The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17
Amusing Scenes at the
Fresno Railway
Station.
Two Pert Little 0 phanS Who
Had Been Cared For by
Conductors.
On the Way to Their Uncle, Felix
Grggs of ExI ,er, Tulare
County.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

FRESNO, CAL, Oct. 16.-"For heavens 8
sake, Van, take these kids off my bands,
said Conuuctor DoIan to Agent Van Sick
len at the depot this morning when he
arrived from Los Angeles on the overland.
Big, good Mike Dolan had little
girl and boy running at his heels as he
entered the agents Office. The conduc o!
had an armful of all kinds of packages
imaginable and each of the children had
ali they could carry.
There were TWO or three small baskets,
but the artic that was shown the most
care was a dirty, ragged doll which the
girl was solicitous handling.
"These youngsters hav come from
Missouri and are on their way to an uncle
al Exeter, in Tulare County" exDla ined
Dolan. You'll have to keep them here
all day till the Porterville train leaves in
the evening"" continued the conductor
land, Van, you've got TO take them of
my hands. The girl is quiet enough. but
The boy-he's holy terror. I've had him
on my run from Los Angeles, and that's
enough for me-"
The children were a pretty girl of
years and a saucy boy years of ave.
They had come all The way from Mis-
souri, alone. They were in charge of con-
ductors all the way. but they didn't ap-
pear to have suffered on the trip. The
boy acted as spokesman for himsel and
sister.
My name is Bedford E. Griggs." he
said. sisters is Ada Bell Griggs. We're
going to Uncle Felix Griggs to 1--we with
him.,
Agent Van Sicklen kept the ch iIdren at
the depot all day until the train started
on the branch line 10 Exeter thi evening,
and he had very interesting time OF it.
The boy was determined to nave what
there was in the safe. He wanted 10
"buv" it, he said, with the purseful OF
coins that persons had given 10 him on
the way TO California.
The mother OF these little travellers died
three years ago, and recently their father
was shot and killed by another man, the
result OF quarrel over woman.
The little ones were left destitute, and
kind hearted Uncle Felix" as Bedfor
styled him, sent for the boy and girl to
give them a proper bringing up.
The children had been placed aboard
the train in Missouri with general note
addressed to conductors, Please look out
for these children. They are bound for
Exeter, Tulare County. Cal" The care
the children received was OF the best
While very dirty, IN fact exceedingly so,
they were smiling and happy when they
arrived here. At noon Mr.. Van Sicklen
took them TO the railroad ho;el, where
the ladies cleaned them up and gave them
a bountiful dinner.
The boy was remarkably bright for one
OF his age. He vas never still and was
always making as much racket as he
could. The girl was quiet, but spoke up
BRIGHTLY when asked questions.
"Im sorry 10 leave Missouri" she said.
'If Minnie Roberts was here l woulon't
care much. Me and Minnie went 10 see
Paw after he was killed"
1t was the boy who at this point broke
in on the conversation and said: Paw
was killed over a woman" His elders
had probably unguardedly said this in the
child's hearing and he remem bered the
statement.