The times., 1899-08-20
POOR, OLD, AND ALONE.
Pathetic story of al Destitute Couple
From St. Louis.

FROM 81. Louis.
Samuel Wellington Barnes and his wife,
an aged couple whose home. is in st. Louis,
Mo-, are held at No. / station under pc
culiar circumstances. There is no charge
against them at present. They are in des-
titute circumstances. They have been Of
fered transportation to st. Louis by
Sanitary Officer Frank, but refuse to leave
the city. They also declare positively
that they will not go to the poorhouse.
The police are inclined to the belief that
Mrs. Barnes is mentally deranged, and 1t
is probable that an examination will be
made to determine as 10 her sanity. Mr..
Barnes, while he at first created the i'm
preston Of being irresponsible, later con-
vinced those about him that he was ra-
tional. Mr.. and Mrs. Barnes have two sons
living here, at 1912 Sixth Street northwest,
but the sens, though willing to aid their
parents, are unable to do so.
The story of the misfortunes
of Barnes and his wife is a
sad -one. They have lived in several
small towns in Missouri and for the last
six years have made their home in st.
Louis AS was stated they have two sons
John Samuel and George Freeman Barnes
The former is twenty three years old and
the latter is nineteen. Though the father
and boys worked. they earned but small
salaries. The future was not bright and
the young men came East to seek en-
ployment which would enable them to
contribute TO the aid Of their parents.
Application was made to Senator Vest of
Missouri, and Mrs. Barnes says that three
years ago he secured a position for John
in this city. Later she says the son was
appointed TO position in the Library of
Congress. Soon after this George. through
fhn affra &c rfC p
ton here as an apprentice at telegraphy
Good fortune did not follow the younger
son. Finally he became waiter.
During the time that the sons have
been away from home they have corre-
sponded regularly with the parents. and
held out 10 them the encouragement that
some day the family would be reunited in
Washington. Finally thinking that they
would surprise the boys, Mr.. and Mrs.
Barnes decided TO make the journey un-
heraided. They left st. Louis Monday
night and arrived here Wednesday morn
ing at o'clock. Arrived at the Baltimore
and Ohio station, Mr.. and Mrs Barnes
were at loss as TO how to proceed, until
hailed by a cabman, who offered to 90
with them in quest of their sons. Old let
ters were consulted and the address in
Sixth Street finally given the cabman, with
instructions TO proceed.
Nndl happened since thGt time is best
told in the words of Mrs. Barnes,
with few interpretations by Mr. Barnes.
MIS- Barnes told her story with many
tears. She was dressed in brown
brown waist and linen skirt, while a
brown bonnet with velvet strings sur
mounted her auburn hair, that is slightly
tinged with grey. When we got to where
John and George was living" said Mrs.
Barnes, "a man put his head out the win
dow and said they was not TO home We
did not have anything to do, and hadn't
enough money TO go to a hotel, and we
never stopped at one so we sat down in
the yard and waited till day. Then the
lady that lives in the next house took US
in and told us we could get a room some
where else / wanted to pay the lady but
she would not take money. and so /
helped her with her work while Mr..
Barnes read the real estate lists to see il
we could get room. He found one place
and wanted to give the agent half a
months rent. all the money we had. but
the agent would not rent TO us.
We finally left the house and met John