The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-01-13
A Wife, Deserted and iii, In an
Unknown Land.
s BEING CARED FOR
The Wonaa Is aa immigrant from Poland
and Commissioner Watson Has Taken
Charge of Her Case Although
Size Was Not Brought
Here by Him.

Alone In astrange country; deserted
by the man whoihad taken with he,
the solemn maritalavows;:ill with the
dread which woman alone can suf.
fer; and unable to converse with those
around ner. Such was the pitiable
plight OF a woman who was found
weak and starving in Columbia Fri.
day. Applying at the homes of the
people of Columbia, she was unable to
make known her wants, until finally
she sank exhausted upon the step of
the homo Of kind shearted people who
live In the most respectable part of
the city. The following particulars
OF the sad case we take from the
State:
Mr.. E. J. Watson, the commissioner
OF immigration, was communicated
With at once, and although he was en-
gag d In moving his Office effects from
the State house to temporary Office
In the history building, he gave i'm
mediate attention TO the warta nr tha
suffering woman. With MIR. Frank
Myers for an interpreter, Mr. Watson
went to the home where the woman
vas being cared for temporarily, and
as he had suspected, the unfortunate
creature proved to be q native OF Po-
laud.
Mr.. Myers engaged her in converse.
tion, the first time since her desertion
by her husband that she had heard
her native tongue. The woman told
story which cannot be disbelieved.
She Is about 80 years of age and rather
comely In appearance, although she
mas seeni- much anxiety and suffering
recently. She was unable to write,
even In her own language, and her
name, as we'll as could be guessed
from her pronunciation, is Stephanki.
This woman and her husband, to
whom she was married two years ago,
came to this country from the PROV
ince OF Galatis in Poland three
months. ago. Two months ago they
we're brought to Greenyille to work In
the mills, having beenIsecured among
q g colon y V sprough ght, south by the South
"a
Her husband obtained work at re-
muneration of s5 week. and the two
appeared to be living happily in ex-
pectation Of approaching events until
three weeks ago when she was desert
ed and left pennilesJ among people
With whom she could not even con.
verse. --- - .
After a period of embarrassing
| anxiety, the woman set out on foot
for Columbia, and walked all the way.
She .was;g!ven assistance !, by the kiad
hearted farm people along the way,
and one family gave her pair Of shoes
which she needed badly for the
weather has been very severe.
When Mr.. Watson was notified Fri
day, he found the woman ina state
of collapse and exhaustion. She was
so weak that she could not keer
awake and kept dropping of to sleep
When through the interpreter Mr
Watson had secured the story Of hel
hufferipRs he set about to find a place
where she could be cared for until he
could communicate with the govern
ment authorities. For the fedora
government makes provision for suct
unfortunate people as this and shs
would be cared for at the hospital o.
Ellis Island aS soon as he could max,
the arrangements.
The Door OF Hope" is crowded
and there was no place for the poo
woman there. Finally Mr.. Watson
found a boarding place for the unfort
unate creature at house neEr tn
union depot, and here she will sta
until she can be sent to Ellis Island
The woman's gratitude was q movin
spectacle, and Mr. Watson feels man
times repaid for the three hours h
spent In trying to get her located TEN
porarily.
The romantic part OF the story |
this: The arrival OF the Pole, Fran
Sobietsky, In Columbia a few week
ago corresponds with the time tha
, the woman was deserted by lie
husband, and 1t is NOR than probabl
that he Is the vegabond who deserte
:, his wife. The woman's condition di
: not permit that she be allowed to cor
> 'front.' the unfortunate Pole who is lyin
, In hospital In this city with one le
> cut off as the result OF an accident O
! the Southern railway last Sunday whe
/. he was caught walking across lon
= trestle few miles north Of Columbil
IL "l.l be recalled that when Sobl
o ski came here he was unable to spea
y In English. He was engaged to wor
for farmer In Richland county an
: was running away when he was knocI
ed III the trestle. 1t is barely probab
+ that he vas trying to get back
4 Grnenyllle when he was caught-pr
:. vided OF course he is the renegrac
n husband OF the suff aring woman. In +
!. gard to this case Mr.. Watson said la
4 night:
h The State department. OF sQricu
ture, commerce and immigration h;
q been placed at decided disadvsntas
n by reason Of such q case as this Tn
g woman was not brought to South Ca
Il olna by reason Of any action of I'll
a department., and 1 regret, that 1t
u Impossible for me, because OF her la,
!. of knowledge OF tho. Eoglish .langua,
d to ascertain by whom she was brougl
n to the State. When. the call came
me In the shape thatiit did and | sa
the poor creature and talked with h
through an interpreter 1t would ha
~ been necessary for me to have had
IS heart OF stone not to have attempt
IL to do something for her. Tue DO
re creature was in such condition th
J. did not believe she could have Ike
G. her eyes open another half hour.
~ After trying several places whe
1t ! thought 1t would be beat for her.
be I finally tnolr ,,ar to q hy,ox1t