which is to be applied on expense incurred in succoring this needy family.
Dr. W. B. Parsons has taken full charge of the sick child and has arranged to provide medical care and the services of a nurse. Reports of the condition of the little sufferer indicate a slight change for the better and it is believed that with good nursing, together with proper food and medicine, the life of the infant may be saved.
At St. Patrick’s hospital, where Mr. Haley is lying ill, it is said there is some change for the better in his condition and a small chance for ultimate recovery. Mrs. Haley spent several hours at the bedside of her husband yesterday and was greatly cheered when she received the encouraging report from the attendants.
Mrs. C. J. Lemley, acting for the King’s Daughters, has the further care of the family in hand and will keep a watchful eye over its future. In this act of benevolence the King’s Daughters will be seconded by the city ministerial association, before whom the dire needs of the family has been brought.
As soon as matters have so shaped themselves that the family is in shape to be moved into rooms of its own, arrangements will be made for assisting in supplying the necessary comforts. To this end Frank Long, the second hand man, has agreed to furnish and fit two or three rooms for the distressed people.
In the meantime, Mrs. Billadeau is housing the mother and her little ones and is keeping the smallest child in her own apartments during the day. Mrs. Driscoll, a trained nurse, took charge of the sick child last night and everything possible is being done for the comfort of the family.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1909-01-04/ed-1/seq-4/
Article from The Daily Missoulian – Monday, Jan. 4, 1909
As To Haley’s Case
The sisters of charity at the hospital feel that they have been misrepresented, perhaps unintentionally, in the statements that have been made regarding the case of the unfortunate Haley family. The sister superior, who was present when Haley was brought to the hospital by those who had taken an interest in his case, is positive that there was no question raised as to who would pay for the man’s treatment or as to the financial question at all. Mother Julian, who is at the hospital now, says that the question is never raised, and she is positive that it was not raised then. Haley was, and is, a patient of Dr. Mills, and, even if there had been any disposition to question the source of rumeration, there was no reason for it in this case. The man was clearly in a serious condition and he was taken in. That was all there is to it so far as the sisters were concerned.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1909-01-13/ed-1/seq-3/
Article from The Daily Missoulian – Wed. Jan. 13, 1909
Unfortunate Family Getting Along Nicely
[Haley’s name was spelled differently in this article – D.G.]
The family of Henry Haly, for which a public subscription was made about a week ago, and which is stopping at the Briton rooming house, is reported to be getting along in fine shape. The 5 – year – old child, which has been sick, is now much better, while the father, who is at St. Patrick’s hospital is suffering with typhoid-pneumonia, is now to be out of danger.
Mrs. Haly was out around town yesterday on a search for a house in which the family will be able to start housekeeping on its own account. Frank Long, the second-hand dealer, has offered to furnish three rooms for the family when the members of it are ready to commence keeping house.
The family has received exceptional treatment from Mrs. E. Billadeau, the landlady of the Briton rooming house, and is greatful to all the other kind-hearted people who so generously contributed to its support.