Arizona republican., 1899-08-16
JACOB RIIs's STORY.
Saved From Suicide By a Homeless
Dog.

Jacob R.is, one night nct 50 many
years ago, walked down to an East
river pier with the Intention of drown
ing himself He was pennibess and
friendless. Why he did not end his
days in the river he told Chicago gen.
tleman Il month ago, just before his de-
pa1ture for Europe.
I sat on the pier he said, feeling
as WIetched and Lost as any man Well
could. l was fully determined on Su.-
eide. 1 looked at the, waters and pre-
pared for the leap. Just than something
rubbed against my right leg. ] looked
down, and fhere, appealing to me for
comradeShip, was a miserable dog of
the streets. This though. which in
sa3ntly flashed through my mind stay
ed my purpose to die-here was
something more miserable than 1 and
yet seeking conpani0nship and Il
helping hand. I took the beast in my
arms and walked to this nearest police
station. The sergeant in charge would
admit me to the Migrants sleeping
room, but would not let in the dog.
I set him down outside the door and
went IN among she outcasts myself.
The F'ranco-PrusSian war was
then in progress, and I found the in
mates of the lodging room fiercely dis
cu6sing the rights and wrongs of the
TWO nations. l Joined in the discus
son, taking the side of france. After
Il time all surrendered to sleep. Whsn
1 entered .-he lodging room the only
article of value which I possessed in
this world was a little gold locket.
During the night this was stolen from
me- In the morning as I went out I
complained to the officer in charge of
my loss. Instead of giving me SC.is-
faction he called me a thief, and, being
a German, denounced me for my sup
port of France, my argument of the
night previous having baen reported
to him I was hustled out of the sta
ti0n with curses following me. As L
stumbled into the street faint for lack
OF food something again rubbed my
right leg. There was the dog which
1 had left at the station door when L
first entersd. He had waited for me
through all the hours because I had
shown him a little kindness. Al this
moment, when all human aid seemed
denied me, the presence and actions of
this fOrsaken dog almost moved me to
tears. al weWM
4 was about to go away with my
animal friend when a police officer who
had followed me out of the station
suddenly caught hold of the deg, and,
raising it up, dashed its brains cut
on the sidewalk. For a time l was
like a madman, running up and down
the street praying to God for power to
avenge .lhe brutal act, but of course
was helpless and at that time could
do nothing"
1t is now history that soon after this
time, when Jacob Riis had secured i
friends and employment, he began his |
crusade against the tenement house
and police lodging rooms of New York |
;ity. I am told that this incident of |
he dog, which was the turning point |
If his life, has never appeared in print |
Until now. But when Governor Theo-
lore Rooseve'., was "A police commits
'ionep Of New York city, Jacob Riis
ook him one night into the districts
If squaIor and poverty, showed him
he police lodging rooms, and told him
his story of the dog. The lodging
'0oms were abandoned from that zine
N and more humane provisions made
or those to whom fortune denied the
light hand of fellowship.-H l. Cleve-
and in Chicago Times-H eraId