Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-10-15
Starving in the Midst of Plenty.


In her giant strides toward the goal of
wealth, Omaha, like other fast growing
cities, stalks on without passing thought
for the poor sufferer or wretched way
farer who kneels by the wayside and begs
for q morsel wherewith to keep soul and
body. together. The man of wealth in
Omaha is but type of the nabob of New
York or Chicago. They are greedy, all
grasping, boarding, selfish and miserly,
but one great desire filling their souls,
haunting their dreams and urging them on
during the day. Omaha, too, has her
scenes of squalor and filth, starvation and
crime. In her eargerness to accumulate
gold, she neglects the nObler, more eleya-
ting attributes of humanity.
We were yesterday informed that poor
woman and her daughter were lying in
an old freight car on the levee, literally
starving to death. In company with Off
Ger Harlow of the police force our infor-
mant, we at once sought out the wrctched
abode, and there witnessed scene u hich
made our blood run cold. Stretched out on
the car-foor lay two gaunt, emaciated
forms, with no covering to protect them
from the chilly night air and cold bleak
winds which come from the prairies. One
of those forms was that of a woman at least
90 years of age, the body shriveled and
shrunken by age and exposure. Her hair
was disheveled, her face wrinkled, her
hands bony and skeleton-like, her eyes
sunken, wild and staring, and her teeth
chattering from severe attack of that ter
rible disease, Western ague. Beside her,
moaning and tossing on the hard, filthy
floor, lay a young girl, whose age we sub
sequently learned was but 49, She, too,
was but mere skeleton, all wasted away,
actually starved.
Around the Car was here and there a
rag, which had evidently been picked up
in the street; few crusts of bread lay
upon an old trunk, which contained
nothing, its original contents having been
sold for the wherewith to keep the dread
fend from the door. At the woman's
head stood an old tin can filled with water.
AS she lay shaking with the destroying
disease, her knees drawn up to her chin, a
little filthy dog crawled up and curled him.
with vermin, the only garment she had on.
Her bare feet were exposed from great
gaping holes in the sides of q pair of
shoes, which had at some time been worn
by man. The young girl was dressed
but little better, having, in addition to her
old calico gown, a light skirt or petticoat
AS we entered the car this poor outcast
started up with cry of alarm. Kind
words quieted her fears, and she informed
us that her name was Delphina H. keed.
She says she originally came from Penn
sylvania, but for years has resided in st.
Louis. Her husband was murdered in
January last, some fifty miles below the last
named city. Subsequently she started for
Omaha,and has worked her way from place
to place, in hopes, upon her arrival here,
to find work and make for herself and
daughter home. Sixty miles below here
she run out of money and so walked the
balance of the distance, begging her way
from house to house.
Her destination was at last reached, but
disappointment stared her in the face.
She sought work, only to meet with re-
fusal. There was none to lend helping
hand or speak kind word. Even the pO-
lice turned upon her cold shoulder and
threatened to arrest her if she did not
leave. For three long weeks the most alb
jcct poverty has clung to her, and a mea-
gre subsistence only has been obtained
from the charity of those poor people in
the suburbs.
AS we were leaving the car we met near
the door, Miss Claude Clifford, resident
of the lower part of Douglas street, ac-
companied by another party, who carried
under one arm large bundle of clothing,
while on the other he carried large bas-
ket of nice provisions, consisting of sand
wiches, cold bread, pickles and some fruit.
She was.assisted into the car, and when
the bundle was unfolded, displaying clean
underclothing, a couple of dresses, wooden
stockings, two pair of shoes and some
VAIN coverlets, the joy of the starving
women was unbounded. Tears streamed
down their sunken cheeks, while blessings
were called down on the head of the Good
Samaritan Truly the scene was affect.
ing.-Oaaaha Republican, Oct. 2.