The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 8, 1895, Page 14

14 THE SAN FBANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1895. GLARING EYESORES ON OUR STREETS. REPUISIVE BEGGARS THAT ARE A DISGRACE TO THE CITY. MANY OF THE MENDICANTS Pos- SESS CONSIDERABLE PROP- ERTY. THEIR PRESENCE ILLEGAL. CRIPPLES AND ALMS-SEEKERS MAY Be Kepn From PuUBLIC PLACES. The street beggars of San Francisco area disgrace to the communi They are un- Jawful parasites, and they are frequently Jawless. They have become an eyesore to the inhabitants, and they are shocking If the evil is allowed to sights to visitors. continue, San Francisco will gain a repu- | tation that will excel thatof the beggar cities of Southern Europe. The manner in which the blind, maimed and the pretended cripples have divided up this city in respect to stands to ply their mendicancy has reach uch a pitch that a person can hardly pass a street corner without sud- denly coming upon a sight, not only re- the whereat volting to delicate women, but sickening to strong men. The blind have their stationary location, but the cripples hobble about, getting in the way of persons so as to purposely block their path. If refused money, curses and frequently blows with crutches follow the demand. Few of the unfortunates are entitled to the charity they obtain. Most of them are crim leastof a vicious nature. That a blind man could successfully com- mit a burglary Jeg and one arm could beat a strong man virtually to death are hard s believe, but such criminals are now in the State prison paying the penalty of their misdeeds. That the sight of a hideously blinded woman glaring up at a young lady would se the latter to faint and nervous prostration result sounds like a tale of the imagination, but such an occurrence took place recently at the foot of the stairs lead- ing to a photograph gallery on Post street. ‘Women are frequently seriously tled by the sudden appearance of a deformed man, and men are greatly harassed by the great army of cripples and wrecks who ac- cost, follow and persist in importuning. This state of affairs would not exist if the laws were enforced. The indolent tramp who is too lazy to work would be imprisoned and the blind or crippled un- fortunate would be given a comfortable home either in a blind asylum or the alms- house provided the local ordinances were put into effect. The law is plain en the subject and if the police officers were only instructed to do their duty the streets would be cleared of its hideous sights and its vicious paupers within twenty-four hours. The orders of the police to “move on” would be obeyed and this city would be rid of a most objectionable class of im- ported parasites. Even those deserving of charity would be far better off in a properly conducted alms- house than on the street. According to their own stories they eke out a most miserable existence, live in squalor on a few cents a day, clothe themselves in rags , and suffer for comforts furnished to even animals. The truth is that many of the unfortunates have money saved up, while those who are in daily need are generally in that condition because of their own vices. Those vagrants of this class do not wish to be placed in a home because they could secure no liguor there, and as many are confirmed drunkards they strive hard to keep out of the poorhouse. Still they occupy bunks in the City Prison or the almshouse more frequently than anywhere else. The better class among the blind, crip- pled and infirm prefer the precarious ex- istence afforded by an ‘‘independent” mode of life to living' upon a regular charity. Under the thin disguise of sell- ing pencils they contend that they are not as much the objects of charity as if they were in the poorhouse. The truth is that they prefer the life of the streets and the chance to have a glass of beer and whi: whenever they want it to the confinement and the regular routine of a large charita- ble institution, It is the desire todo as they please which makes them all want to beg for a living. Therefore by the non- enforcement of the law the streets are lit- tered with the hideously blind, the shock- ingly deformed and the sickeningly in- firm. The people pay taxes for the support of these unfortunates in an institution where comfort, good air and good food are sup- posed to be given to them. Having once paid for their support many citizens ob- ject to contributing toward the paupers desire to drink and toward the mainten- ance of revolting spectacles on street cor- ners. There is a chance now for San Francisco to become a great city within a short time and progressive citizens object to exhibits of beggars which lead visitors to believe that there is a very large pauper element here and that it is due to *géneral poverty in the land. This is not true, as nearly every beggar has been imported from some other country. The police are often hindered in doing their duty by the false sympathies of some people. If a policeman arrest a beggar, be be blind or a drunken cripple, the crowd will often abuse the officer for imposing upon a poor unfortunate. The policeman realizes for once that he is a public ser- vant, and to oblige those possessed of false sympathies, or those devoid of sense, he uses his judgment and violates the law. ‘The people do not understand that the ar- rested man is being taken into custody for hisown good and for the public welfare. The beggars are a nuisance to the police, and the latter will be only too willing to run the mendicants off the streets when they learn they disobey the law by allow- Highest of all in Leavening Power.— Latest U. S. Gov't Report Rl and that a man with one | ements to | | with a head and face of a dried skull, who | ing the vagrants and maimed to remain in public places. The majority of the beggars are cripples, and curiously enough these are given more money than the blind, though the loss of sight is considered the greater misfortune. Still the cripple can look appealingly at a passer-by and the blind man is virtually also dumb and deaf. Most of the cripples have met with the loss of limbs through their own viciousness. The majority when possessed of a sound body were tramps, who have fallen while drunk from brake- beams on trains and escaped with their lives by the loss of their limbs. This new physical deformity adds to their mental deformity, and they drift to large cities to become beggars and thieves. Nearly all their money goes for drink, and many of the constant *‘strikers” in this city are ad- dicted to the habit of drinking Chinatown gin, one drink of which putsa man into a semi-unconscious sleep for a couple of hours. When they descend to drinking Chinatown gin they are forever lost. Some of the more hideous street beggars | have been arrested recently and others | have been driven away by Police Officer | Peter Richter, whose beat is on Kearny | street, and who has made a small crusade | of his own. Thealmost blind organ grinder used to sit on corners along Kearny street, | will be seen here no more. The drunken blind Indian “Andrew,” with the sickening red eyeballs, who plays a harmonica and runs wildly through the streets, has been at the almshouse for two weel Two men, hardly more than boys, who are to be seen on the streets every few | months, are about as good samples of mis- | directed-charity receivers as any known. | One of these boys is legless. The other stands behind him and plays an accordion. ‘When they obtain their day’s contribu- tions they haunt the dives on Mission | street and consort with the lowest whites | and negroes, who mingle there together. | Both of the boys have Jed abandoned lives for years. Three of San Francisco’s most noted beggars may never be seen here again. They are Jobn Kinlock, Joseph Caley and Dick Bannister. Bannister has been ban- 1shed. He is an armless man who plays a hand-organ. He wears leather bands on the stumps of his arms, and connects the handle of the organ with the stump of his right arm. Bannister became a loath- | some drunkard and was compelled to leave the city. Banister created a sensation at San Jose once. He and three legless men did such a flourishing business in the Gar- den City that they planned a novel spree. The four cripples hired a four-in-hand and drove to Moupt Hamilton, ed the Lick Observatory and got on a wild drunk aiter- ward. Joseph Caley is a blind Mexican boy. He appears to be about 20 or 25 years of age. He is short, but fairly stout in stature and is badly pockmarked. His habit was to stand in front of the White House on Post street. He would almost shut his sightless eyes, hold his hat in front of him and stand still for hours. He wasalways in bad odor with the police, as they frequently found him among gangs of petty thieves when raids would be made. It is this Mexican boy who, though totally blind, robbed a store at midnight and got | to his room, a mile from the scene of the | robbery, and was then only caught by acci- dent. About three months ago Caley and Fred Lane, aged 17, went to a grocery- store on Post street. Caley opened the | door with a skeleton key. Both entered | the place and loaded themselves down | with plunder. Caley was led back| to his room on Montgomery | avenue, near Kearny, and the boy started | whether they be intirm, blind, crippled or unsightly, is very plain. The law was made for the purpose of keeping beggars and fakirs off the street, and the Alms- house was created for the purpose of giv- ing the unfortunates a home. This home is supposed to be conducted in a better way than any of the places where the beggars exist. The people are taxed for the support of the poor, and there is no reason why such sights as are to be seen about the streets daily should be inflicted upon the community. The mendicants should not be sent to jail or the Almshouse for a few days or weeks and then be allowed to return to the street corners again, - Section 29 of the general orders of the Board of Supervisors, entitled “‘To prohibit street-begging and to restrain certain Ee_rsons from appearing in_ streets and public places,” Teads as follows No person shall, either directly or indirectly, whether by 1ook, word, sign or deed, practice begging of mendicancy in or on any of the streets, highways or thoroughfares of the city and county of San Francisco, nor in any public place, B e conyletion or any person for practic- ing mendicancy or begging, if it shall appear that such person is without means of support and infirm and physically unable to earn a support and livelihood, or is, for any cause, a froper person to be maintained at the Alms- house, such person may be committed to,the Almshouse. Any person who is diseased, meimed muti- | Iated orin any way deformed,so 8s_to be an unsightly or disgusting object, or an improper person to be allowed in or on the streets, high- ways, thoroughfares or public places in this eity and county, shall not therein or thereon ex- pose himseli or herself to publie view. On the conviction of any person for a viola- tion of any of the provisionsoi the next pre- ceding clause of this section, if it shall seem proper and just, the fine and imprisonment provided for may be omitted and such person sent to the Almshouse. 1t is hereby made the duty of the police offi- cers 1o arrest any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section. Considerable Wealth. The most painful object on the streets is the most prominent one. Henry J. Powell, better known as the “paralyzed old xylo- phone player,” whose stand has been for years at the corner of Sutter and Kearny streets, is a good example of what contin- uous professional begging makes of an un- fortunate. For many years the white- haired man has been seen daily by thou- for his own room. Two policemen saw him, and as his actions were suspicious | they searched him. They found some of | the stolen goods and Lane became so | scared he betrayed his companion. One of | the policemen went to Caley’s room and | there he found a number of whisky bot- | tles, some boxes of cigarettes and other | plunder. The trial of the two burglars | came off before Superior Judge Bahrs two weeks ago. The blind Mexican burglar and tempter of younger boys was con- victed and sentenced to four years’ impris- onment in San Quentin. The Lane boy was sent to the Preston Industrial School. The most vicious beggar known to the police of San Francisco is now in San Quentin serving a term of five years for | assault to murder. He is John Kinlock, and was seen daily on the streets of San Francisco until three years ago. Kinlock had only one leg and onearm. But the stump of his right leg was a dangerous weapon. Kinlock’s right leg was cut off at the knee. With this stump Kinlock, while standing on crutches, would strike men vicious blows in the abdomen, almost de- vriving them of sensibility through exces- sive pain. Kinlock’s habit was to walk the streets, get in the way of men and | women and keep there as long as possible. Kinlock was more or less under the in- fluence of liquor all the time, except dur- ing the many periods following his arrest. When refused money on the street he would hit men with the stump of his leg or his crutch, and to women who passed him by no language was too revolting for him to use. He was feared by his com- rades, even the able-bodied ones. He was often suspected of committing petty crimes, such as “rolling”” drunks, but the police never succeeded in catching him un- til one night three yearsago. Kinlock and Tom Barry induced a drunken man who had money on him to leave a Barbary Coast saloon and go with them to Gold street, a little alley near the corner of Jackson and Sansome streets. As soon as the trio were in a dark spot Kinlock hit the victim over the head with his crutch and felled him to the ground. He then beat the man into insensibility and left him for dead, after taking all the money and val- uables in his clothes. Kinlock was con- victed and sentenced to five years’ impris- onment. It was a light sentence as Kin- lock’s victim never fully recovered. He was an employe at the Presidio and made money by lending sumsat high rates of in- terest. Since the beating and robbery the man has been unable to work and his mind has been so deranged that he has become very weak mentally as well as physically. A COMPLETE AND POSITIVE LAW, Beggars and: Unsightly Persons Prohibited From the Streets. The law regarding the cases of beggars, Baking Powder ABSOLUTELY PURE | ea. Henry J. Powell. [Sketched from life for the “Call” by Livingstone.] sands. He was never an object that pro- duced anything but pain and pity, and at the present time he presents a sight that is almost sickening. He struggles daily from his room to some place along Kearny street. He can hardly drag his distorted legs along the ground. Foot is moved after foot in the slowest manner, while the face of the old man peers up into the countenances of passers-by with a look on it that is evi dence of the greatest mental and phy suffering. He no longer plays the phone, as his hands are too badly afflict- His daily actions are generally the same. After painfully dragging him- self to his stand he sits down, rubs his aching hands with liniment, and then overcome with that peculiar stupor of old age which foretells death he falls asleep. The policemen on Kearny street have to raise him up and awaken him frequently, and they expect to pick up a corpse | some day. Though possessed of wealth Powell has no enjoyment of it. Having been swindled all his life he is fearful for that which he has left, and though he is still rich enough to secure comfortable quarters he lives in a dingy hole, eats but a mouthful and drags himself out to gain a few dimes. Henry Joseph Powell is an Englis hman, 72 years of age, and claims to have been a partial cripple from birth. He attempted to make a success in business in different Eastern cities, but never gained much of a start. About thirty years ago he went to Montana, a pioneer, and prospered. After having been swindled out of considerable money, as well as a partially developed gold “claim, he came to this city, as his affliction had increased rap- idly. He spent a small fortune in trying to cure his paralysis, but failed. Health and money ~gone he was in despair. One day twenty-two years ago he went to the corner of Sutter and Kearny streets, and he began a life of beg- ging. Powell made money rapidly, and transferred his stand to old MeiEgs wharf, There twenty years agoall who passed him gave him something, and many times handfuls of coin were dropped into his hat. But the constant sitting brought on rheumatism, and Powell's ills increased with his wealth. Still he livea like a miser and hoarded. Nearly every time he would invest his money he would be robbed. Times have become so dull now and he has lost so much money Powell is anxious to get into some home where he can secure good treatment for the remain- ;ler of his days, which will probably be ew. Powell lives at the Coso House, a low- priced place on Sansome street, near Sac- ramento. He occurics a little room about the size of a box. In this he sleeps, cooks, eats and lives. He makes his bed and at- tends to his room himself. All the time he is not on the street he is in this room. Attempts have been made by persons taking a kindly interest in the old fellow to get him to return to England, where he has a sister. Though wishing for a home, he still hates to leave his miserable sur- roundings and painful daily begging. He has a large number of people as regular contributors. Some give him 10 cents a aay, others 25 or 50 cents a week. In the past a large number of persons used to give him §1 every Monday morning. About twelve yvears ago he lost $5000 through the purchase of a ranch in Santa Cruz County. He got into a lawsuit, which he won, but he was swindled out of his money. He still owns a ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains which is worth $2300 to $2500. Powell accuses L. J. Ewell, the dairyman, of defrauding him out of $1500; and has instructed his attor- ney, Joseph Napthaly of Napthaly, Freid- enrich & Ackerman, to bring suit to re- cover the money. Ewell kept the Coso House for many years. Powell has lived there for the lasteleven years, so the two became well acquainted.” Ewell induced Powell to put $1500 in the stock of the Ewell X. L. Dairy Bottled Milk Company. He received a few dividends, but now he can get neither dividend nor principal and accuses Ewell of swindling[., Besides his ranch in Santa Cruz County Powell has about $2000 in bank in this city. Neither Powell nor his “banker,’”” Char{es 8. Fech- heimer of the Plaza stores, 706 Kearny street, will tell just what Powell has, but state that it is about that sum. Mr. Fech- heimer has taken care of the old man’'s money for ten years and is now trying to make arrangements to get him from his miserable surroundings to a place of quiet and comfort. Some people incline to the belief that Powell ownes a considerable interest in Fechheimer’s store. " PROPHET” AND HIS PROPERTY, An Italian Organ-Grinder of the Well-Known 0ld Style, Pietro Zazzi is a beggar of the old style. He is a genuine Italian organ-grinder, and has plied that vocation for twenty years. He has traveled all over the coast and has made a large amount of money. He now lives at 525 Greenwich street, near Stock- ton. He owns the place, but it is mort- gaged. He also owns a house and lot on ‘Pietro Zszzi. [Sketched by a “ Call” artist.) Third avenue, near California street. This is mortgaged to the City Building and Loan Society, but Zazzi is paying up the installments rapidly. He also has a lot on California street, near Maple, in his wife's name. There is a sm:\lr mortgage on this. He is supposed to have many more interests. Zazzi has given his atten- tion to grinding the organ along streets in the Western Addition. When he goes out he always wears a cap upon which is the word “Prophet.”” But Zazzi does not go out a great deal now. He is 80 years of age and is able to rest. DEBASED WRECK OF A MAN. Andrew Hassell, a Frozen Norwegian, Chronic Drunkard. Andrew Hassell, a Norwegian, is an ugly- looking beggar, whose feet were frozen off in Alaska. He now walks around on his knees, carrying a number of trinkets in a basket. His appearance is against him, his bloated face showing constant dissipation. a sy W) Andrew Hassell. [Sketched by a * Call” artist.] Hassell, crippled and a beggar, manages to provide for himself and a woman known as Nellie Mullins. -They livein a room in the notorious Jessie-street lodging house. They are nearly always drunk, continually fight- ing, and they would not be tolerated any other kind of house than that in which they now live. It is one in which the vilest of all classes consort, negroesand whites together. Hassell is a debased wietch, upon whom charity is badly mis- spent. & KEPT BY A BLIND WIFE. A, J. Whitehouse Loafs While His Better Half Begs. Perhaps the most shameful case of street mendicancy is that of Mrs. M. L. White« house. It is not shameful on her part, but on that of her husband, who lives upon the earnings of his blind wife. Mrs. White- houseis 50 years of age and has been blind since childhood. She married her present shusband, A.J. Whitehouse, eight years ago in Kansas City, Mo., where she has relatives. Itis probable Whitehouse, who is younger than his wife, married the blind woman so as to live upon her beg- ging. He lies around their two little rooms Mrs. Whitehouse. [Sketched by a “ Call” artist.] in the third story of a rooker y in the rear of 344 Third" street while his wife is out at work. He pretends to beill. He often allows his wie to come h ome alone, as she can distinguish objects dimly. ‘Whitehouse cooks, makes beds, etc., but he is too lazy to carry out the organ with which his wife used to attract attention. He also states it is too much bother for him to purchase pencils or trinkets for his wife to sell. Mrs. Whitehouse, attired in shaker bonnet, plaid apron and plain dress, generally sits on a camp stool on Post street near Kearny or on Kearny, near Market, She complains of her treatment by her husband, and says he scolds her dreadfully if she does not bring home much money. FRANK PHELPS' WRECKED LIFE. A Disgusting Spectacle to Be Seen on Res- taurant Steps. A disgusting, sickening sight is presented by Frank Phelps, a man of 28 whose afflic- tions are the result of his dissipation and misspent early life. He generally reclines on the steps near the entrances to the res- taurants of the-Center Market at the corner of Grant avenue and Sutter streets. Here he lies writhing in assumed agony, expos- ing the stump of an arm and uttering groans, which if ever genuine are from his desire to get whisky or morphine as he is a hypo” gend by reputation. He begs in piteous tones for passers-by to purchase a pencil. _As soon as he gets a dime he slowly picks himself up and walks rapidly and firmly to a neighboring saloon. When he returns to his piace on the steps he whines out a tale of paralyzed legs to all whom he may attract. This constitutes his work of the day. At night he takes up a stand in front of some restaurant, and with twisted limbs and distorted face begs for a dime with which to get something to eat. After the restau- rant closes he becomes a ‘“‘striker’’ on the street, and later goes to one of the numer- ous beer saloons near the old City Hall, where he meets congenial spirits. There the proceeds of the day are spent in “filling up” on steam beer, until the money being gone he goes to sleep in a chair or walks down to_the City Prison and begs for a night’s lodging. ~Occasionally he saves enough out of the beer money to pay for a Frank Phelps. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] bed in a 15-cent lodging. Phelps claims that he was a newsboy in the East. While in Salina, Kans., seven years ago he at- tempted to jump on a train on which he was news agent. He fell under it and had his left hand cut off. His home, he claims, is in Bellevalle, 11 LIFE OF A BLIND SCOTCHMAN, Con McGregor Finds Pleasure Among Disso- lute Companions. Con McGregor is a Scotchman who is not satisfied with the dollar or two he makes selling papers at the entrance to the ferry in the morning, but he also sells pencils and begs occasionally. McGregor is cer- tainly blind in one eye and claims to be blind in both, though the left eye appears perfect. McGregor lived for a’long time with a depraved woman in St. Charles place, and the two became noted for their drunken orgies. McGregor now lives on Natoma street and the little blonde woman who is with him makes the neighborhood lively when she starts on one of her sprees. McGregor has the reputation of being a man of irritable temperament and is generally disliked among his acquaintances. ANNIE BARRY'S WRETCHED LIFE. A Woman Who Olaims to Be Nearly a Cen- tenarian, Annie Barry is one of the female wrecks that float about the city begging for alms. She is a little Irish womar with yellowish white hair and claims to be 95 years of age. Notwithstanding this she is’ a drunkard and an inmate of the notorious den known as the Jessie-street lodging-house. Annie Barry hobbles along painfully and with an n%onized and drawn face extends her palm for aid. She was a housekeeper for prominent families some years ago, but recently she has spent her time mostly be- tween the jail and the almshouse, the lat- ter place being one which she declares has been badly conducted during the past three years. BREAD-WINNER FOR MANY, Fernand Deboas Grinds an Organ With Pe- ouniary Success. Fernand Deboas is the support for at [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] least two men, and it is probable that a ‘whole family receives the major part of his gatherings. Deboas is the aged Belgian who sits in frent of the City of Paris and grinds “Two Little Girlsin Blue” out of an organ all day long. About 9 . M. a slouchy Frenchman comes for the old blind man. They go to Dick von der Mahden’s grocery, at the corner of Mission and Fourth streets, leave the organ, drink beer for an hour or soand then take the Castro-street cars so as to get as near as possible to the home of Peter Valle, a pretended musician, who, with a wife and four children, lives on Ocean road, opposite Alvarado street, on the eastern slope of Twin Peaks. Valle owns the property, and claims to have an income from some source in Chicago. The whole garty came from Chicago just before the Midwinter Fair opened, and the only visible source of income has been the old organ-grinder. Seven years ago Fernand was the support of three professional beg- ars in Kansas City, Mo. When Fernand did well the man ‘and a woman with him would go on a spree, leaving the third one, acrippled girl, to starve. BLIND FOR TWENTY YEARS, Frank Amann Lives in a Hovel Almost Nogleoted. Frank Amann has been twenty yearsa beggar on the streets of San Francisco, and is supposed to have considerable money | laid away. He sits bare-headed all day on Grant avenue, near Geary street. At night a man, whom he pays 30 cents a day to Frank Amann. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] lead him back and forward, comes for him and takes him to a hovel in St. Charle place, off Kearny street. near Broadway where the lowest class of women and the most eriminal men abound. Amann, though totally blind, cooks his supper on a coal-oil stove. He has a few friends to meet him ocecasionally in the evening to talk to him. Some of these friends are in- trusted with Amann’s savings. Amann is an Alsatian, 60 years of age. AN IMPORTED PROFESSIONAL. Joseph Heid.sburg Chafiged His Grounds From Paris Recently. A good sample of the imported mendi- cant is Joseph Heidesburg, an aged French- man. Old Heidesburg plies his vocation at night principally, when he has nearly a clear field to himself, though he is often to be seen out on Saturday and Sunday after- noons. His favorite haunt is on the north side of Post street, near Kearny, where he Joseph Heidesburg. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] sits under the arc lights of the White House. Here he remains with a bent head, and twisting about a concertina, which makes doleful, wheezing sounds, that are interrupted every few seconds by a loud squeak, which he draws from the tortured instrument by the exercise of a little extra vigor. Heidesburg’s appear- ance is that of a bundle of rags, with an upturned hat placed in front of it on the sidewalk. At times he goes to the west side of Grant avenue, south of the corner of Geary street, and again he can be seen at some dark spot on Montgomery street. Heidesburg is neither blind, crippled nor ill, though he pretends to have all those complaints. He is a somewhat stoutly built Frenchman, 60 years of age, who was brought to this country about three years ago by an uncle who lives at Redwood City. He entered upon the life of a beg- gar, which he had followed professionally in Paris, though pretending to be a buticher. Heidesburg occupies a small room at the Hotel des Alpes, 621 Pacific street. He has no friends or relatives in this city, and leads a miserable existence. He cooks his own meals in his room, seldom leaves it in the daytime and at night prowls along Kearny street to his chosen post. He is th)verty stricken and leads an uneventful ife. DECREPIT MRS. JANE SHAY. A 01d Woman Who Needs Constant Care and Attention, Mrs. Jane Shay, who claims to be 80 years of age, and looks it. sells matches every day in front of the Academy of Sciences. She lives at 255 Minna street with Mrs. Mary Moore, a widow of 65, who is said to have some kind of an income. Mrs. Shay was a workingwoman, but now she is unable to even help herself about. For the last five years she has sold matches. She has three granddaughters_in this city, but they are unable or unwilling to help her. Mrs. Moore cooks the old woman’s meals for her. Mrs. Shay was at the Alms- house once, but complains of the treat- ment there. TWO DESTITUTE OLD BELGIANS, Johanna de Byiegne!eere Bogs forHer Sick usband, Johanna de Spiegeleere, a withered old Belgian woman, sits all day long in front of the Pacific Postal Telegraph Company’s office on Market street, and with the little money she gets she keeps herself and her sick husband from starvation. Peter de Spiegeleere came to this country over twenty years ago with a few hundred dol- lars. For several years he sold lead pen- cils, making a precarious living. He was taken sick several weeks ago and his wife now goes out in his place. The two live in two rickety rooms in the rear of 42 Jes- sie street. The wife is 82 years old and the husband is three months younger., They are almost destitute, but the'old man cries if the Almshouse is mentioned to him. He had $50_in the People’s Home Savings Bank. He has withdrawn and received in dividends a total of $14. THE HAPPIEST BEGGAR IN TOWN. Robert N. Morris More Satisfied Legless Than When Whole. The happiest beggar on the street is Robert N. Morris, a legless pencil-seller, who is to be seen daily in front of the store of O'Connor, Moffatt & Co., or that of D. Samuels, on Post street, between Grant avenue and Kearny. Morris can- didly admits having made quite a sum out of the sympathies of the women who trade on Post sireet, and declares he does not need much assistance. He presents a shockmg sight, as both his legs are entirel off and he stands on two short stumps. His head and body are those of a finely built man of middie-age, and as he presents a neat appearance many persons think he is a man who once occupied a high place in society. The result is that he gathers in many dimes. Ten years ago Morris, whose home is in Chico, was a drunken braker, about Sacramento, according to his own story, and it took all his money to keep him'in liquor. One day he tried to jump on a train and fell under it and haq both legs cut off. For the past ten vears he has knocked about the United States, begging in all the principal cities, He made more by begging than by brak- ing. He traveled much and_spent all of his surplus money for whisky. He claims to have quit grinking to excess over two years ago, just before he went to the World’s Fair at Chicago. Morris, when spoken to, hands the questioner a neatly written card which has upon it his name and_his ad- dress, which shows he lives at the Bonanza lodging-house on Market street, ox‘g\mile the Baldwin Hotel. He eats in the Palace Restaurant, underneath his lodging-house. Morris is a_very independent fellow. He laughs at being placed ina home or the Almshouse and travels wherever his incli- nations direct him. QUIET PERPETRATOR OF FRAUD, Joseph Zen Does Not Possess Four Motherloss Children. One ot the many ,impositions on the public without much of a history is Joseph Zen, a Swiss. He generally stands silently in front of Sherman & Clay’s, on Ke Josep. Zen. [Sketched by a “ Call” artist.] street. A badge announcing that he has four motherless children to support is upon his breast. Zen lost his sight about two years ago. He has no motherless children or any relatives at all. He lives at the San Gottardo Hotel, 511 Broadway, opposite the County Jail. A hired guide takes Zen about town. Zen leads a quiet, uneventful life. THE CASE OF JOHN BCOTT. Though Blind, He Walks the Streets in Safety. John Scott, alias ‘“John Adam, the Scotchman,” is one of the few blind men with an uneventful life. For the last few years he has stood at the corner of Post street and Grant avenue. Scott claims that in 1880 his eyesight was destroyed and his right arm blown off by a blast in a coal mine in New Mexico. For seven years h could see a little. Then his eyes gave out. Scott has a room at the Pacific lodging- house, on Leidesdorff street, and eats at the What Cheer House. Though totally blind, Scott finds his way from his lodg- ings to his stand. He never meets with any accidents except falling into base- John Scott, alias John Adam. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] ments through open traps, On two occa- sions he nearly lost his life. Scott is a steady man, and though his face may be said to be a hard-looking one, he is better than the average blind man. He barely makes out a living. HARRY THE HACOKMAN'S CASE, He Has Passed an Uneventful Lifo for Four. teen Years. Another blind man with an uneventful life is Harry McLaughlin, the ex-hackman. He grinds a broken-down organ in front of Harry McLaughlin. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.]) the plaza opposite the old City Hallall day and at night he goes to the Oshorn House, a resort for low characters, which adjoins the Bellg Union on Kearny street. Harry eats at the International FHotel. He earns a fair living, has a little money and only a horse and wagon could get him to the Almshouse. He has been blind for four- teen years. T Good Advertising. SELLING PURE WHITE DINNER PLATES AT FIVE CENTS EACH. GREAT AMERICAN IMP. TEA CO.’S STORES, Other lines of Crockery equally cheap.