Abandoned by the County: The Price of Survival for Injured Laborers

Two men spent last night in the sheriff's office who are victims of the loose regulations made by the legislature for the care of the poor and the neglect of the authorities in counties adjoining this. One of the two, Mats Peterson, had been working about five months in the Port Blakely mill and then moved to the Port Gamble mill. He had only been at the latter a few days when he was seriously hurt by a slab. He was brought to this city and given over to the sisters at Providence Hospital, who nursed him for eight weeks. The sisters then applied to the commissioners of this county for some aid in taking care of the man and were refused. The sisters had done all that their means would allow and the man was sent to the sheriff to be taken care of. The sheriff was unable yesterday to find Chairman Allen, of the board of county commissioners, and therefore made up a bunk for him in his office until something could be done. The other man is named W. T. White and had been working in Blackman's camp in Snohomish County since July. He had drawn out all his wages and spent them in supplies for his home, and had got back again to work but a few days when he hit himself with an axe and caught cold in the cut. He, too, was brought to Providence Hospital and was taken care of by the sisters till the county authorities refused to bear any part of the expense of taking care of them. They are now, from what can be learned, left to the charity of the sheriff or other means of providing for them, but nothing would be better than to make arrangements with either of the hospitals here and not attempt to throw the whole burden on a single county.