Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-09
AGED PIONEERS STARVING
Ptiable Plight of octOgenarian Amos Mills
and His Invalid Wife.
LIVING IN THE REMNANTS OF A BOX CAR
Mrs. Mills, suffering from Chronic
MaIady, Comes 10 omnhn tor
Medical Relief and Fails
TO Obtain II.

The prosperous majority OF Omaha would
be amazed were 1t to behold the hunger, the
cold and the general suffering that exists IN
the suualid home Of octogenarian Amos
Mills and his septuagenarian wife, who are
almost starving in the remnant oil an olo
box car grounded on the commons near
Thrtieth and Fort streets.
An appeal for help reached Sergeant Wha-
len of the police department wednesday
morning. 1t came by telephone from sympa-
thetic neighbors who had investigated the
case. The county physician was notihed by
the police and efforts will be made to give
at least temporary relief and other assist
ance.
The aged Mrs. Mills is an invalid. For
several years she has suffered from chronic
afliction that renders useless one OF her
limbs. OF late the malady became more ag-
gravated and she is now unable to arise
from the poor excuse of a bed that lies un-
der her.
A spnster daughter, well along in yeare,
the only support of the dependent old toiks,
had to leave her washtub to nurse her
mother so the only source of income OF the
little family in the discarded box car has
been removed
Amos Mills II Pioneer.
Time was when Amos Mills was as brawny
a pioneer as ever blazed the way of civiliza-
tion in Nebraska. He is now the wreck of a
once powerful physical organization. But
he is SO years old and his strength has
faded. He failed to provide for the proverb-
ial rainy day and is now at the mercy of
thoee who have been more fortunate. The
Mills family we're old settlers near Tekamah.
Two years ago they moved to Omaha in the
hope of obtaining expert medical skill for
Mrs Mills. They heard of the free clinics;
that was the inducement to move. Some OF
the best doctors in Omaha have treated her,
but the disease is of such long standing and
her vitality has been so far exhausted that
no relief has been given.
1--WE bought this house for So" said the
daughter, land it does very well for sum-
mer but in fall and winter the wind blows
right through it. | don't know who owns
the ground. We've never been disturbed"
The house" to which the woman had
reference is a miserable hut. 1t is part of
an old car and the holes in it have been
covered with canvas. 1t is near the old fort
and was originally used as restaurant. The
man who started the eating enterprise aban
doned 1t and sold his claim to the Mills at
a time when they could raise S.. They have
other odds and ends of cloth until it is all
inclosed in a miserable way. At either end
of the roon-if it may be called room
there is a bed. About the middle there is
worn-out cooking stove. A table, a few
rickety chairs and handful of cracked and
seamy dishes constitute the household fur
nishings. A fire of chips and chunks and
other odds and ends blazed fitfully in the
stove when visitor called there Wednesday
afternoon.
Family Bible is Left.
On the table, standing out prominently
among the debris of this home an old d-fash-
ioned family bible was observed. 1t is such
a book travelling agents used to sell for
SIS or $20--a place for family records and
few leaves set apart for photographs, in ad
dition to the apocrypha and the holy writ.
I'VE have sold most of our stuff,' said
the aged sick woman, "but we still have the
old family bible. 1t wouldn't bring much
and we don't want to sell it anyway"
1t would be difficult to picture a more
desolate lot than that of this aged pioneer
and his wife and daughter They have re-
ceived some assistance from the county and
city authorities, but are too proud to ask
for continuance of help, and the report of
their present dire straits would not have
reacneu sergeant w naIen out Tor the kindly
act Of neghbors who appreciate the circum-
stances, but are themselves unable to render
as much relief as is required.
Mrs Mills, despite her helpless condition
is spirited and proud. cts a little bad for
us just now." she said, "but l hope to be
able to go to work soon" She is 70 years
old and the chances for her ever going to
work are very slight. if her emaciated ap-
pearance may be taken as an index
BucISlen's Nrnica Salve.