New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-13
SAVED BY ALONG LOST SON.
FINDS AGED FATHER IN A LODGING
HOUSE. DESTITUTE
A PATHETIC STORY DEVELOPS FROM AN
OLD MANS ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.

OLD MANS ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.
Old John Feist. lettering under weight OF
seventy years. homeless and hungry tried to
end his existence Thursday last by jumping
from pier into the East River. Last night he
slept in richly furnished room in the home Of
his son, Theodore from whom he had been
separated twenty-five years. and whom he sup
posed dead long ago.
Many strange sad things have been witnessed
at the Olive Tree Inn connected with Calvary
Episcopal Church. at No. $40 East Twenty
third-st.. but none OF them have surpassed In
human interest the reunion of old John Fest
with his long lost
After Feist was pulled out of the water by
boatman on Thursday last he sent to the
Centre-st. police court and on Friday he was
arraigned, charged with attempting to commit
suicide The pitiable condition of the old man.
made still worse from the shock and exposure
to the cold water. excited the attention of Mrs
John A Foster, the "Tombs Angel" who asked
that Feist be committed to her care. She told
the Magistrate that she would try to find
home for him. Feist turned to her
and then the next case was called those in
court giving little further thought to the Incl
dent. There are many of them in the East
Side that Feist was put down. II he was put
down at all. just a stray hulk of humanity
who had not finished his desperate undertaking
this time, but who doubt next time would
have better luck as one of the other prison
ers said
Feist went to the Olive Tree Inn. Mrs. Foster
talked with him, and saw that his mind was not
at all strong. He knew his name, said that he
homeless and without kin. Only a para
graph was printed about his case
Sunday night a handsomely dressed stranger
walked into the Olive Tree Inn and asked Su-
perintendent Chandler about the old man Feist.
81 am interested in the old mani think 1
used to know him." said the caller who asked
permission TO see FeiSt.
Backing him up against the wall under gas
Jet the we'll dressed stranger peered long and
earnestly into the old mans face. Then he
turned away. and was going out of the place
when he stopped. wheeled about, and said to
the superintendent:
Here's $40 Give the old a bath, buy
him some clean clothes and shave him. I'll be
back tomorrow night to take another look at
him"
Then came the bath, the shave and the clean
new clothes Feist looked like a different man,
and he was very happy. But 1t was noticed that
his mental condition was a great deal more
pitiable than when he was admitted. He was
fast becoming childish, and he prattled around
like baby.
Last night the stranger came again, and the
where he had placed the old man. Leading the
gray haired child under a gaslight again the
caller looked him in the face again, and sud
denly exclaimed:
My God! 1t is my father!-my father"
The younger man threw his arms around the
old mans shoulders and kissed him on the
cheek, saying over and again:
Father, father, don't you know your Theo-
dore-your boy Theodore?"
Slowly and childishly the old straight
ened up and murmured: Theodore? Theodore?
My boy Theodore? No, no, he died in Germany
many, many years ago. You not my boy
Theodore. Go away"
Then said Mr.. Chandler to a Tribune re
porter last night, the younger man said to me
quietly: This is my father. We were
separated twenty five years ago. thought he
was dead long ago. Never mind the story. 1t
is no ones business but our own. 1 will take
care of him. l have money. He shall not want
for anything. We will go home together They
went out into the rain two hours ago. said Mr..
Chandler. THE stranger left his alleged adj
dress, but find that the number he gave US
is a Bellevue building and was probably
fictitious address.
Yes, you're right a lot of strange
things here. By the way, Latchford, did the
son say whether he lost his father In this coun-
try in Germany? No? Well, it is of no con-
sequence. All we know, then, is that they went
away together-in the rain, the old man pro-
testing that he wanted to stay here with u.s.
and the with a longing, wistful look in his
eyes"