The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

sands. He was never an object that pro-
duced anything but pain and pity, and at
the present time he presents sight that is
almost sickening.
He struggles daily from his room to
some place along Kearny street. He can
hardly drag his distorted legs along the
ground. Foot is moved after foot in the
slowest manner, while the face of the old
man peers up into the countenan ces of
passers-by with 10 ok on it that is evil
dence of the greatest mental and physical
suffer ing. He no longer plays the xylo-
phone, as his hands are too badly affiict-
ed. His daily actions are generally
the sam e. After painfully dragging him
self to his stand he sits down, rubs his
aching hands with liniment, and then
overcome with that peculiar stupor of old
age which foretells death he falls asleep.
The policemen on Kearny street have to
raise him up and awaken him frequently,
and they expect to pick up a corpse
some day. Though posse ssed of wealth
Powell has no enjoyment of it. Having
been swindled all his life he is fearful for
that which he has left, and though he is
still rich enough to secure comfortable
quarters he lives in dingy hole, eats but
a mouthful and drags himself out to gain
a few dimes
Henry Joseph Powell is an Englis hman,
Y years of age, and claims to have been a
partial cripple from birth. He attempted
to make success in business in different
Eastern cities, but never gained much of a
start. About thirty years ago he went to
Montana, pioneer, and prospered. After
having been swindled out of considerable
ma Irnl1 III
gold claim,, he came to this city,
as his atiiiction had increased rap
idly. He spent small fortune in
trying to cure his paralysis. but
failed. Health and money gone he
was in despair. One day twenty-five years
ago he went to the corner of Suffer and
kearny streets, and he began a life of beg
ging. Powell made money rapidly, and
transferred his stand to old Meiggs wharf
There twenty years ago all who passed
him gave him something and many times
handfuls of coin were dropped into his
hat. But the constant sitting brought on
rheumatism, and Powells ills increased
miser and boarded. Nearly every time he
would invest his money he would be
robbed. Times have become so dull now
and he has lost so much money Powell is
anxious to get into some home where he
can secure good treatment for the remain
uol VI LIS udyS, WHICH Will PROBABLY De
few.
Powell lives at the Coso House, a low
priced place on Sansome street, near Sac
ramento. He occupies a little room about
the size OF box. In this he sleeps, cooks,
eats and lives. He makes his bed and at
tends to his room himself All the time
he is not on the street he is in this room.
Attempts have been made by persons
taking a kindly interest in the old fellow
to get him to return to England, where he
has sister. Though wishing for home,
he still hates to leave his miserable sur
roundlngs and painful daily begging. He
has large number of people as regular
contributors. Some give him 10 cents
day, others % or so cents week. In the
past large number of persons used to
give him 81 every Monday morning.
About twelve years ago he lost $4,000
through the purchase of ranch in Santa
Cruz County. He got into a lawsuit,
which he won, but he was swindled out of
his money. He still owns a ranch
in the Santa Cruz Mountains which is
worth $4,000 to $500. Powell accuses l.. ].
Ewell, the dairyman of defrauding him
out of $780, and has instructed his attor-
ney, Joseph Napthaly of Napthaly, Freid-
enrich & Alderman, to bring suit to re-
cover the money. Ewell kept the Coso
House for many years. Powell has lived
there for the last eleven years. so the two
became well acquainted. Ewell induced
Powell to put $500 in the stock of the
Ewell x. L. Dairy Bottled Milk Company.
He received a few dividends, but now he
can get neither dividend nor principal
and accuses Ewell of swindling Besides
his ranch In Santa Cruz County Powell has