The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-03
Walk. $50 Miles For Work.

With his bare. hlstered feet pro-
urUding from the ragged remnants OF
what once had been shoes; tired and
rootsore from tramp of more than
$50 miles. Peter Relutka, 2427 Whip
pie street. Chicago. reached Milwau-
lIee having walked and begged his
way from lronwood Mich, in fourteen
days.
Left pennlless in a strange country.
unable to ind work Reiutka started
on his homeward tramp on April u.
lie arrived in Milwaukee in such con-
| dition he could hardly proceed further.
Sent To the county poor office, he
was furnished with transportation 10
Chicago by Supt. w g. Spindler, and
took the 5:45 o'clock train over the
| North Western railroad. That night
for the first time in Eve weeks. Reiut
Ia slept In his home. surrounded by
his wife and children.
Five weeks ago Roiutka went to
Michigan. He had been employed at
various jobs in Chicago. but found
himself unable 10 secure a steady oc-
cupation. His wife, Anna, and two
children, year old Amelia. and little
Adolph, aged months. were depend
ent upon him for support. Starvation
threatened. and Reiutlla decided To
look elsewhere for means of earning
a livelihood.
To Iron River. Mich, he went FIVE
weeks ago. hoping TO find work in the
mines. He arrived at a critical time;
the shifts had been laid off and more
men were seeking employment than
could be accommodated. by degrees, he
maze his way to- Iron Mountain. and
after fruitless endeavor, determined
to make his way back to Chicago.
Packing up his few possessions in a
red bandanna handkerchief. he started
south on his tramp Of more than 400
miles to Chicago. For greater part
of the distance he followed the rail-
roads. ploughing through snow and
sleet: trampng through mud and
rain pressing on southwark. where
stood his little home and his wife and
children.
When he reached Milwaukee Reiutka
decided that he could walk no further.
Limpng pitifuly along, every step
taken as the cost of excruciating pain,
he made his way To the central police
station. There he was referred to the
county poor Office.
IAN / wish is to arrive in Chicago.
To see my wire--my children" he said.
IF I can get back home, / can find
work. | will find work. | will sup
port them. But can walk no more.
Furnish me with the means-that is
all ashland give me a chance to re-
pay YOU
From the emergency fund, laid aside
for such purposes. Reiutka was given
transportation to his home. His cloth
ing was replaced from articles contrib
uted by Assistant Supt. Willard Not
bohn, Bookkeeper n. y. Mir, Aban-
comment officer George +. Elsner and
Supt. Spindler himself.
Then. when he had been fed and
rested Reiutka left the Offices In
charge of the county officials, and was
taken to the North Western station.
Dan Vaughan Is President
At a meeting Of the Ancient ORDER
Of Hibernians OF the county held at
Shea's hall at Negaunee Sunday af-
ternoon. Dan Vaughan. of this city,
was elected countp president and dele
gate TO the national convention to be
held I'm Chicago July lG. The other
officers of the county elected AT the
meeting are: Vice president Dennis,
Harrington. of Ishpeming; secretary, j.
r. Burns. Negaunee; financial secre-
tary. Henry Grant, Republic; treasur-
or. Patrick Cronin Ishpemlng; chap