The Washington times., 1904-03-13

"On the 9Th of September, at o'clock |
in the evening, 1 held the baby in my |
arms while I warmed his milk over |
gas stove on the floor. My dress caught
fire in the back and famed up to my
waist To save the baby I walked
quietly TO the bed and laid him down,
all the time the flames burning my limbs.
7 was taken to the German Hospital
and baby Leo brought TO me after l
was conscious. But as they thought
that I was to die they sent the baby
to my husbands cousin, Clara. Parts,
who did all she could for it. I was four
months in the hospital and when came
out and asked for Leo they told me as
gently as they could that he was dead
He sleeps in Calvary.
Husband Out of Work.
I was still suffering from the burns.
1t was decided that new skin must be
grated on my burned limbs. My hus-
band. who stole to keep me from starv-
ing. went to the hospital and offered
foot of his own skin to be cut OF and
grated upon me. They were about to
do this when the strike occurred in the
factory that threw him out of work.
His son dead, his wife suffering from
burns that refused to heal. his own
health still shattered from his service
in the Cuban army. the poor boy was in
| a very hard place. The doctors refused
to take the skin from him at the time,
/ because it might keep him in the hos
J pitaI so long that I would starve.
He tried to find work. and could not.
From E1orning TO night he dragged him
self about the streets seeking employ
ment. There was none for him.
AT last our money was gone and our
/ friends had given US all they could
spare We had been without food for
| two days and our room rent was due.
II was bitterly cold in the streets. To
pass a night in them in my condition
meant death
That day Arthur went to the house
Of a friend in East Sixty-second street
10 ask for help. The friend was away.
Coming out desperate. all hope gone,
and the immediate prospect of seeing
me turned into the streets-he saw the
suit Of clothes. He would never have
done it for himself.
The Story in Court.
and dragged myself weak as 1 was, sick
and without food for two days, TO the
courtroom. My husband was standing
before the magistrate. He had told a
simple story. admitting that he had
taken the things and pawned them for
money, and had done it for his wife
Never mind me- Arthur said when
l came. You go to the ovcrseer of the
poor and ask to be sent TO the Island.
win go to prison gladly for your sake
dear. Only don't blame ne couldn't
help It. I would die for you, gladly.
wouldn't have taken a cent for myself.
His Fine Was Paid.
'I put my arms around him and
kissed the dear fellow before the whole
room full The magistrate cougheC
uncomfortably, pulled out 81 from hi.
pocket and handed it TO one of the law
yers. Men in the crowd, including pc
Iicemen and reporters, made up the res
and the Sc was paid over.
% You are discharged, sir said tn
magistrate. looking through the win
dow as hard as he could.
Taking my husbands arm I thanke'
the magistrate and we came home
home to the same starvation and chill
We have had nothing 70 eat since. an
this is Friday. He goes out ever
morning to look for work. but he look
so white and fain. that no one will loo
twice at him. I don't know what i
going TO happen to as.
but l know that my husband is
hero. He did what any man would hav
done under the circumstances.
HE did for his wife what he woul
not do for himself. New York is rio
and prosperous. The palaces of tn
mllliOnaires elbow the tenements of tn
common foIk-but there is nothing her
for the very hungry and destitute"