The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-10
BARN FURNISHES
FAMILY SHELTER
Parents and Little Ones
Suffer From Cold and
Hunger.
Neighbors Hasten With Food
to Relieve Distress Of
Unfortunates.

| sad case OF restitution was brought
| to the attention of the authorities yes
terday and steps were at once taken to
relieve the sufferers. Merritt s. Hum
phrey, his wife and i've children. the
youngest a baby SIX months old and the
oldest a boy OF nine. were found on the
verge OF starvation in an old barn on
Balmy street, small thoroughfare run
ming off Twenty-fourth street, between
Folsom and Harrison.
The story OF the misfortunes and trials
of the unhappy family Is u particularly
sad one. Up To nve years ago humphrey
managed to exc out a livennood IN Ore
gon. thinking TO better his condition, he
started overland with his family IN a
covered wagon, ana after many weeks or
weary travel reached Los Angeles. Tnere
he round oud jobs at Iaporing work, but
instead of betterlng MS condition he was
much worse OF. Work was not STEADY
lie was among strangers and everything
he tried his hand at seemed to go against
him. Disheartened, but not discouraged,
he decided to set out again ana with ms
family in an old, broken down wagon he
journeyed TO SaunaS. There he accident
ally broke his leg and his trials began TO
increase.
Reach City in Rainstorm.
Before he was hardly able to get off
clutches Humphrey made another start
this time intent on going back to Ore
gOn, where he has relatives, who, al
willingly share their crust with him II
necessary; Tuesday night the. family
reached this city in the midst of terri
BILE wind and rain storm. There was no
covering on the wagon and the occupants
were drenched to the skin. To get out of
the storm they went into the old barn
and up to last evening made it their
home Without a bit of furniture or
blanket to throw over them they slept on
the barn floor. A small coal oil stove
furnished them with what heat they had
and that was but little, for the wind
whistled heartlessly through the cracks
in the barn wall and the cold, frosty
night air found its way inside to add to
their misery.
A few vegetables cooked in an old can
on the oil stove and occasionally loaf Of
bread composed their food SIMPLY Hud-
they waited and dreaded the coming of
night. They were also continually haunt
minute be ordered out of the place. Poor
and uncomfortable as it was, the barn
furnished them some slight shelter from
the rain.
Humphrey would start before daylight
in the hope of finding something to do,
only to return at night with the sad, dis
couraging report that he had not met with
success. The poor parents were often
forced to listen to their babies crying,
both from hunger and cold, and were un-
able to aid them. The nursing baby suf-
fered most for the mother was too weak
to furnish it sufficient nourishment.
Neighbors Begin Work of Relief.
1t was not until yesterday afternoon
that the neighbors learned of the presence
of the starving family in their midst
When once they heard the facts there
was no time lost in making arrangements
for the temporary relief of the sufferers.
Policemen Brown, McKenna and Lycett
were soon on the scene and they directed
the relief work. A supply of bread. milk
and cold meat was secured from kind
hearted neighborS and the half famished
children ate vOraciouSly-for many hours
yes, days, had passed since meat had
passed their lips. The poor mother re-
fused to touch any of the food until the
children were first satisfied and then she
wanted to eat but little. She wanted she
said, to save something for the children
after awhile" 1t was only when she
realized that she must eat to nurse her
baby that she consented to appease her
hunger. In the meantime the neighbors
were hurrying to the barn with contribu-
tons of beds, bedding, food and clothing.
The policemen stated the case to L. g.
Gull, a real estate agent on Twenty
fourth street, and he gave the family the
use of a cottage at the corner of TWENTY
fifth and Utah streets. The policemen
next pressed into service two wagons and
had the donations of bedding and cloth
ing taken to the home. Another
neighbor contributed a stove and at night
fall the unfortunate family was sheltered
and relieved from temporary want.
Officer McMurray of the Humane So
ciety was also notified and to-day he will
look after the further relief Of the family.
He says the case is one of the saddest
called to his attention in many months