The Pride of the Vagabond
A man in Whatcom chooses starvation over begging, highlighting the grim extremes of dignity and survival in the 1890s labor market.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A case of self-starvation was brought to the knowledge of the sheriff today which is very singular. A man who gave the name of Myers was found in a cabin about four miles north of Whatcom, who said he had had but three meals in three weeks, alleging that he would rather starve than beg. He was in an emaciated condition when found and could not walk. When brought to the city he would give only the name of Myers, and said he did not desire his mother, who was well off, to know anything about him. Day laborers are paid $2 per day here, while skilled labor commands $3 per day, so that it is probable that this man is insane.
“A man who gave the name of Myers was found in a cabin about four miles north of here, who said he had had but three meals in three weeks, alleging that he would rather starve than beg.”
While the 1890s saw a labor market where $2 a day was standard, the stark intersection of mental health struggles and extreme poverty remains a hauntingly familiar feature of life in Washington. The narrative of an 'insane' man refusing aid resonates with today's debates regarding homelessness, pride, and the systemic failure to support those in crisis.
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