The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-08-08
REFUGEES AND TRAMPS.
The Hungry Horde Reaches St
Louis-What to OoWith
Them

Saturday, anu Whe were Hperaiif oah'
quoted here by the city authorities
and sent on their way rejoicing,
reached St. Louis that night and were
promptly rounded up By order
Of Chief Of Police Harrigan.
They were congregated in one Of
the city buildings and yesterday din
ner was served them. The bill of
fare consisted Of great pieces of fresh,
we'll cooked meat, bread in abund-
ance, and as much good coffee as the
men could drink.
Double-headed sandwiches and a
pint of coffee per man was the
bill of fare for supper.
In answer to question one of the
refugees said: "At Kansas City we
got nothing to eat, but at Sedalia they
not only fed US, but actually provided
two extra emNy freight cars for our
use"
The Globe-Democvat in speaking OF
the matter this morning, says:
"a careful canvass of the big
squad yesterday developed the fact
that there are not more than thirty
five miners, including those working
in coal and iron among the entire
number. Most of them are laborers.
One is a professional nurse. Chief
Harrlgan yesterday evening permitted
eleven Of them to 60 in search of
work. These were a sawmill hand, a
rancher, a brieklayer, miner, a
bridge-builder, foun1ryman, a
smelterman, a cotton mill operative, a
blacksmith, a stone cutter and a lab
orer. There are plenty of cooks,
walters, BARRIERS, teamsters, hotel por-
tiers, and few mlllrightsand artesian
we'll drillers. Halt a dozen colOred
men are among them. Ttere is only
one cripple. a one-legged man.
what to do with these men is a
serious problem. Yesterday morning
a conference OF officials was held, at
which Acting Mayor Nagel, Police
Commissioners Fruin and Lee and
Chief of Police Harrigan were pres
ent. The matter was discussed with
out result, and a telegram sent to
Mayor Walbridge at Piasa Bluffs near
Alton. He had not, however, left
his address at the telegraph Office, and
the operator reported that the mes
sage was undelivered. Another
eqally fruitless conference was held
in the afternoon. The men were,
therefore, housed, and will be given
breakfast this morning, pending the
arrival of the mayor. 1t will be a
very costly thing for the city to
furnish transportation to all
these men, but it is difficult to see
what else can be done, as the longer
they stay the greater will be the ex-
pense. 1t is the first time that such a
crisis has ever occurred in this city,
and there is no precedent to be guided
by. Chief Harrigan notified the men
he released Yesterday afternoon that
they would be gwen every encourage
ment to obtain work or leave town,
but that if they we're found loafing
about the streets or in saloons the
police would gather them in and they
would be sent to the work house.
Acting Mayor Nagel hiss. called
meeting for to-day at II o'clock in his
office, and desires that all of the gen
eral passenger agents of the different
roads centering in this city be pres
ent."
An incident or two concerning the
sojourn of the refugees in st. Louis is
also related by a local paper.
1T was characteristic of the crowd
that a general cleanup should take
place as soon as an opportunity was
afforded. Consequently en- every
hand men were to be seen washing,
wiping, shaving, combing and sewing.
In the afternoon some visitors began
divine services. 1t was at once APP.
parant that there were some fine |
singers in the crowd, and that nearly |
all present were familiar with church |
tunes. A short time before the sup
per hour Jim Collins, former Minis
lrel, sang several songs in a fine tenor
voice which were greeted with
Collins formerly travel
I'd with Thatcher, Primrose and West,
but lately has been working at his
.rade, paper-hanging, IN Salida and
Creole.
Before the religious services and
while everybody was hungry for d.
version, some one claimed that a razor
md pocket comb had been stolen
rom him. Instantly the services of
he kangaroo" court were brought
INTO requisition and every man in the
DOM was searched. But the alleged
oil /