The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-04


The Atlanta Constitution tells the
following story:
There is now serving a sentence in
the chain gang in Atlanta a Young
white girl from Florida, who can So
cure her freedom if she will consent
to leave behind her an aged whits
woman, who befriended her in the
past, and who went with her TO serve
a sentence for vagrancy.
This girl, despite the fact that she
is a convict, has enoagh gratitude 10
remain by the side of her old friend.
whom, she says, is slowly dying.
The story is most pitiful one and
the facts have been brought ont by
a letter received by the mayor Sun.
day morning, and which was turned
over to the city warden for invesliga.
ton.
"Cordele Rake is the young femlls
convict, and her aged friend is Mrs..
\. Reynolds.
Mayor Joyner has received letters
about the two women, and from thCm
has been gathered the full story, a
story that has a few rays O light
dspite the fact that it is woven about
people from Poverty Fiat and IS dark
ened by the clouds of poverty and
want
Letters to the Mayor.
THE letter to Mayor Joyner was
written by Mrs. Clara w. Raynor, Of
Daytona, Fla, president of the Flor
ida Federation of Women's CLUBS. Mrs
Raynor incIoses a letter which WI;
written by Mrs. Caroline j. Hube,
of Tampa. TO Mrs. E. A. Hill. OF
Orange City, both members Of tE'
Federation of Clubs.
THE story, which has for its heroine
a poor young woman, who is con
vict in the chain gang, is AS follows:
About seven years ago there move.
to Tampa, Fla, from st. Augustine
two poor families. Mr.. and Ms. Rake
with eleven children, and NJ. and Mrs
REYNOLDS, with seven children -iT
Rake was 80 years of age, and scoi
died, and his wife was left povoril
stricken. Her children went away
or got married, and she was left dlon'
with the exception of a girl name'
Ada
Some two years ago Mrs. Reynolds
started for Virginia with her daugh
ter. and Cordelia Rake Eas persuad
ed to go with them. -.
'The party became stranded IN Al
Ianta and became street beggar5. If'
records of the city warden show ina
on November q. 1905, he furnlshcr
food to Mrs. Reynolds and the gaia
at 50 Houston street. In Decemo.
he gave them transportation to Jar"
sonville.
Were Beggars in Atlanta.
In a few weeks Mrs. REYNOLDS anC
Cordelia Rake returned to AtLah'd
where they were arrested for "a
erancy. They we're bound over by us
recorder and afterwards sentenced u
eight months on the county chali
gang.
Recently a number Of ladies' TOO,
an interest in the girls case 81,
they were promised that the GlL
would be pardoned.
Now comes the chapter Of the stor,
where the light was shining through
the clouds. The girl refused to INa''
the chain gang unless the OLD "on''l
was also pardoned.
Mrs. Reynolds is old and SO"
dying" the girl, said, and ! VII TO
leave her alone. II you pardon ID. p,
will go. If you do not. then Sii''
stay here with her -
Mrs. Reynolds and the young -.
are kept on the farm at the c"n.
aImshouse. and they are the oniF "i'.-
female convicts in the county
THE Florida ladies who nave y.
ferested themselves in the case ~.
taking steps to get the old woman pa.
doned at the same time the girl Is CIV
en- her pardon. They say tha' Pr
Rake wants her daughter to re'".
to Tampa and that home VIII '.
nroyided for Mrs. Reynolds.
Mayor Joyner will look iu rim
into the matter and will proba pLS a.
sist the ladies of the Florida fr4. u,
alton of Women's Clubs IN ge''inS ~ 49,
the old and the young woman pa
d4nadc