The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-03
PURSUED, BY MISFORTUNE.
An Old Scotchman's Story of Wander
ings Which End in Poverty.


Among the daily attendants at the Western
Central Labor Uniou reading room is q Scotch
man about So years OF age with sad history,
which will undoubtedly excite the sympathy or
some one in this city who can aid MIN. The
only assistance he asks is sn opportunity to
work ior food and shelter, being at present
compelled to subsist on what he can get fire.
quently going without food for two or three
days. Every day ne may be found at the read
ing-room referred to porting over the most solid
literature he can find there. He possesses
high degree OF intelligence, is temperate in his
habits and evidently of good moral character,
OF medium size, able-bodied and evidently in
dustrious but his circumstances are due to the
fact that be lost his hearing sixteen years ago.
A reporter of the posT-INTELLIGENCEc entered
into conversation with him yesterday, and
secured tile following account OF his ex-
perlenceS:
my name is Alexander Ross and l was born
in Edinburgh and was brought up in the North
OF England. served my time with my father
as n gardener, after which l worked in several
places In Scotland as journeymen gardener
until 1859, when went to Australia. There /
found no work at my trade aud turned to min
ing, which followed for some time and finally
started for home The vessel on which !
sailed sput ON at Valparaiso and I
thought | would like to remain there and he
come eonversant with the language of the coun-
try, being inclined to study III that line went
to work for San Francisco railroad contractor
HhHsu hcSSS, out after some time i HnaIIy
drifted North to Nevada, and did soma copper
mining. This was in the early days before there
were any railroads, and though the ore was
quite rich, 1t did not pay very well.
/ then became interested in commercial bust
ness with partner who got the best OF me, and
left me penniless. i then went to Peru ana en-
gagged with the same Meggs again. / was not
there long until the war between Peru and
Chile broke cut. l was taken with a terrible
fever, was delirious for two days, and when I
began TO recover | was Mortified to notice how
still Il was ali around. When the doctor came
i'll asked him if the other patients around me
were drunk or stupid, they seemed to be max
ing no noise. He wrote on a piece of paper:
"Iou must have lost your hearing" replied
'No." Then | saw him move his lips, but
heard no sound Then Taxed him II ne had
spoken, and when he nodded an affirmative
knew that my hearing was gone.
Upon my recovery returned to Scotland, my
people being well of, and made every effort to
get cured, but in vain, for the best physicians
could do nothing for me. Alter had remained
at home ten years my brother, a lawyer in Can
ada. wrote for me to come and live with him.
He offered me the use OF sl,0J0 il it would be of
any service 10 me in the recovery of my hearing,
and made another attempt, which resulted as
before. After this | went pros pecting in the
Rocky mountains but met with poor success.
went to British Columbia, but Jared no better,
and in june last came to Seattle. Since | came
here the only work could get to do was taking
care OF the lawn tennis court for Carnic hael IL
Stirling, al IS per week. When this job gave
out went with G. :. Logan to keep company
with him on a ranch near Seabeck. Three