The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-29
FRIENDLESS
WITH A BABE
Woman From Russia Landed
Here PenniIeSs.
NO FRIENDS MET HER
Little Purse Made Up to Help
Her Along.
SHE COULD USE GERMAN
And in This Way Made Her
Condition Known.

Homeless and in a strange country.
whose language she could not understand
and with whose customs she was unfa-
raniar. Mrs. Katharine Loeher spent last
night in the Rock Island depot. without
money. except that which few sympa-
thetic friends had voluntarily given her
and with no company other than q nurs-
ing child.
Mrs. Katharine Loeaer came to Wichita
from Russia on the Rock Island south
bound train last evening and expected
70 be met at the depot by friends. but the
friends failed TO meet her. After wait
ing in the depot awhile. she went 10 the
ticket window and spoke 70 the ticket
clerk in German. but he could not under
stand her. a by-stander saw that the
woman wanted TO say something and
tried to converse with her. with the help
OF the German ne had studied in school.
but he could understand little that she
said She searched through her clothing
for letters which would make known
the person whom she vas seeking. She
was unable 70 ind anything. however,
that gave the desired information, and
the young man who had kindly attempted
20 help her in her distress was unable
70 be OF any assistance.
Some one said that Charles Lease was
able to speak German and he was asked
70 come to the depot and speak with
the homeless woman. He Immediately
came and fortunate was able 10 under
stand what Mrs. Loefier said.
She told him that her husband. Freder-
lex Loefer. had left Russia a year ago
and come 10 the home OF friend named
Phillip Swind. whose postoffice address
was Wichita. Last September he went
10 Colorado and soon sent for his wife
TO Join him, telling her &c come TO Wich-
ia, where she would meet Philip Swind
and that then she would be able 70 find
her husband without any difficulty.
He also sent her transportation from
Russia to wichita.
AS soon IS she had received her trans
portation she left the old country, going
BY way OF Hamburg. New York. Chicago.
and Kansas City and arrived in this city
last night. only to md that Phillip swind
was not al the depot to meet her and
that she was apparently without any
means Of finding either her friends or
her husband -
The scene was truly pathetic one as
she tried 10 make known her wants TO
people who could not understand her
speech
IN reply 20 inquiries. she stated that
her child was girl and but eighteen
months old
When asked il she wanted some place
70 spend the night. she replied that she
would prefer 70 stay in the depot 10
going tn a hotel where she would know
no one. When asked II she had any
money, she shook her head. \ hat was
then passed around the small group OF
bv-standers and $3.50 was secured. When
the money vas handed 20 the woman.
an expression of gratitude came into her
face and she said:
"Danks"
She was dressed in the manner peculiar
70 the German-Russian. She wore Z head
shawl instead Of a hat, a plain black
dress and plain grey jacket Her child
wore z long dark dress.
The belongings OF the woman were IN
& large bag. about as large as a two
bushel sack. which was enclosed by :
piece Of old carpet. and in a small black
bag which sat on the seat beside her.