Evening star., 1899-04-04
FROM KANSAS AROOT.
Family of Five Reaches This City
Bound for OdentOn.

party of five weary and footsore travel
ers reached Anacostia yesterday on their
way to Odenton, Anne Arundel county,
Md, from Clay City, Clay county, Kan,
which they left, they stated, about the mid
die of last November. They have, they
said, made at least 500 miles of the journey
on foot. In the party were Charles Rob-
erts. sixty-three years old; his wife, Sarah,
aged ffty-three; three children, John and
Thomas, twins, fourteen years of age, and
Isaac, who is eleven years old. Mother,
father and children were carrying packs
on their backs, which contained cooking
utensils, bedding and some clothing. They
accosted officer Reagan on Monroe street,
inquiring If he would direct them to some
one who would allow them to rest indoors
while and refresh themselves with the
remains of their last meal before proceed
ing on foot over the railroad tracks to
Odenton. vacant house on Harrison
street was turned over to their use for a
time by the owner, who also furnished
them with food, and after their story was
told several gentlemen presented to the
unfortunates a sum of money sufficient 10
enable them to go by rail to within short
distance of the place they desired to reach
All the members of the family were we'll
clean and cheerful. The father Wore a SOL
dier's campaign hat, badly battered up a
pair of army blue pants, with leggins, and
an old coat of many colors. He explained
that part of the costume had been given
him in Greensboro, n. c., by a captain in
the 20lst New York Volunteers he having
met that regiment there as he and his fam
lily were passing through on foot.
Roberts said he had no idea of the dis
lance traVersed by his party, but If it is the
route he outlined it is estimated to be about
I,ooo miles. Failing to make a success of
farming on poor land in Kansas after a
trlal OF seven years. he pulled up stakes
ana started to return by rail TO Odentou
with his family. At St. Louis they were
detained fiVe weeks by two of the children
being taken i'll, and when they were re-
covered, Roberts stated he found himseIf
financially stranded and could not finish the
Journey by railroad. Passing on fool
through part of illinois, after crossing the
Mississippi river, they continued through
portions of Kentucky and Tennessee and
entered the state of Alabama, where. Rob
erts SAID, he expected to find work in The
cotton fields; but in this, he stated. he
faiied' and so resolved 10 try and reach
Odenton, the home they had left seven
years before. He said he had friends in
several places. but that he was determined
TO , solicit no aid from them by letters
me party passed from Alabama to
Georgia. through the Carolinas into Vir-
ginia, and then entered the District. The
journey, the father said, was made Marty
on loot over the railroad tracks, the roads
eiS peiiS pdu, ana partly by rail
the latter being the case when kind d-hearIed
people assisted them with money. For
1000 they were, of course. dependent upon
charlty as they moved along. At night
they were nearly always fortunate enomeb
10 De allowed to stay in some landowners
eaoin or some vacant house in a village
IN Alabama, Roberts said they met with
ioa,,i pu, i,t.ie sympathy from the people after
ieaVihs huntsville, and were forced tn
camp out several nights. The blizzard of
FEBRUARY found them in North Carolina
anu aeiayed them a week. The family did
OF the twin children, John, came TO tbe
city TO see the sights and has not turned
up since. The rest of the party went 10
the depot and took train for Bowie Md
being compelled to leave John behind a
description of the missing boy was given
to the police and notice to apprehend him
last night. S'-'i'