The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-26
DYING IN DESPAIR.
STARVATION DRIVES MANY TO
COMMIT SUICIDE.
Weary Of the Struggle Against Poverty
They Seek Rest in the Grave-Victims
of a Nations Folly Sacrificed to the
Rich Man.

SoAAo" tHe les,dcleS lelL ny poverty W
the children of despair. The wild and
hideous dream" of free silver has faded
from the minds of men. Protection and
prosperity have come, as Mark Hanna
promised they would.
Gold has been crowned the monarch
OF the western world.
The trusts, the syndicates, the Wall
street gambler I'd watered stocks, the
brokers' in bonds and the pawnbrokers
who pretend they are bankers because
they lend money on mortgages instead
OF on watches and diamonds-these ana
all others who live in idleness by hlch-
ing from the products Of industry, have
declared that with the coronation OF
gold would come confidence, the great
courier OF prosperity.
Mills were to be opened to Amer
lean workmen. The old, familiar hum
of industry" was to be heard in FAC
tory and in workshop. Confidence
would start The fires and send the
smoke upward from every idle CHM
ney. The endless chain" OF commerce
would bring into every line OF lndus-
try the. millions paid to labor. Prices
would go up, every toiler would be paid
higher wages in Sound money anu
national hono-" would be preserved
The story is an old one now Inc
American people permitted coercion,
intimidation, purchase and falsenood
to defeat the ideas of liberty, justice
and humanity.
Herewith is given very incomplete
and partial list of people in chicago
who have committed suicide since NOV
10, or nearly two weeks after the eiec-
ton ushered in the era OF prosperity.
The list is strictly confined to those
that hopeless poverty and despairing
hunger have driven to bay at last.
Millionaires and plutocrats may sneer
but the awful fact remains that Wheh
hunger and suffering and want to-day
are unsustained by any hope Tor to-
morrow death may seem boon De-
cause 1t offers way Of escape.
No effort has been made to learn no"
many people in other cities, in towns
or in villages have solved the great
problem OF life and death, because their
poverty was beyond all help, neither IS
the list in this city complete one. Inc
world will never know how many men
and women have died since NOV. D.
1896, as sacrifcial victims upon the
altar Of greed.
Men do not face the king OF terrors IN
! order to give the color OF truth 10 d
falsehood. These people killed tnem-
selves because they were starving:
Frank Sobiesczyk committed suicide
Wednesday night, November IL, at MS
home, 696 Van Horn street, by drink
ing carbolie acid. Sobiesczyk was
sign-painter, but had been unable 10
find employment.
| The body OF Joseph Gehler. patient
in the insane asylum at Dnnning, was
found In pond on the grounds on
the morning Of November IL. 1t IS
thought he committed suicide. He was
| go years old. Gehler was timer, but
| lack of employment affected his mind.
Frank Marek. a laborer, was seen by
several persons walking along the
north bank Of Mud Lake on the after
| noon Of November 10. When near
Lawndale avenue he drew a revolver
from his pocket and shot himself just
/ below the chin the ball lodging in the
! back Of his head. The Brighton Park
| police took the unconscious man to the
county hospital, where he died. Marek
had been out of work for some time.
| Charles Robey tried to commit suicide
| from the north pier November II. He
| was rescued by Officer Larsen, after a
hard struggle, as he was determined to
| die. He was d cigarmaker with a fam
lily and had been out Of work since the
election.
Thomas Moran. 80 years old, commit
| ted suicide November 81 at his home,
1 236 North Franklin street, by drinking
carbolic acid. He had been unable to
find employment and was despondent.
Mrs. Margaret May, q widow, living
! at 259 Congress- street, attempted to
Jump from the Adams street bridge
November %. She was seized by Of
ficers after she had climbed on the rail
| ing Of the bridge She was penniless
| and weary Of the, hopeless struggle Of
| poverty.
While despondent NJ. Manner OF 2S
Kroll street committed suicide Nogenl-
ber "a by hanging himself to rafter in
/ his room. Manner was 50 years old
and for some time had been unable to
obtain employment.
John Krieozco was found dead in the
| woods near Leegarden, Ohio. about
November %. Letters on his person
showed that be came from Chicago
and that he was unsuccessful in getting
work. He hanged himself to the limb
Of tree with clothes line he had
stolen from a yard for that purpose.
Frank Hurst, IA laborer, aged 80, liv-
ing at 500 South Halsted street, awoke
Thanksgiving morning only to think Of
his preilicament and not 70 return
thanks. He was pennilsss and out of