Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-16
HARRIS HARD LUCK.
A C0lored Man and His Family Come
North 10 Make Money and
HAVE A VERY SAD EXPERIENCE,
Striking Coal Miners at Alcorn Warn Them
to Leave the Place.
DYING OF ISFLAMAAToRY RHEUMATISM

One little room with cold bare walls and
uncarpeted floor, in the upper story of an
old, dilapidated frame building on Jordan
alley, is the place Abraham Harris calls
home. The only furniture consists of two
rickety chairs and broken down bedstead
in one corner:
Abraham Harris, colored, probably 40
years old, writhing in the agony of in
flammatory rheumatism, occupies the bed.
The stamp of death is upon his brow. By
his side are his heartbroken and despairing
wife and two children. The latter,
Valerie, girl of years, and James, boy
of 6.
The case was reported yesterday to the
Department of Charities. 1t was learned
upon investigation that two months ago
the family lived comfortable in neat little
cottage at Lynchburg, Va. The father had
steady employment and made sufficient
money to keep himself and family from
want
Came North to Seek Wealth.
In November Harris received word from
an employment agent in this city stating
that there was a good situation in this
State for himself and family if he would
come North. Harris did not know whether
to accept the offer or not, and upon con-
sulting his wife she told him to act as he
thought best. Two or three days afterward
Harris concluded to come to Pittsburg
and sold out all his household effects with
the exception of few articles which could
be packed in a trunk. On November 10
Harris and his family reached this city.
The next day after his arrival he sought
out the employment agent The latter In
formed him that there was place for him.
self and wife at the coal mines in Alcorn, Pa.
The transportation money was furnish
by his future employer and Harris and his
family started for their destination. On
reaching Alcorn it was found that all of the
men who formerly worked in the mines
were on a strike. The strikers learning that
Harris had been sent to take one of their
places told him it was as much as his life
was worth to stay there. At first he paid
no attention to them and went to his en-
ployer's Office where he was told they were
ready for him to 60 to work.
Kept Close Prisoner.
Whether his employers were afraid he
would desert them or be spirited away by
the strikers he does not know, but he says
he was kept almost prisoner from the
time he arrived in the town until he
managed to get away. His accommoda-
tions were of the poorest kind, and often he
was compelled to sleep on the bare floor in
a cold and damp cabin. While there he
contracted q bad cold, which later de-
veloped into severe case Of infammatory
rheumatism.
When he was able he returned to this
city. This was about -four weeks ago Ac-
cording to his story he was poor before he
went to Alcorn, Fa., but he was far worse
off after leaving there. 81 had trunk
filled with bed clothing and other goods"
said Harris, shut this was taken away from
me to pay my railroad fare to and from
Alcorn."
A few daTs afterward Harris was confined
to his bed. 1t now devolved upon his wife
to do something, but she was unsuccessful.
at last it came to stage where starvation
stared them in the face. They then learned
there was charity department here that
would probably help them over their diff
cultIes. A visit made to the depart
ment, and the Harris family will be given
assistance.