Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17
AUoTIoN1NG OFF A CHILD.
A Polish Mother Tries to Sell Her Baby
Probably Out of Her Head-Two sto-
ries of Castle Garden-A Germans
Foolish Purchase.

A RoI1sh Mother Tries to Sell Her Baby
Probably Out of Her Head-Two sto-
ries of Castle Garden-A German
Foolish Purchase.
Nea0 York Times, dug. II.
Among a crowd of nearly 200 miserable
and hungry-loeking immigrants who were
aroused from their hard beds on the floor
OF Caste Garden yesterday morning was
poor Polish woman with an infant in
arms. After vain attempts 10 ouiet her
hungry child, the poor mother begged for
crust from some of those around her.
An English woman divided what food she
had with the child, and for while il silent
again in contentment.
The WOman'S name was Josephine Ste
pelowski. She swarmed into Castle Gar
den with multitude of other immigrants
as poor as herself, about two weeks AGO.
she had very little money, and positively
no knowledge of the English language,
but she started out alone to lock for en-
ployment. Saturday morning she came
back again, poorer than ever, tired, hum
CRY, and discouraged. She went away
with warm cloak and good shoes. She
came back with neither. She would not
admit it, but the interpreter felt con-
WINGED that she had sold them for bread.
All day Saturday and until yesterday
breakfast time the woman begged enough
Il
full herself. About noon the child grew
hungry again and cried for more
food. The poor woman was in despair. as
she did not know shat if she would
apply to the officials she would receive
assistance. She had sold everything
which any one would buy and thought
nothing remained but to publicly ask for
aims or starye. The woman hesitated
sometime, but finally she wrapped her
in oil nI0
vent out to beg among the crowds
OF people who constantly thrOng the
Battery and lower Broadway. After
two or three rude repulses from men who
are accustomed to being approached by
importunate beggars a hundred times a
day, she sat down on the grass beneath
tree and endeayored to hush her child's
cries with passionate kisses. She looked
as though she had seen better times than
most immigrants in her situation. Going
back into.the Garden again, she asked the
interpreter how much such a baby as hers
was worth in America. The man thought
she was joking, and answered, with a
laugh:
ooh, about $40, guess"
The woman went out of doors az ain,
repeating the answer over to herself.
Meeting a well-dressed lady on the street,
she rushed up to her, and, with tears
to bay the baby for $40. The lady was
surprised, but made an attempt to lift
aside the shawl and look into the child's
face. AS though frightened at what she
haa done, and fearful that her little one
was really to be taken from her, the Polish
mother uttered cry of despair and hur-
RED back again to the Garden. After sit
ting around for while she suddenly
sprang on one Of the benches and
screamed out:
''Who buy for SLAP,
The woman acted as though she was
out of her head. Her hair and dress were
disheveled and her eyes were unnaturally
bright.
''Giye you so centsw shouted one i'm
migrant.
"a plag Of tobacco yelled another.
For five minutes the immigrants offered
her all sorts of things for her little one,
from an old jackknife to a pewter pot
with broken handle. Some of the en-
plOyeS of the place finally gave her food
for herself and child, and last night, when
a I INES reporter visited the Garden both
were huddled asleep on the floor, forget
full of their destitute misery. They will
probably be sent back again to Poland.
"Pll tell you of another curious case
which came in about two months ago"
said an officer. GA young German couple
came in, carrying three huge pieces of
chamber crockefy, which they had
brought with them all the way from home.
Some ignorant people come here with the
idea that such necessities can't be bought
In America. They sold all three articles
for 81 so, which, with another silver dol
lar, was all they had in the world. No
sooner had they got to room in lodging
house near by than the foolish fellow went
out and spent all but 10 cents of it for a
pistol. Some one told him he would need
it to shoot the sayages in this wild and
uncivilized country. The couple lived on
that 10 cents for three days. How they
did it don't know. When the landlord
went for his rent, of course the poor fell
low couldn't pay him. They We're on the
point of being turned into the street when
the wife suggested to her husband that as
he had no money he might offer the pistol.
The landlord did not understand German,
and was ignorant of what was said.
'sThe young fellow rushed eXcitedlY for
his bag, which was thrown in one corner
of the room, and, pulling out his pistol,
thrust it toward his creditor. The land
lord wholly misunderstood the motive Of
the act, and, believing that the poor man
meant to shoot him, he hallooed for the
police. The neighbOrs rushed in, there
was great scene, and the young German
came within an ace of going off to Jail.
A German produce dealer in Washington
Market promised to give him work. he
was let 60, and to-day he called in to see
me, feeling quite contented Immigrants
spend their money very foolishly as gen.
eraI thing"