The Washington herald., 1908-05-31

Manchester, May 3O-The tragedy Of
hunger has reached its climax among the
workers Of the northeast coast. Not only
| Is there no food in thousands of homes;
there is not a stick which can be pawned
or sold 10 obtain a meal Every hour
adds one more degree to the intense suf-
ferIng.
| 1t is women and children first in Sun
derland Fathers walk about the streets,
| pulling at short cutties which nave long
been innocent of tobacco, staying away
! from homes so that they may not be
tempted to take their share from what
ever scrap Of food their wives nave scrap
ed together.
A Shocking story.
Councillor Adams. q well-known local So
cial reformer. told a shocking story of
destitution. An owner Of pigs At Walker,
he said. was suspicious that the food Of
the animals was being interfered with
and secreted himself one night 10 see II
any one went 20 the styes. He saw a man
and boy go to the pigs trough. take out
the husks that the swine were TO have
! eaten, and go away.
He followed them to house, and after
ward went inside, and there saw the man,
his wife, and children devouring the pigs
food
Men who were formerly robust laborers
have shrunk in six or nine months Of
starvation and idleness TO skeletons too
weak for work
| Five children in one home clung TO their
mother, Just made a widow. Her husband
was a fine. stout man. who sold the home
bit by bit for food. going without himself.
Eventually he got relief work, but was so
weak that he caught a cold and died
from pneumonia a few days ago.
In freless room close by another fam
fly pad lost a child. owing simply 10 lack
OF nourishment
Yet these famlshing families are re-
| markably honest A few days ago a suit
of clothes was given 20 a man who had a
chance Of work. Yesterday his wife Wis
tied the ex-mayor and produced a gold
ring which she had found in a pocket OF
the suit. She returned It. asking II 1t was
right that clothes should be given with
out being searched, as it was such a
| temptation.
This woman had four hungry children
/ dL llplAlF. ollt tliu bdNllth AAtt bNAA WtA-
ding ring for bread. She gets soup twice
a week from friends. and this week she
would have had no other food but for a
reporters gift Of groceries.
Struggled Like n Hero.
Another case helped was that of a man
with ten children. He has been workless
for seven months.
"He struggled like a hero" said a relief
worker. Goodness knows how he man.
aged. but he kept off the fund until the
home was gone. The cries OF the children
made him desperate. Himself weak with
hunger, he appealed to the committee for
| help.
I'VE had to drop him a fortnight ago,
when the relief fund ran out. He would
thrash the children If they dared to beg,
though the younger ones are visibly get
ting thinner every week.
| Women In Newcastle tell how the clock
was sold for the breakfast, how the fire.
irons went for the price of a meal.
Rents are far behind, and in some cases
householders have screwed up their doors
to prevent the admission Of bailiffs.
A school-teacher received the following
note In answer TO an inquiry about the
| nonattendance of children:
Dear Miss: I am sorry, but had 10
sell my child's boots to pay the rent. or
we would have been turned out"