The herald., 1893-10-16
A PROCESSION OF HUNGRY MEN
A Novel Sight Witnessed in
This City Yesterday.
Tom King, the Leader, Outlines the
Position Of His Comrades.
A Demand Made on chief Glass for
Food-Two Restaurant Men robIy
Respond and Relieve tine sur-
ferings of the Wanderers.

Seventy-fve hungry men, dusty and
begrimed with the dirt of travel,
marched two and two from the railroad
depot last night to the city Jail.
They were orderly, and an honest
looking crowd. Tom King was their
leader, and, on arrival at the jail, he
was deputed as spokesman.
King hadn't very much to say, his
speech consisting solely OF the state.
ment that he and his companions were
starving and needed food.
Police Clerk Hensley, although some
what taken aback at the number oil
eager faces confronting him, was equal
to the occasion.
Several officers were sent out to the
different restaurants, who requested as-
sistance. Mr.. J. Aull Of the Hollen be ck
Cafe sent over large basket OF food,
and Melsted, who keeps cafe on Sec
ond street, told the officer who visited
him to send the hungry ones across.
Between generous Melstead and his
confrere Aull the entire seventyfve
men were fed.
Then Tom King was sent for by Chiei
OF Police Glass, and interrogated as tc
the plans and destination of the 15(
men who arrived on top OF freight cars
yesterday.
King declared that they all wanted tc
leave California as soon as possible.
II came from New York." said King
"an' went to San Francisco, I'd heerG
east that there was plenty o. work there
but it was no go. There were hundreds
there, broke, in the same fix as the rest
OF us. Then / beat nay way with 9
crowd Of others to Hsnford
II got a Job picking grapes there for g
short while, and was glad to get it. II
was hard work and little pay, but it was
better than nothing, and there were
hundreds waiting TO take my place II
didn't want it. After that we starteC
down here. The railway people would
only let us ride at night. and / tell you
it was pretty hard. / was back of the
engine, and my God but it was cold.
We were nearly frozen, and the burning
sparks from the engine were blowing in
all the time. We got little food at
one place, but starved most OF the time. y
"What kind of men are there with
you, King?" inquired the chief
"a pretty good lot sir. They're all
hard workers. All we want is work.
I've gone down ON nv knees, almost,
and begged for it, and you can bet it'a
pretty hard times when q man has to dc
tnat. We had our last meal yesterday
morning, and when we got in here
says, boys. let's go to the marshal and
ask for some grub Some Gays no.
we'll get 80 days. but says mo, don't
believe eos mans hungry and broke
that they'll take and give him any 81
days. Well, come seemed afraid tc
see policeman, but the rest of us come
up, and the marshal was a gentleman
and We got the grup.o
wv hat were things like back in New
York, King?"
a"Justas bad as here, sir. The day
left there were 500 men paradin' the
street askin' for bread. A man can't get
any MONEY. Ii he earns it they give
him check and you can't cash 'em.''
Smith stated that he was roofmaker
by trade and had small business for
merly in Orange, N. j., but hard timea
came and he was frozen out.
He said THAT he and his companions
intended to leave by tonight'e train and
make for Galveston and other pointa
along the line.
/. Most Of the men appeared to be work
ers, and they were unfeignedly grateful
for the generosity OF Messrs. Aull 4
Melsted.
The crowd were provided with seats
in the Jail, and later in the evening left
for the next freight train out.