The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31
PRAYER kept HIM
FROM SUICIDE.
Elwood Links Life Saved by a
Strangers Appeal to
Heaven.
A LODGING HOUSE DRAMA.
Desperate and Hopeless Man Soft
ened by Another's Praying,
and Turned From His
Dreadful Purpose.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington. May So-An impromptu pray
er meeting in the dinsy Office of the mu-
nicipal clearinghouse prevented the suicide
of Elwood Link. a young mar from Ba'ti-
more. who came to Washington in search
of work, and. not finding 1t. attempted TO
end his life. Shortly after IL o'clock Link,
Saint for lack of food. and In a critical con-
Sttion as the result of paralysis. walked
into the lodging house. adjoining the First
Precinct Police Station.
He sank to the floor from weakness, and
an attendant started on a run for a ply
stefan. Don't do that said Link. Il
have come to the end of my rope and 1 am
going TO kill myself without any more fuss
about it." He attempted TO carry his threat
into execution, but did not succeed.
He insisted upon killing himself" said
Mr.. Belt. the lodging house clerk. last night.
but We persuaded him not to do it. When
the man walked into the place he was in a
depolrable condition. sick and hungry. l
was 80 moved by the sight of his pain that
1 could not suppress my tears. l prayed
with the man for some time, and begged
him to try TO take a fresh start and lead a
better lie e.. In a few minutes Linz was
haps. for the first time in his life
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
when 1 had finished the prayer-and l
never thought I was much in praying my
self till ~then-Link. in u broken voice, asked
me IL ] could tell him something about the
Lord. My mother used to try to teach me-
he said. but would NOT pay any heed to
wei. when he said that" said Mr.. Belt.
Il simply couldn't stand II. l guess the
missionary spirit moved me. ! felt so queer.
l left the man on his knees in a dark cor
ner of the office and ransacked the build
ing Tor a Bible. l found one, and brought it
In. Then l opened the book. BY accident !
picked out the Sermon on the Mount, and
suicide was rocking to and fro, and l had
to watch him closely. l wasn't sure but
that he'd attempt to injure himself even
Pretty soon 1 found myself interested in
the Scriptures. and the man came over and
CRYING as though his heart would break,
and so was L. 1 could hardly see the let
ters on the page. Then Link asked me If
old-fashioned hymns. We sang the Rock
Of Ages and Lead, Kindly Light and
Nearer Ny God. to Thee and after
preacher; but | started in to argue with the
man the best l could. and the words seemed
to come right TO me. / begged him TO lead
low down but what Christ would tnke care
OF him. He shook hands with me, and said
WENT TO BED HAPPY.
After that / gave the man a bath and
some clean. clothes, and found some tenn
porary work for him to do that will keep
him until / can get him a permanent Job.
At night he went to bed in a happy frame
OF mind: in spite Of his condition. and
promised that he, would not attempt to
commit suicide again"
Link. who is only "a years old. walked to
Washington Yesterday morning from Balti-
been an inmate of the Johns Hopkins Hos
pital: The right side of his face and neck is
paralyzeG. At II o'clock he was directed to
the municipal lodging-house. By the time
he reached there. after walking across the
city. he was discouraged. he said. and made
up his mind to kill himself. All he wanted,
down to die.