The morning call., 1892-02-26
in order to move around inside the oecu-
pant must either walk On the boxes or place

in order to move around inside the oecu-
pant must either walk on the boxes or place
them on the bed ont Of the way.
The stove fell down several years ago
and since then the occupant of this miser-
able o bode has not been bothered with a
dread Of ire as none has been kiDdled since.
The bedding consisted of a sack filled with
straw and an old piece Of filthy carpet that
served as a blanket. No cooking utensils
of an kind. ex EFT a pot with big hole In
the bottom. was visible, and there was moth
ing TO show that tie occupant Of the place
ever d.ned. The closest search failed 10 re-
veal either plate, cup. knife or fork.
The unfortunate creature who had known
no other home than this for so many years
lay on Tie miserable apology for a bed alb
solutely naked. except for The carpet undrr
which she shivered, with Ler head rest NJ
en- a bundle 81 rags which she had picked
up in her wandering, along the city front
Since tie death Of her husband she has
made a living by sweeping out a nearby
saloon In Tie morning and begging during
the rest OF the day. About a month ago she
was taken sick. and since then has been
supplied with a meal now and then BY
kind-hearted nelghUur who Is nearly as
poor as herself
The place Is literally swarming with YER
min, and q tie woman had not bathed her
sell for may day the odoT from her person
aud the filthy rags on the bed was unDeara-
bic. Despite all This she expires sea her de-
Termination not 20 be removed. saying she
preferred TO end her days ia the old shauty.
The sight Of The star on the breast OF
Policeman Aiken, however, induced her 20
change her mind, although with consldera-
bic reluctance.
After the old lady had been taken away
TIE CALL man started on a tour Of Inyes-
tigau0n. and discovered that the adjoining
shanties, each # which is smaller than that
from which the old waman was removed.
were also occupied, one by an old sailor,
named Andy Dgrand, better known as
JIbber, who said he was formerly black
smiths helper. Like Mrs. Martin. Jibber
has been sick for some time, but IS not con-
fined to his bed. How he manages TO exist
is a mystery even 10 himself. lie was at
supper when the reporter called, and the
meal consisted Of a crust OF bread and pot
Of coffee made Of a piece OF burned bread
10y pouring hot water on il.
JibbeT IS the lucky pOSstssDr of cooking
stove and gets his supply OF fuel from the
wharves. He said that Mrs. Martin was
not a had neighbOr. ds she was very quiet,
but up there. indicating the other two
shauties with jerk Of his shoulder, There
are mare rows than enough"
visit 70 the other shaniiPs revealed the
fact that the parties referred to by Jibber
as They" were a coupe OF old coi0red men,
" $40 llhittefu 40 i've bA piEhiIZ w rags
bones. old iron and other junk found along
tie city front. Like the other shanties
these IeeE with filth and vermin and are
destitute Of furniture OF any kind. A few
old boxes ana a sack Of straw in the cor
mr. serve as table, chair and bed while
| heaps Of rags, bottles and other refuse fill
up both shantieS TO such an extent that the
men have to go outside in order TO turn
around.
The men are not very communicative and
when asked t. give their names replied Jim
and Andrew. They gave the reporter 10
understand that they did not mix with the
white trash who lived in the other houses Oh
the block, meaning no doubt. Jibber and
| Mrs. Martin
This queer colony has resided unnoticed
for years. although once in a while shoe
! maker named Sullivan, who Jibber said
lives somewhere on Market street pays the
miserable creatures a visit for the purpose
Of trying to collect 81 per month rent
Whether Sullivan owns the land on which
the shanties stand or not the reporter was
unable to learn, but he was Informed that
only once had Sullivan succeeded in collect
ing the rent, and that was several years ago
The removal Of Mrs. Martin created quite
an excitement among the three men, as
they are afraid that fellow named Tim
viii take up bis residence in the vacant
shanty. and, as Jim explained il, the pros
pectve nelghb9r gets drunk and raises
trouble