OBIT: Lizzie WARD, 1893, Martinsburg, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ Almshouse Notes. Mrs. Ward, an aged woman, died at the temporary almshouse at Martinsburg, on Monday. Old age was the primary cause of death. The remains were taken to Hollidaysburg yesterday and interred in the almshouse cemetery. On Tuesday morning another aged county charge named Streepy died. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 23, 1893 PITY THE POOR. Shrouds Dispensed With at Almshouse Funerals. Two Late Cases. Last Tuesday an old man named Strippey died at the temporary almshouse at Martinsburg. At the request of his friends the remains were sent to Elizabeth Furnace for interment. When the remains arrived there the coffin was opened to allow his friends to take a last look at the deceased, and their horror may be imagined when they found that the body had no clothing except a single shirt, and that a bunch of hay pillowed the head. Suitable clothing was provided before the interment was proceeded with. Mr. Strippey was not an ordinary pauper, but went with his wife to the almshouse because they were left alone without children to care for them nor immediate relatives who could assume the burden. They had some means and the county has been paid, or partly paid, for their keeping. The aged widow is still at the almshouse. The heartlessness of the almshouse keepers is a disgrace to the county and something should be done to stop such barbarity. Mrs. Ward, an aged woman, died at the almshouse on Monday and her remains were interred in the county cemetery at Hollidaysburg on Wednesday. In her case, funeral raiment was altogether dispensed with, the body being only wrapped in an old blanket. Stewart Bridenbaugh can hardly escape censure for these offenses against the rules of common decency, as they could not have been committed without his knowledge and consent. The management of the almshouse is responsible to the people for the proper performance of his duties, and the people owe it to themselves to punish and prevent such glaring offenses against civilization. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, March 25, 1893 THE ALMSHOUSE BURIALS Steward Bridenbaugh Exonerated from Charges of Gross Neglect. As the Mirror published particulars furnished us regarding the seeming neglect of the almshouse authorities to properly clothe the bodies of two persons who died at the almshouse recently, we are glad to give publicity to the following: To whom it may concern: Believing that anything I might say in reference to the burial of Samuel Streepy and Mrs. Lizzie Ward, late inmates of the almshouse, would be received with some discredit, I invited S. B. Linsinger [sic] and Alexander Bobb, two of our justices, to visit my home and take testimony and make such report as the surroundings warranted. P. F. Bridenbaugh. Martinsburg, Pa., March 18, 1893. We, Alexander Bobb and S. B. Lysinger, two justices of the peace, in and for the borough of Martinsburg, do hereby certify that we went this day to the county home for the purpose of inquiring into the preparation for and the burial of Samuel Streepy and Mrs. Lizzie Ward, late inmates of the institution. In reference to the burial of Mr. Streepy we examined Colonel W. W. Knee, assistant steward, D. W. Bonebreak, attending physician, Michael Lewis and Patrick Fitzgerald, inmates. His death was from old age, perhaps a little premature from gangrene in lower limbs and feet. Was an inmate for three weeks. Came there in a wretched condition. The two inmates say that better treatment could not have been given him; that in death they personally laid his body out for interment; it was washed, shaved and clean shirt and drawers put on him; that the coffin was an extra one with handles on it; that the headrest, or pillow, was furnished with the coffin and was made of jute, as all burial pillows are: that P. H. Bridenbaugh, knowing of approaching dissolution, made every effort to learn the whereabouts of Mr. Streepy's friends; that he wrote letters and sent telegrams at his own expense; that, learning from Mr. Streepy's friends, if he or the county would deliver Streepy's body at Sabbath Rest they would bury him, Mrs. Bridenbaugh inferred that they would make complete arrangements for burial, and this is how it came that a shroud was not put on, and which opens this case for complaint. In relation to the death of Lizzie Ward, we had before us Dr. Bonebreak, Colonel Knee, Mrs. Bridenbaugh, matron, Mrs. Ott, Mrs. Glass and Miss Lizzie Griffith, assistant matrons, and Mrs. Lizzie McCabe, an inmate. This lady's case was a terrible one and dangerous to attendants. Her death resulted from blood poisoning brought on by a nameless disease, and that her body was a mass of corruption with open sores, the discharge from which would inoculate others; but she had all the attention necessary. A shroud was about to be made, but it was discovered that it could not be put on because of the condition of the body. That her hands were bandaged with white cloth. A clean blanket was put around it and placed in the coffin, and a clean white sheet nicely arranged and folded so as to form a winding sheet or robe and a new black cap was put on her head. Mrs. McCabe informs us that she looked at the corpse after it was in the coffin and it looked neat and tasty [tasteful]. That the coffin was new and a jute pillow was under the head. The doctor informs us that the condition of the body was such that it was necessary that some article be put around it so as to absorb the matter; that the hauling of it to Hollidaysburg would cause the pus to ooze out and destroy any shroud put on it. During our stay at the home we were impressed with the cleanly shaven faces and tidy appearance of the men whom we saw. The body of Mr. Streepy as it lay in the coffin was viewed by A. J. McKee and Robert Gifford, of Hollidaysburg; Dr. Balzer, Will Bloom, J. B. Clapper, R. K. Sipes and E. H. Bonner, of this place, who had no complaint to make. We further state that there is not to be found in this county a more sympathetic and more open hearted man than Mr. Bridenbaugh, and his purse is commensurate with his sympathy. Alex. Bobb, J.P. S. B. Lysinger, J. P. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 30, 1893