The herald., 1897-02-08
OAKLAND TO LOS ANGELES
Too Far for a Woman to
Walk
HUNGRY AND DISCOURAGED
Mrs. Pearl Price Decides to End Her
Life
Iorn Woman Expresses . Wish
to Live

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. Mrs. Pearl
Gertrude Price was surprised Friday
afternoon by band of small boys as she
stood ON the banks of San Lorenzo
creek, near Haywards, contemplating
suicide. Mrs. Price was tired, hungry,
bedraggle6a and weary of life. Her hus-
band, Frank Price, an actor, deserted
her two weeks ago, and she had started
to walk from Oakland to Los Angeles
when she broke down at Haywards and
paused on the banks of the San Lorenzo.
When the boys appeared. the woman
ran, They pursued her. and then notified
Marshal James Ramage, who took Mrs.
Price in charge and transferred her to
the care of the Humane society. A pc
culiar fact was that, during her flight
and subsequent detention, she retained
in her hands long rope. 1t is supposed
she had intended to use it to hang her.
self
Mrs. Price is a trapeze performer and
circus rider. Six months ago she and
her husband arrived in this city looking
for theatrical engagement. They could
not secure one, and times were very
hard with them. Two weeks ago Price
suddenly disappeared. leaving his young
wife without a dollar. She became an
object of charity. She wanted TO make
her way to the home of her sisterin-
law, Mrs. Price, of 222 California street,
Los Angeles. where her two children are
living Crossing on the ferry to Oak
land, the woman started to walk to
Los Angeles. She was drenched to the
skin, and was tired and hungry when
she arrived at Haywards, after walking
fourteen miles. 1t was then that she
became desperate and determined to
end the struggle.
Il believe life is worth living after all,
said Mrs. Price yesterday at Haywards.
Kind friends in this country town have
extended helping hand to me, and l
shall continue the struggle for existence.
| was deserted by my husband, and
early this morning l started out in the
raging storm to walk to Los Angeles. l
carried long rope with me for pur-
pose. 1t was my idea that I might be
overtaken by a train while walking
across a trestle, and in that event l
expected TO tie my rope to stringer
and lower myself down out of harms
way until the train passed. When l
arrived at Haywards, wet to the skin,
hungry and weary, the world seemed
black to me. l was disheartened and
wished for the end. 1 stood on the bank
of the stream, and it seemed inviting to
me. l looked at the rope | carried in
my hand, with the moose hanging down,
and that too seemed inviting to me. l
cannot tell you what thoughts passed
through my mind as l stood there con-
templating the end of my journey in
life. But the boys came up and dis
turbed me, and here am, more anxious
to live for my children than ever.
1T is an awful thing to be poverty
stricken and have to take to the county
road like tramp. L have been circus
rider and trapeze performer for more
than ten years. At the age of 19 years
married the man who has now so cruelty
deserted me. l ann simply Pearl Price,
the woman tramp. an object of charity,
a wreck. with no future so far as l can
see. But 1 shall live in hope for my
childrens sake. This rope l have shall
be retained as a memento of this awful
day in my life
Marshal Ramage took Mrs. Price to
the Alameda county Jail for safe keep
ing. She will be examined to determine
her sanity.