The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-16
THIS HAPPENED UNDER
THE STARS AND STRIPES
Man Goes Eight Days Without
Food Except What He Got
From Garbage.
Foreign Subject Is Victim Of Ter
rible Condition Caused by Rank
Injustice.

SHlCdSC. 11I.s 0opS. 43.-GlSUL Gays
without food, except grain swept from
railway cars and refuse found on the
streets and In garbage boxes, penniless
and too proud to ask aid, Eric John
son, seventeen years old, decided yes
terday to end his suffering In death.
Faint from hunger he clambered over
the fence surrounding the house of
correction and waded out beyond his
depth in the pond.
The attempt at suicide was seen by
the pond to the rescue. For q few
moments Johnson resisted and then
passively submitted and was carried
into the building. After restorat1ves
were administered he was taken to
the Human street police station. There
he told his story with the aid of an
interpreter:
Finds Himself Without Friends.
Il come from Bieken, In Sweden" he
explained, where my father is farm
er. There are twelve children, and we
were poor. My oldest brother came to
America Ave years ago and In his let
ters said. he was doing well, so when
had saved little money I came, too.
When I had bought my ticket to Chi
cago had IS left. went to haywood,
where my brother lives. found he
had lost his position a few weeks ago.
and. while he wanted to help me, saw
that he could scarcely take care of his
wife and children. so left there AND
came to the city.
IT was employed in the Kimball
Piano Works, Wood street and Blue
Island avenue, and worked there two
months when I was laid off. I boarded
at 723 Twenty-second street and lived
there until my money gave out. I ask
ed for work. but could not get 1t. When
my money was gone, all except 40 cents,
left the boarding house. I didn't
tell anyone I was without money, for
I didn't think they would help me-"
spends/ only 2,h Cents a Day.
johnson told how he slept in hall
ways and under sidewalks for week.
On alternate days he woulds pend five
cents for food in stores or the small res
taurants around the lumber yards. Dur
ing the day he would wander where the
laborers had eaten, seeking the scraps
of food they had thrown away. He
was finally driven from the lumber yard
district by a Waterman, who accused
him of being a thief and threatened to
arrest him.
'Then went into the alleys" the
boy continued. I'm some of the boxes
would find scraps OF bread, but the
children used to see me looking in
them and would shout and throw stones
at me. Besides, was ashamed to be
seen doing it. even IL Twas hungry.
I went back at night sometimes! but
women would scream when they saw
me and brighten me away"
Hunger Drives TO Seek Death.
Then johnson told how, when wan
dering along the railway tracks, he
found corn and wheat which had been
swept from the cars. With this he filled
his pockets. Again he was driven away.
Believing the last means Of procur-
ing sustenance had been denied him,
the boy decided to kill himself. Dur
ing the week he had eaten only grain
and scraps. and he felt weak and dizzy.
Il knew it was wrong to do It," he
told the questioners. Il knew.I would
not 80 to heaven, maybe, but then I
knew I would die in little while any
way, and I felt so bad every day that
didn't think it mattered much.
wasn't sorry or glad when that man
pulled me out. I just didn't care
much.''
The policemen at the station contrib
uted several dollars for the boy and
will endeavor to procure work for him
I'M