Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-06
DISTRESSING FATE.
STARVING TO DEATH IN THE
MIDST OF PLENTY.
SadI Story of A c. Chewing and
Family of Basic City.

SadI Story of A c. Chewing and
Family of Basic City.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
The Washington Post of Monday last
publishes the following
A. G. Chewing, fairly we'll dressed
man, about forty-five years old, was
found in the Smithsonian grounds
about o'clock last night, unconsciou,
from hunger. Chewing came to WASH
ington several weeks ago from Basic
| fee Last Monday he paid Sc. all the
money that he had, to the landlady
where he roomed, and owed her a bal
| ance of $3.50. He then left the house
and how he has lived since, 10 one
knows. 1t is supposed that lie has
been sleeping in the parks.
| The doctors at Emergency Hospital
think he had nothing to eat for at least
| four days.
| last evening the Waterman at the
| Smithsonian grounds noticed man
walking up and down in front of the
Smithsonian building. ana occasionally
striking his head with his fists. The
Waterman paid no particular attention
| to him, but few moments later the
man suddenly fell to the ground. The
officer rushed up, and found the poor
| fellow shivering as with the ague and
| trying to speak, but he was unable to
utter a word. A patrol wagon was
hastily summoned, but before it arriv-
ed, the man was unconscious.
He was conveyed to the Emergency
| Hospital, and then revived by stinu-
lants hypodermically administered.
A DISPAIRING LETTER TO HIS FAMILY.
When consciousness returned, the
sufferer was quite out of his head, and
| his replies to questions were unintelligi-
| BILE. His name was learned from letters
in his pockets. One letter was address:
ed to Mrs. NJ. L. Chewing, Basic City,
Augusta county, Va. 1t ran as follows:
General Delivery,
Washington, d. c., May 81, 1894
my Dear Little Wife and Our Very
Dear and Precious Children: Tam now
entirely out of both work and money,
and you at home daily looking and
hoping for some money from your hus-
band and papa to keep starvation
away; but, alas! | have not one cent to
save life.
''Besides, l am sick and growing
worse daily Feel very much like l
felt when we lived in Roanoke, before
had that severe attack of brain fever.
My aching brain feels like it would
burst.
"Oh, my dear, little helpless family !!
what will you do What can you do
these hard times if should be stricken
down with that dreadful brain fever?
God protect, preserve, shield, spare,
and provide for you | have been
fighting against some kind of sickness
now for abo ut two months.
with great desire to see you all and
be with you, | am your suffering hus-
band and papa.
"a. G. CHEWING, ST..
"Sweet little Alex and Isla, i want to
see you. l pray for you daily. Love
mamma, love God and. keep his com
mandments. God bless Aand preserve
you. Your Loving Papa.
up. 81 have not one cent, nor
stamp to put on this, but will try to
get one some way. Maybe l can get
few minutes work, if no more.
II suppose that have put the cor
rect date on this letter, but | do not
know exactly what day it is.
A. G. c."
THE letter is nicely written on cheap
paper. There was another letter in his
pockets. 1t was mailed at Basic City.
Va, and is from his wife. 1t is long.
and is most pitiful' tale of starvation
and want. Chewing probably receiv
ed it the day before he wrote his letter.
Mrs. Chewing writes:
THE wIFE'S STORY OF PRIvATIoN.
Il kept from you as far as I could
our real state, hoping every day that
YOU would be able to send a few cents,
at least. to get pound of butter and
some sugar to put on the children's
bread. We have bread, but are with
out lard, tea or coffee. | thought you
couldn't possibly relieve us, but as you
say you will send small means to day,
l will tell them So We have had moth
ing to eat since we left Miss Sues, and
this is as long as we can starve with
out i'll results My children are starv-
ing and pleading for food, that | can
not give them, and it is nothing to my
credit to keep it from you. even though
| know that you are doing the best
that you can. You should have told
that man Wednesday that your wife
and children were starving, and asked
him to pay you something. God find
food to strengthen you. You cannot
work without eating.
Mrs Chewing speaks in the letter
of some neighboring family managing
to get enough for two meals, and act
ually pulling her children to the table
| to eat with them"
| The letter continues in this pitiful
strain, and closes with an appeal to
God, and hope that things will be
better after awhile.
The only other papers in Chewning's
pockets were some account books, and
some names of government employees.
On one slip of paper were the names of
various officers at the Civil Service
| Commission, and on another was the
name of j. W. Holcombe, appointment
clerk, Interior department. There
was also a receipt dated May %, for Sc
for room and board received from G. l..
Lewis. and showing balance due OF
$780, 1t is signed by H. H. Hardesty,
but no street number is given. 1t is
supposed that Chewing had assumed
the name of Lewis. Perhaps the re
ceipt did hot belong to him.
| UNABLE TO RETAIN NOURISHMENT.
At the hospital DR.. Johnson tried tC
give the man milk and lime water, but
his stomach was too weak to retain it
He was thrown into a violent fit o
| vomiting, which left him so weak tina
he could not raise his head. Later h
was given little wine. He tried tt
tell where he last boarded, but coult
v not remember
r Chewing appears to be about forty
! five years old. His hair is black, an
his forehead is high. Last night hi
S eyes and cheeks were terribly sunken
e and his hands seemed to be but ski
and bone. He has a brown mustach
and is good looking man. His cloth
ing is good, and his linen appeared t
be fresh from the laundry. His Goa
6 and vest show signs of wear, but ar
. tailor made and OF good material.
:, There is some doubt as to whethe
!, he is a discharged clerk or an applicant
= He was too weak to say. An examine
: ton of his expense book. however, il
: Dictated that he had been here not owe
six weeks, and that he had had n
y regular work. He was put to bed a