The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-11-04
FIGHTING FOR A BABY.
TWO WOMEN WHO STRUGGLED
FOR POSSESSION OF A CHILD.

One Was the Mother. the Other Had
Grown to Be a Foster Mosser-Story
of a Mothers Unfortunate Efforts to
Provide "a Home for Herself and Child.
A mother trying to kidnap her own
child.
Another woman trying to hold the
child for the payment of a board bill.
And two women using the two-year
old baby III lieu of rope for a tug of
war.
These three different views describe
the spectacle which met the eyes of
passersby on fremont street, in front of
Kings chapel, about half past 4 o'clock
ON Wednesday afternoon.
1t was noisy incident. The mother
had the baby by the legs; the other
woman chung to it by the shoulders
Neither would release her hold, and the
frightened screams of the child quickly
attracted the attention of a crowd.
81 want my child" screamed the
younger woman between her gasps for
breath, as she tugged away.
"You shan't have her," gritted the
elder lady, as with determined grasp she
maintained her. hold upon the little one
Then the crowd grew interested and
took sides, although the weight of SYM
pathy seemed to be with the young
mother, and further complications might
have ensued but for the appearance of
Patrolman Maynes, of Station 2.
His arrival was the signal for cessa-
tion of hostilities. The little one was
dropped, and both sides entered upon
voluble explanations, which he cut short
by inviting the entire party to go with
him to Station 2, where matters could be
adjusted.
1t was unique party which presently
stood before Captain Hemmenway's desk
the mother weeping and angry, the
other woman flushed and defiant. the
baby frightened and fearful.
The policeman quickly stated the case,
and then mutual and instantaneous ex-
plantations began.
81 want my baby" exclaimed the lit
tie woman.
"Well, why, don't you pay its board?'
retorted the other.
"I did as long as could" was the re-
ply; "but you've no right to keep it
from me-.
''Well, you've got no right to snatch
it from me on the street." was the quick
response.
MOTHERS STORY.
Then the captain commanded silence
and propounded series of questions,
the answers to which revealed one of
those little domestic tragedies so COM
mon and yet SO uncommon, as the pretty
little woman told her story.
A few years ago she married a young
fellow, who shortly after their union
- h.
with him as long as she could, and then
left him to begin hard battle for life
for herself and her two little ones.
That was two years ago. She hired a
room ON a quiet street at the south end,
and kept her eldest child with her, while
her infant she placed in the care of a
woman in Wakefield, who advertised to
board children.
The mother obtained work in res
taurant. and out of three dollars a week
and her board undertook to clothe her
self and her little ones, pay for her room
and give two dollars a week for the
board of her baby.
For six months she succeeded. Then
a brief spell of sickness retarded her
efforts. and she found herself unable to
make all ends meet, so she ceased the
R0JAhCab Va tWO NAOI4dIS d week luz Iklt5
little ones board until such time as she
should be able to continue it.
That time has never yet appeared.
Her other little one sickened, and her
earnings were swallowed in bills for
doctors and medicines.
Her brave fight for her child's life was
without avail, however, and few weeks
ago the little one died. Heartbroken,
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resumed the battle. She had one still to
for the last year and half to do any
thing for it.
A MODERN SOLOMON.
On Wednesday afternoon she saw her
baby going down fremont street in the
care of the lady with whom she had
placed it two years ago, and the mater
nal instinct could not resist the desire to
caress those red cheeks, lighted up by a
pair of blue eyes and crowned with
curly, yellow hair.
She caught the child in her arms and
was about to kiss it, when the Wakefield
woman recognized her, and thinking
that she intended to take away the baby
by force resisted to the best of her ability
Then the scene ON the street ensued
The Wakefield woman was then al
lowed to tell her story, which was tina,
the mothers statement about placing the
child in ber care was true, but that she
had received no money for the support
of the baby for the last year and half
and that the little one had so grown into
her heart that she wished to adopt it and
would give it good home.
When both the principals had finished
Csantain H6mTnanUvav in fQxv MN croT1
words managed to convey great deal o
meaning. He suggested an amicable ad
iustment of the matter, and the child'i
parent agreed to go to Wakefield mex
Sunday and receive the little one, and tt
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