Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-09
MADE THE JOURNEY AFOOT
Martin shallsnberg and His Boys Walk q
Thousand Miles.
Losing Everything in the Mississippi
Flood, They Start for Buffalo, N.
Y.-Their Experience.

Martin Shallenberg. his four sons and
their faithful little dog. Tiger" have
reached this city. after having tramped
from Lula. Coahoma county. Miss. dis
lance of more than a thousand miles. They
were driven from their home by the recent
flood. after having lost everything except
what was on their backs. The father Is
an intelligent man, and his boys are bright
and refined. Their clothes were much the
worse for wear. and their shoes were in
such condition that they were virtually
barefooted.
1t was about 8 o'clock this morning when
they crossed the Long bridge, and there
were five hearts made lighter. for the rea-
sonable certainty that at the capital Of
the nation they would get some assistance.
was not yet o'clock, AMI they awaited the
arrival of Sanitary Oncer Frank A
glance at the party was enough to con-
vince him that they were in need OF almost
goods
Relief Wanted.
What can I do for your the sanitary
officer inquired of the father.
II would like a little help was his re-
Spouse. Il have walked here from Mis-
sissippi. nearly LOO miles. and my boys
and myself are footsore. What we would
like is a little help on our Journey"
Where are you going?"
II want to go to Buffalo," was the an
swer.
Have you had anything to eat this
morning."
I'VE haven't had bite" was the mans
response. but that don't bother us. What
we want most is help along the road so
can reach the place where I can get " ork. u
well" said the sympathetic sanitary
officer. "even if we can do nothing else, we
went see people go hungry"
The five footsore travellers were taken
to restaurant and given good break
fast, and they thoroughly enjoyed it, fol-
1t was the first square meal they had had
for number of weeks.
Mr.. Shallenberg is a man not more thar
forty-five years old, and his boys are from
nine to sixteen years of age. Five Years
ago they were living at Rochester. n. Y.
and there the mother of the boys died The
| husband who was left a widower, was EN-
| ployed in factory there. His work ken
| him in the factory all dav and part of the
| night. So much of his time was taken a
| his work that he feared he could not givt
| his bows the attention they ought to have
| He did not want them to run the street,
| at all hours and grow up to he WORTHLESS!
| men. and in order that he might be s'tua et
| so that he could be with them and brins
| them up properly, he decided to move t.
| the country and live on a farm.
Engaged I'm Farming.
| About a year after his wife's death III
| made the move. and went on farm abou
| four miles from the little Mississippi tow
named and not far from the big river H,
| was there when the food came and h,
| seys that people who live in this part o
| the country have no idea of how the waite
| sweeps the country and how much destruc
| ton it causes
ITS simply frightfu" he said dPeopIt
| Know that there is likely to be a break O.
| the river bank and a Hood, but when Il
really comes it is sudden, and very few
| are prepared for it."
Mr.. Shallenberg and his boys continued
| their farm work, hoping the flood wonlt
not reach them, and they had bright pros
| poets Of big crop but the waters fourt
them one night. and they had to get ava,
| from the house in such a hurry that they
lost their horses. farming implements am
| what little money there was In The house
l. Being without anything in the world, tn,
| father and four sons concluded they would
| return to the vicinity Of their old home IL
| New York and begin life anew.