Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-05
ACTUAL STARVATION.
Mr.. A. C. CHEWING. OF BASIC CITY.
UNCONSCIOUS FROM HUNGER.
His Family ut Home Also Suffering fur the
Want OF food-Too Proud to Solicit
Charity-sad story.

WASHlNGTON, June 4-tSpeclalD-A.
c. Chewing. OF Basic City, Va, who
was found yesterday in one OF the city
parks In an. unconscious condition. as
a result OF literal starvation. is
reported to-day to be rapidly i'm
proving. He is still at the Emer-
gency Hospital where he was given
medical attendance and food. The physi-
clans think he will be all right in few
days. MIR. Chewing, who is very in
teligent man. has been here for the past
six weeks endeavoring to secure posi-
tlon. 1t seems he last voted at Charlottes-
vile, but for some time he and his family
have been at Base City. When he came
70 Washington seeking government EN-
ployment he applied both TO Representa-
tives Tucker and Turner. and frequently
called on those gentlemen at the CAPITOL.
Last week he seemed TO be in a most
desperate frame OF mind. and pleaded
hard for a position, but the congressman
were utterly powerless to get him posi-
ton They are constantly applied TO by
their constituents, but between the civil
service regulations and the Republicans
nothing is left for the Virginia Democrats.
THE SAD STORY.
When Mr. Chewing fell near the
Smithsonian building on Sunday evening
the ambulance was sent for. and he was
conveyed to the Emergency Hospital. In
his pockets the doctors found two letters,
"a receipt for room rent, and papers TO
show that he had probably been In COM
munication with the Civil-Service Com
mission and the Treasury Department
officials. One OF the letters from Mrs
NJ. l.. Chewning, his wife. mailed at
Basic City, tells a sad story Of the con-
dtion Of the family, reading as follows:
Il kept from you as far | could our
real state. hoping every day that you
would be able 10 send a few cents, AT
least, to get pound Of butter and some
sugar 20 put on the children's bread.
We have bread. but are without lard, tea.
or coffee. | thought you couldn't possl-
bly relieve us, but as you say you VIII
send small means to-day, i Will tell them
so. We have had nothing 10 eat since we
LEFT Miss Sues, and this is as long as we
can starve without i'll results My chill
dren are starving and pleading for food
that | cannot give them, ana II Is no.
thing to my credit TO keep IL from you,
even though | know that you are doing
the best that you can. You should nave
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. a.
Continuing, the wife tells how The
neighbors had fed the little ones at times.
and closes with an appeal to God TO bet
ter the condition Of the family.
HIS OWN LETTER.
There was also an unmailed letter writ
ten by the husband, and probably written
soon after he received the letter from his
wife. In this letter he said:
GENERAL DELIVERY,
WASHINGTON, ID. G., May 81, 1894.
"My Dear Little Wife and Our Very
Dear and Precious Children: am now
entirely out of both work and money, ana
you a. home daily looking and hoping Tor
some money from your husband ana
papa to keep starvation away; but, aias'
/ have not one cent 10 save lie.
Resides, | am sick and growing worse
daily. feel very much Ike felt when
we lived in Roanoke. before l had that
severe attack of brain-fever. My achlnS
brain feels like it would burst.
"Oh. my dear little. helpless family.
what will sou do? What can you do these
hard times If should be stricken down
with that dreadful brain-fever. God
protect. preserve, shield, spare and pro-
vide for you. | have been iighting against
some kind Of sickness now for about
two months.
with great desire TO see you all and
be with you, | am your suffering nus
band and papa.
"a. C. CHEWING, Sr.
Sweet little Alex. and Isla, ! want To
see you. l pray for you daily. Love
mamma, love God, and keep His COM
mandments. God bless and preserve you.
"Your Loving PAPA.
"P. 81 have not one cent, nor
stamp to put on this, but will try to get
one some way. May be | can get II few
minutes work. if no more.
Il suppose that | have put the correct
date on this letter. but l do not know
exactly what day it is "A. {. [.
The patient was unable to take nour-
ishment when he first reached the hospital
but under DR.. Johnson's treatment he
soon showed signs OF Improvement, and
this morning he was decidedly better.
The doctor is certain that he will recover.
AID EXTENDED.
Many people, including numerous Nir-
ginans, called to-day on \. {. CheWhlnS
at the hospital and extended aid to him
ana ms idIllly. AS sooil a. HS !"
enough to travel he will return to Basic
city. The case is one that appealed TO
the sympathy Of the people here.
MRS. CHEWING NOT IN WANT
BASIC CITY, VA, June i.-(Special)-
The article published in the Washington
Post of to-day is grossly misleading as
TO the condition OF Mrs. \. G. Chewing
Mrs. Chewing came to Basic city in
April. and engaged board at Miss Sue
whites, the best clearinghouse IN town.
Two weeks ago she hired furnished rooms
in Robert Perry's house, where she now
is. Your correspondent learns that neither
she nor her children have wanted FOR
ANYTHING to eat. They dress we'll ana
have been regarded as people of leisure
rather than want Mr.. Chewing Is a
carpenter. and is spoken OF as an aii-rounu
workman He was never here but once
md