The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-13
SLEPT In THE WOODS.
Mrs. POQuette and Her Chill
dren Passed Night There.
They Are Migratory Operatives Who
Have Been Here Before.

A man sleeping in a freight car, or
even in the woods Is not an unusual
thing, but when a woman and children
repose on the ground the case is very
different.
A woman giving her name as Emma
Parker, 81 years old, accompanied by her
daughter Rosa, IA years old. and her son
Wilfred, IL years old. came to this city
from Wauregan, Conn.,, Monday morn
ing. When night came she and her child
rem went to sleep in the Waterman woods
in the rear OF Manton avenue. In the
morning the mother and children went to
a nearby brook and after washing, started
out for the day. fhey obtained sufficient
TO eat from the citizens OF Johnston. Dur
ing the day the family visited the several
mills I'm Olneyville In quest OF work, but
were unsuccessful. Night came on again
and the mother with her two little ones,
went TO the woods once more to pass the
night. But the westher was little too
cool, 20 they went TO freight car,
crawled in and went to sleep. They were
comfortably settled for the night, when
an employe OF the railorad happened
along and found the car door shut. He
knew that some one was inside. He notf-
fled Lieutenant Day OF the Chaffee street
station, who ordered the patrol wagon
to the scene. Mother and children were
taken to the station, for 1t was supposed
the woman was drunk, but she told her
story and was sent to the Charity build
ing.
She had no sooner stepped inside OF the
door than she and her two children were
recognized BY Overseer of the poor Cum
mings, who had met Mrs. Parker on
several occasions, under like circum-
stances. Mother and children were cared
for, and this morning they were sent to
Merino where they will be employed.
The records at the poor department
show that early In 1889 this woman, ac-
companied by q man, little girl years
old, and boy about 4, came 10 the office
and gave their names as Mr.. and Mrs. Jo-
seph Shaker, and wanted to be cared for
for the night. The female portion Of the
Shaker family was accommodated at the
charity building, and MIR. Shaker at the
Central Police Station on Canal street.
They all went away the next morning.
The woman and the two children called
at the Office again on the evening OF jan
uary Is, and this time were accompanied
by a man who the woman said was her
husband and his name was Albert Po-
quette, and that they were on their way
said that her first husband, Mr.. Shaker,
had died in Fall River. The family, Of
course, were cared for as usual. On
April 8 of the same year the quartet cal
led again and said they were on their
way from Bristol tn Hope, so the Po-
quette family was once more entertained
by the city.
Mrs. Poquette, or Parker, as she calls
herself now, came without her husband
last evening and told Mr.. Cummings
that Mr.. Poquette had been lost in the
shuttle five weeks ago, and just where he
was she did not know, but thought he
had gone to his home in Quebec. Mrs.
Poquette is what might be called a very
pretty woman, and so are her children.
All are well dressed and present an ex-
tremely clean and neat appearance, be-
traying no signs Of being trsmps. They
appear to enjoy their nomadic life and are
In the beat of health. Mrs. Poquet te
does not appear to be more than 25 years
old, but says she is 81.