Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-19
NOT FLOWERY BEDS OF EASE
Pitilb'e Picture to Be sesn at Rescue Hall
Any Night.
SCORES OF MEN STRETCHED ON THE FLOOR
LL
TO1 g "
Touching Tales of II uneer and Hopeicssnsss
Told-support viii lie Asked that
Aid May BE Continued
to the Homeless.
OF MEN STRETCHED ON THE FLOOR

Stretched, without bedding, upon the bat
tleield of life, seeking 10 ,benumb the mis-.
cries of restitution with snatches OF sleep,
200 idle meu passed last night at Rescue hall
in this city.
Hungry, homeless, without work, money
or friends, in fact without everything ex-
cept appetites, these unfortunates appealed
for shelter in the hall. The request was
granted, ana the men seemed to feel CRATE
full for the privilege of sleeping on the hard
floor or in chairs in proximity to two large
stoves.
The wolf of poverty with a double row Of
teeth Is also at the door of the Institution
which affords these starving and sleepless
unemployed their only resting place, Unless
relief comes quickly the Christmas carols OF
these men will be cries for bread and they
will be turned upon, the streets with no
place to lay their hcads at night.
A Pitiab e Picture.
Last evening a BEE reporter visited Res
cue hall. 1t was q pitlable picture of pow
erty in its worst stage. The helping hand
Of Rev. A. w. Clark had lifted 200 penniless
men from street TO shelter.
In the rear of the hall. behind a thin par
tition. lbs men were reclining on the floor.
white thirty or forty more were
sitting around in cramped positions
in chairs. All were endea voring
TO sleep, regardless of personal discomfort.
One young man stretched upon a plain, pine
table, without bedding, was suffering with
sickness. while another unfortunate lay on
the floor near the stove, grooming with an
attack of la grippe. An old, white-haired
man, occupied a chair and vainly wooed the
god of sleep. His chm sank on his breast.
Tears were in his eyes. This was only one
of many living pictures of despair that
greeted the visitor.
Not a pillow was visible In the room.
Blankets and bedding were an unknown
quantity. Newspapers spread upon the floor
were substitutes for mattresses. All nativi-
tics, including al Afro-Amerlcan, were hId-
died together in close quarters. Very few
of the men enjoyed the luxury of an over
coat. They possibly had pawned them for
bread. Those who were blessed with overcoats
utilize them for pillows, whlle others rested
their paurer bones upon these improvised
springs The windows in the room were
all tightly closed in order to keep out
the spray of the cold wave. This gave a
disagreeab BILE odor full possession, and the
aroma was burdened with "steerage fra
GRANGE when the men discarded their boots
Tor the evening. Many were sockless.
IT. the main portion of the hall. around the
other stove, another large bunch of sleepers
rcclined IN various positions on the floor.
Similar scenes existed here. On the stage
a number of hunks had been fixed up. They
were "double-decked cots with scanty bed
ding. These beds are sold for
IL cents per night to men who
are fortunate enough to earn
a pittanCe at odd jobs during the day. Tho
income thus derived is used TO buy soup fol
all the hungry next day. Soup and bread are
given to all twice a day, out this is barely
sufficient TO stay the pangs of hunger.
What the Register showed.
A register is kept at Rescue hall and il
contains the natpe, age, nativity
occupation, address, ana religion of al
applicants for r-lef. A perusal Of
this record disclosed the fact that 43S mer
bad applied for food and shelter within tn,
past few weeks. The bulk OF the applicant.
are deserving men whu7 arc out of employ
ment. 1t includes machHists, railroad men
carpenters, laborers, cooks, clerks and II
are scarce. The unemployed come mostly
from Chicago and the east, whilt
many consist of lailroad lab rers from
the west. Colorado miners and wage earner
are largely represented. The closing of the
Worlds fair gates, with the sequel of thou
sands Of idle men. has resulted in Il portion
Of the overflow reaching this city. Com
paratively few of the destitute are Oman:
wage earners. Being centrally located
Omaha is a resting place for employment
seekers from the east and west who ar
vainly looking for work.
The register disclosed the fact that nearl,
every nationality on the face of the glob'
was represented. including a Japanese, wit
| gave MS Religion as 'lbdptlSl.' One ma
named Ernest Foot. from Alaska, was regis
tel ed. Tue Methodist faith predominateC
in registration. The Episcopalians have tn,
smallest representation. Among the pen
niless men bowed with old age, whose name
auorn the record of hardship. is William
Stout of Topeka. Kan, aged 60 years
Patrick Flaherty OF Omaha, who has see
slXty-tive winters and Il hard one this year
is on the list. II. Il. Wilke of Des Monies
Ia, a painter by trade, has passed his OILS
birthday. The youngest on the list is w. Is
Fellows of Clinton, Ia, who gives his age a
II Years.
One of the saddest eases was that of job
Moore from Wilsonvllle, Neb. He is a dea
mute.
One young man. who had evidently see
better days, remarked with sorrow that h
had purchased Il celluloid collar. He sal
that when he first came here from Chicag
he applied for work at various places, bu
his clothes and linen were against hin
Rags, he agreed. may be royal raiment whe
worn for honesty's sake, but he legarde
them as a handicap for a man in search c
employment. He determined TO raise
stake. A few days ago he went int
a gambling house on Douglas street an
watched a lucky player at faro. II
stood behind the player, whose luck imn'
diately changed. Being impressed that tn
new arrival was a ''hoodoo,' he gave him :
cents to get out of the room, a propositio
which the young man accepted with JOY
Win tuc Stdhc lnuS redllZeu, he dblalne
his ambition to buy a clean collar, after II
dulging in coffee ana cakes al n cheap re
taurant. He promptly discarded his dirt
linen and douned the shining celluloid II
applied for work with great expectation
that his improved personal appearanC
would impress employers, but III this he WI
doomed 10 disappointment.
Some OF the stories Of suffering aud wal
told by the men are piteous. They wOul
ill a book.
Mr.. Clark's Good Work.
A reporter saw Rev. A. w. Clark, wi
has been acting as superintenI
ent Of Rescue hall for some tim
MIR. Clark deplored the fact thu
the churches had lost interest in Rescue la
just at the period when their assistance W,
mostly needed. Recently the board of dire
tors had decided to abapdon the institutio
owiugto lack of proper financial ~encourag
ment. About this time the small army Of j
digent men begging 1or0 shelter put in q
appearance. Mi. Clark finally decided
not shut the doors ia the faces of these me
with empty pockets and emptier stomach
He has been running theinstitution withol
compensation on his. responsibility 4,
several nights, rathelsthan turn these me
out in the streets. The generous-heart
Clark and his assistant. O. ii. Richard
will appeal ID the nDbte-hearted either
OF Omaha to extend adisBing haud and sa'
these victims of poverty from starvatiol
i 10 A.aa 49, $50 .--~