The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-27
TO HELP ADULT BLIND.
capt. Beck Appeals for Funds for "A
state Home.

capt. Daniel Beck. the hind sea captain
VINO IS making tour Of the Pacific coast
IN advocacy 81 a state institution where
adNit olin1 can learn "a become self-sup-
porting. gave GESTURE al Turner hall last
evening. The captain is very power-
fully built man ana The strong voice ac-
customed 70 resouad from the quarter
uecA or rs ship, moved the apprecIatlye
oat small. audience very keenly. as he de-
/ scTloed the terrible sensations Of enc
doomed 70 eternal darkness. Capt Beck
was disappointed both BY Joseph Shippen.
VINO. ne said, had promised 70 act as. chair
man OF The meeting, ard by Prof. III. :.
Sharpe. and LANCER & Lueben. who had
agreed 70 furnish music. for the occasion.
he Ie4t quite chzgrined and said ~ OPEN
ing his address: Promises. like pie-crust,
are more easily broken than kept, aud as
the person 70 whom they were made IS a
oAnd man and OF no more use 70 his fell
makes no difference"
Capt Beck, who az one time was mate
OF the Inflated Ivanhoe. said he became
bind about ave years ago while of Cape
Horn In the Antarctic circle. His vessel
was driven about by storms and finally
was closed in by an ice foe. HIS blindness
was caused by the refraction OF light from
the icehergs and became noticeable after
ne took his daily observations until ne
could see no longer He still chung 10 the
hope that his sight could be restored and
when he reached home he paced himself
IN the care Of a physician. The sailors
were moved to tears at the sight OF their
beloved captain cropping helplessly about
the decks, but they tried 10 cheer him and
buoy up his vanishing hopes He went 10
Europe and placed himself under the best
specialists. but learned he VAS doomed ID
everlasting darkness
on. the horrors / felt when / ccntem-
a. 50 -
by this Impenetrahle INST" he continued.
No sunshine. no flowers. no happy chill
dTens faces for me. must suffer dark
ness forever. ! gradually became recon-
ciled and determined 10 work for the ben
eht CT mankind and particularly OF sailors
among whom ] had labored all my life
] accordingly Travelled up and down this
coast and received $220o. given 10 support
me. helpless blind man. bat which i used
- build and furnish the sailors home ~
Tacoma, a place where sailors cut OF work
can come and be entertained We have a
piano, organ. games, stationery. etc. A.
their command. and a library OF 2e9
books
Il there formed the idea Of working for
a school for the adult blind. The children
who are blind have schools provided for
them by the government. but one who be-
comes blind after his 2lst year has nothing
and no place 10 go. but must become a
burden to his friends and relatives
Capt Beck told OF his success in Alaska
and British Columbia. His idea is 10 oh
tain as much money as possible by contri-
buttons and subscriptions and 10 obtain tho
signatures OF 1000 voters 70 his petition
to the legislature for an appropriation -
finish the work. Every subscriber OF s.
or over becomes a life member ~ the
company and the members OF each district
elect trustees 10 whom he is responsible
for the money collected. In conclusion. he
said.
Mans inhumanity 10 man makes count
less thousands weep. mans humanity to
man makes countless thousands rejoice. I
shall keep on with my good work as long
as / am abe 20 work and YOU can all heip
by giving something, no matter how small.
Remember when you see a blind man that
he has no faculties for self-supp0rt bur
must depend upon you 10 give your mite
70 help him"
4 collection was then taken up and a
few came forward and signed the sub
scription list and petition.