The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-12-21
Y. M. C. A.
EXTENDS AID
TO STRANGER
IN DISTRESS
THE UNFORTUNATE MAN COM
PEELED TO LEAVE TRAIN AT
CANON CITY AND APPLY TO
LOCAL ASSOCIATION FOR AS
,sBTANcE.
SENT TO LeADVILLE,
WHERE RELATIVES RESIDE

On Tuesday OF this week a well
dressed. highly intelligent and an
apparently fairly prosperous man
about fifty years Of age carrying a
suit case, presented himself at the
office of Secretary C. w. Van Patten
of the Y. NJ c. A. and asked for
private talk with him. Mr.. Van Pat
ten supposed that the stranger was
an agent of some kind and had some
new-fangled article that he wished TO
sell. but his mind was soon disabused
upon that point.
After the two men had gone up
stairs and seated themselves in a
committee room where they were not
likely to be interrupted the stranger
said: Il have just come from the of
fice OF n physician where / was given
an examination for a malignant
growth on the mastoid bone on the
right side OF the fact. resulting from
an asthmatic troable OF long stand
Ing. that he prolounces critical; so
much SO. in fact, that II may result
in my death at any time. The mat
ter / wish TO speak to you about Is
one OF grave importance 10 me and
hope you will hear the story ! have
TO relate. / need assistance and it is
because you are connected with the
Y. NJ. C. A. that | have come TO you
for help.
Il am from Galesburg. Illinois. and
was passing thru Canon City on my
way TO Leadyille when the pain in
my head became so intense that was
compelled to get OF of the train here
and seek physician to allay in some
way the agony from which l suffered.
He said that would be compelled to
submit to surgical operation for -
lief. bat was very doubtful whether
! would be able TO pass thru the
ordeal alive. ! am absolutely without
money and am a total stranger here
and can not OF course. go TO hospital
for treatment. ! have not had any
thing TO eat since MONDAY. but could
not eat II had the chance on ac.
count of the trouble in my head.
what ! want is the loan of sufficient
money TO pay my railroad fare to
Leadville where l have cousin liv-
ing and from whom | Will endeayor to
obtain help II live to get there.
For the last eight or ten years
have been employed in minor posi-
tion with the Y. NJ. {. A.. at Gales
burg and other cities in northern llli-
sf~f.. Lob \
been afflicted for n long time. incapa.
eitated me from work and my friends
advised me TO go TO Colorado with
the hope that change OF climate
would be helpful in the restoration of
my health. l had only enough money
to make the trip. but started out with
the expectation that when | reached
there / would be fortunate enough to
hnd something to do that would keep
the wolf from the door" until | got
better and my earning capacity was
increased.
Il came to Colorado Springs, but
the disease seemed to be intensified
10y the climate there and went to Pu-
eblo to look for a cousin thought
was residing there. found out after
my arrival there he had left Pueblo
several years ago and was now sup
posed TO be making his home in Lead.
vile. without any means of paying
for my meals in Pueblo and being
too III to work | did not stay there
very long. ! spent the last cent? had
for a railroad ticket that would take
me as far In the direction OF Lead
vile ms possible. but was only able
to get as far as Canon City. ! am
widower. my wife having died few
years ago. Shortly afterward my old
est son was killed In an accident and
my other children. both of whom are
little tots. were given into the care
of others, as was unable to provide
for them. Until now l have never had
to ask for money in my life and II Is
humiliating to me to do II. but the
necessities are so great that | am COM
PEELED 10 appeal to you for help of
that kind. My story is pitiful one
and the urgency for assistance is ex-
treme. II you are able to grant my
request your kindness viii evoke an
appreciation that will never be for
gotten"
After listening TO his narrative and
having become convinced Of its credl.
bllity by the modeuty OF It's recital.
Mr.. Van Pattsn told the man that he
The circumstances nhrdlu vidalltno b