The New York herald., 1921-01-15
Brooklyn Porto Ricans, Re-
cent Arrivals, Have Try
ing Month.
FURNITURE, TOO, GONE
Now the Children Romp as
Food and Fuel Pour In From
Benefactors.

family huddled, cold, afraid and be-
wildered, about little wood stove In
+ their apartment on the second floor at
z 7S3 Third avenue, Brooklyn, and Won
dered how long their food would last.
II To-day the Aran family knows that.
+ although many persons in New York
become very hungry, and some OF
them almost cross the borderland, no.
body ever starves to death If he lets
his plight be known. But the Arans
would rather starve than ask for
charity.
t Four months ago Peter Aran lived
in Mayaguez, a port on the west coast
of Porto Rico. He had farmed some,
and later had owned little store.
From time to time there came to his
ears strange tales Of the United States.
Of how there always was plenty Of
work and everybody was happy and
well fed Peter and his wife had a
large family. There were Peter, Jr..
"a years old: Carmen. dark eyed,
handsome girl of 20; Lola, 16; August,
i3; Rosa, 8, and then there was
Charles, z.
Peter Aran bundled up his whole fam
lily and brought them to Brooklyn. For
time things went well. "A month ago
they moved into the place at 7S3 Third
avenue and agreed to buy the furniture
from the former occupant on the install
ment plan.
Then Peter lost his job, and so did
his daughters, Carmen and Lola. Pc
ter, Jr., tried to make ends meet on
$l2 week. but that was little more
than enough to pay the rent. In few
days a man came and took the furni-
ture away, leaving not chair or a
table or a bed In the whole four rooms.
They took some old mattresses and
spread them on the floor. On cold
nights they slept in their clothes.
Fear Takes Possession.
Every day Peter and his two oldest
daughters went out and tried to find
work. but after few attempts they
became afraid. They were afraid OF
their neighbors. any one of whom would
have gladly helped them all they could.
SO they simply sat at home and
watched their food supply dwindle
away.
Thursday morning there was nothing
10 eat in the house. Lola, who has
learned to speak English pretty well,
took out some of the children's toys
that night and sold them for IS cents.
She bought some potatoes, a can or
meat and some sour milk They all
gathered around the stove and con-
cocted sort of soup. 1t tasted good,
but It lacked much of being enough and
they went to bed still hungry. When
they awoke yesterday morning the
whole family was III.
Mrs. Aran, with August, stumbled up
10 the third floor, where Morris Engle-
bardt lives with his family. She was
very weak and when Mrs. Englebardt
opened the door she started to cry and
August said they were SICK and
starving.
pitiful sight Carmine. Lola Rosa and
little Charles were lying on the floor
writhing and groaning with pain, while
Peter Aran himself, dazed, was crouched
In a corner.
starvation and Poisoning.
Englebardt brought them some coal.
built n fire, gave them some fruit and
then called Patrolman Quinlan OF the
Fourth avenue police station and an
ambulance surgeon from the Norwegian
Hospital. The surgeon said the family
was SufIerluB from pOth SeaA NoeiSA ""~
ptomalne poisoning.
Mrs Aran and Carmen were taken
to the Kings County Hospital. Although
weak, their condition Is not serious.
Patrolman Quinlan got 81 worth OF
food and then called Sergeant Lackaye,
who reported the case to Sergeant Gillen.
and a collection was taken up to buy
food enough to last several days. They
also have arranged to find work Tor
Aran himself. Carmen and Lola as soon
as they are strong enough TO do II.
The neighbors have found that they
have more furniture than they need and
are giving some OF II to the Aran family,
who receive all these gifts under pro-
test. declaring that there Is nothing the
matter and that they will be all right
In few days.
Throughout the afternoon Rosa and
August and Charlie scampered about the
apartment apparently having forgotten
how near they came to starving to death.
Englebardt had brought in table. and
on 1t was piled turkey. chicken, pork.
potatoes. bread. milk and dozen other
things.
The Toys Are Brought Back.
The first thing the children ia after
they got something to eat was % make
Lola tell them where she sold their toys
a policeman took them around the corner
and bought the toys back for seventy
five cents. The children would play
with the toys "A few minutes and ther.
rln to the table. as though they wanted
70 see if all that food-more than they
had seen in a month--was really there
ur II they were having only a pretty
dream.
"You will be all right now, won't your"
August was asked. He will be a chubby
hoy II the food lasts. He looked up
winked and said, Sure" with an accent
which was almost Irish.
Before night came Lola was restless.
She said she was in a hurry TO go TO her
new job. She looked out OF the window
at the rain falling on the rubbish In the
back yard.
"Manana, senior" she said. making
Wish. Tomorrow we can 20 TO work.
and maybe well always have enough to
cat them
FARMER HELD As SLAYER.