Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-01-15
DYING IN DESPAIR.
STARVATION DRIVES MANY TO
COMMIT SUICIDE.
Weary of the Struggle Against Poverty
They Seek Rest In the Gra7e-vic. inns
of a Nations Folly Sacrificed so the
Rich Man.


happy land; no longer are sin and
sorrow the legacies left by poverty to
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 beer crowned the monarch
of the western world.
The trusts, the syndicates, the Wall
street gamblers in 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 and
all others who live in idleness by fitch
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 chin
ney. The endless chain" of commerce
would bring into every line of indus
try the millions paid to labor. Prices
would go up, every toiler would be paid
higher wages in a Sound money and
national honor" would be preserved.
The story is an old one now. The
American people permitted coercion,
intimidation, purchase and falsehood
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 cleo
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 when
hunger and suffering and want to-day
are unsustained by any hope 1or To-
morrow death may seem boon De
cause it offers a way of escape.
No effort has been made to learn how
many people in other cities, in towns
or in villages have solved the great
problem of life and death, because tnelr
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. o.
1896. as sacrificial victims upon the
altar of greed.
Men do not face the king of terrors IN
order to give the color OF truth 10
falsehood. These people killed them
selves because they were starving:
Frank Sobiesczyk committed suicide
Wednesday night, November IL, at MS
home, 696 Van Horn street, by drink
ing carbolic acid. Sobiesczyk was
sign-painter, but had been unable 10
find employment.
The body of Joseph Gehler, patient
in the insane asylum at Dunning, was
found in a pond on the grounds on
the morning of November 10. 1t Is
thought he committed suicide. He was
60 years old. Gehler was a timer, Dut
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 revolver
from his pocket and shot himself just
below the chin, the ball lodging in the
back of his head. The Brighton Park
notice 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 IT: He
was rescued by Officer Larsen, after
hard struggle, as he was determined to
die. He was cigarmaker with fam
lily and had been out of work since the
election.
Thomas Moran, 80 years old, commit
ted suicide November 81 at his home,
236 North Franklin street, by drinking
carbolic acid. He had been unable to
find employment and was respondent.
Mrs. Margaret May, widow, living
at 259 Congress street, attempted to
iump from the Adams street bridge
November 49, She was seized by Of
fcers after she had climbed on the rail-
ing of the bridge. She was penniless
and weary of the hopeless struggle OF
poverty.
While respondent M. Manner of 20
Knoll street committed suicide Novem-
Der "a by hanging himself to rafter In
his room. Manner was so 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 he 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 yard for that purpose.
Frank Hurst, a laborer, aged 80, liv-
ing at SOC South Halsted street, awoke
Thanksgiving morning only to think OF
his predicament and not to return
thanks. He was penniless and out of
employment. While in this melan-
choly contemplation he seized revolt