When looking up information about Black Home Owners of Truxton Circle or any other historical thing, I sometimes come across something interesting.
In this case I was looking for more information about Dr. Arthur McKinney, because he had family members listed as home owners. And sometimes it is easier to find someone by looking at their relatives. While doing so I came across an Evening Star article, “Injured Boy is Refused Aid at Two Hospitals,” May 15, 1922 page 12.
The refusal of Sibley and Homeopathic hospitals to administer first aid treatment yesterday to a young colored boy who had been struck down by an automobile today is being Investigated by George S. Wilson, secretary of the Board of Charities.
Wilson said that while these hospitals were not under his supervision, either directly or indirectly, he felt It his duty to find out why they would not accept this emergency case.
“These hospitals are supported by private charities and the board has nothing to do with them.” said Wilson. “But I intend to call this case to the attention of the heads of the institutions. This boy should have been treated. Even if there was no room In the hospital for him lie should have been given first aid and then sent somewhere else.”
Condition Not Serious.
The boy, Leroy Randolph, colored, seven years old, is now at his home at 106 O street northwest. He Is being attended by Dr. Arthur B. McKinney, of 1515 First street north west.
“The boy’s condition does not appear to be serious, but he must be watched for several days,” said Dr. McKinney. “He is suffering from bruises on the head. In all cases of head injuries we must watch the patient closely to see that concussion of the brain does not set in.”
No Doctors at Either
The boy was struck down about 11:15 o’clock yesterday morning. He was In the street near First and O streets northwest when an automobile driven by Lorenzo Wilson, colored, of 1118 Eighteenth street north west, hit him.
F. Burnett Bloom, who was driving In the rear of Wilson, picked the boy up and took him to a nearby drugstore. The druggist said the boy’s head injuries might be serious and advised rushing him to the hospital.
Bloom took the boy to Sibley Hospital. He was told there, It is alleged, that there were no doctors available and the boy could not be treated. Bloom then rushed the boy to Homeopathic Hospital. Here he was told, he claims, no doctors were in the institution. It was suggested at Homeopathic that he take the boy to the home of a physician near by.
The boy was removed to the physician s house. The physician was not at home and Bloom came back to Homeopathic. Again the hospital, it is claimed, refused to give the boy treatment.
Failing to get aid from these institutions. Bloom took the boy to his home at 106 O street northwest. Dr. McKinney was called and treated the boy.
The hero of the story is F. Bloom.
I also appreciate the detailed information the Evening Star put in the paper. There are addresses and locations. We know where the victim lives, where the guy who hit the boy lives, and where Dr. McKinney lives. We know the boy was hit at 1st and O St NW.
I looked the boy up. In 1920 Leroy Burke Randolph (1914-1997) lived at 105 O St NW, with his mom and dad, sisters and brother and a boarder. His father Charles A. Randolph worked as a fireman for an office building. It appears the 106 O St NW address is a typo, as the only thing in that space in the 1920s was the side of Dunbar High School.
His rescuer F. Burnett Bloom appears to be Frank Bernett Bloom. He’s the only FB Bloom in the 1922 city directory, so he is more than likely our guy. According to the 1920 census Bloom was an auditor for the Treasury Dept (IRS) and lived at 915 26th Ave NW in Foggy Bottom. This may explain why he picked Sibley over nearby Freedmens/Howard University hospital. Frank Bloom was also white, another possible reason for the Sibley pick. In the 1930s and onward the Bloom family lived at 436 Randolph St NW in Petworth.
Lorenzo Wilson, the fellow who hit young Leroy Randolph, is difficult to find. I looked in the 1922 city directory and found a Louis D. Wilson, chauffeur at 1118 18th St NW. He lived there with another chauffeur, Jas D. Wilson. There might have been more.
That’s it. That’s the story of a little boy, hit by a car and managed to live into his 80s.