The Labor enquirer., 1883-12-29
STARVED ON THE STREETS.
a True Christmas stury, Which
Shows the Effects d Present
Systems.

There are 2 great many people IN this city
who ne in the habit of indnlging In Z suspt-
ciOus smile when they read In THE ENQUIRxR
or hear it said that there people starving right
here in this city, In the midst OF riches and
br1sS-band charitable institutions. There are
various forms Of starvation. Very few die
directly from the pangs OF hunger; tn0u-
lick Of the necessities Of life and die from
nothing else than starvation.
a case of outright starvation occurred in
this city on Tuesday Christmas day and the
facts in the case are taken from the Daily
News, which is not inclined TO embellish q
tale that will show up the heartlessness of
the rich who live in luxury while others die
of starvation.
Many pitiful acts in the drama OF life are
constantly being played on the streets Of q
crowded city. Tuesday, Larimer street was
the scene Of one OF these real life romances
where the SOrTOWS and miserieS of humanity
find their elimination in death. An old man,
.decrepid and bent with the weight of years
and grief, has for some time solicited aims at
the corners of the more crowded streets.
While all around him were enjoying the
pleasures of the universal holiday he was
sitting or crOuching upon the sidewalk
plenty that was lavish In its abundance. I'm
noticed he sat for hours, the busy, laughing
throng giving no heed to him. Finally a
policeman passing by, observed that he
seemed devoid of life, and on approaching
found he was either unconscious or dead. a
crowd soon collected and light unfeeling jeStS
and remarks were made by the thoughtless
lockers on. Just as the officer was about to
secure an express wagon to take the man to
charge of drunkenness or yagraney against
him when he had recovered, a carriage which
was passing was stopped by the passenger
within, who, attracted by the crowd, alighted,
and making his way through, approached the
PROSTATE man and the instant he saw the
features exclaimed, MY God, 1t Is my
fatherp At hearing this the crowd ceased
its jests, and the gentleman, with the assis-
tance Of the officer placed the insenslble form
in the carriage and drove to his hotel. Later
on News reporter called at the address
gwen and got the story of the son, which
was about as follows:
Ny name is Richard Weldon. was form
erly well known in Denver and, in fact,
throughout the state. My parents were in
tolerably comfortable circumstances in a
small town in Kansas but frequently spoke in
their letters of coming to Denver. Having
acquired considerable mining interests in
Montana, resolved to devote my whole at
tention to them and close out my business in
since left here the last time, and during that
period had not heard from home. To-day,
upon arriving, / visited the postOffioe and
found number of letters awaiting me con-
veying the intelligence that my mother was
dead and my father had lost what little he
had and was coming to Denver. This he did,
and came here to starye. How he has lived
for the past few months God only knows /
fear that he has but a few hours to live"
His fears were verified, for In less than one
hour the father breathed his last, never hav-
ing regained consciousness, literally starved
in land of plenty. 5