Agricultural colonies; Poor -- Great Britain; Salvation Army; Unemployed -- Great Britain
W. M. ("Buff").--Born in Deptford, 1864, saved at Clerkenwell,
March 31st, 1889. His father was an old Navy man, and earned a decent
living as manager. Was sober, respectable, and trustworthy. Mother
was a disreputable drunken slattern: a curse and disgrace to husband
and family. The home was broken up, and little Buff was given over to
the evil influences of his depraved mother. His 7th birthday present
from his admiring parent was a "quarten o'gin." He got some education
at the One Tun Alley Ragged School, but when nine years old was caught
apple stealing, and sent to the industrial School at Ilford for
7 years. Discharged at the end of his term, he drifted to the streets,
the casual wards, and Metropolitan gaols, every one of whose interiors
he is familiar with. He became a ringleader of a gang that infested
London; a thorough mendicant and ne'er-do-well; a pest to society.
Naturally he is a born leader, and one of those spirits that command a
following; consequently, when he got Salvation, the major part of his
following came after him to the Shelter, and eventually to God.
His character since conversion has been altogether satisfactory, and he
is now an Orderly at Whitechapel, and to all appearances a "true lad."
C. W. ("Frisco").--Born in San Francisco, 1862. Saved April 24th,
1889. Taken away from home at the age of eight years, and made his way
to Texas. Here he took up life amongst the Ranches as a Cowboy,
and varied it with occasional trips to sea, developing into a typical
brass and rowdy. He had 2 years for mutiny at sea, 4 years for mule
stealing, 5 years for cattle stealing and has altogether been in gaol
for thirteen years and eleven months. He came over to England,
got mixed up with thieves and casuals here, and did several short terms
of imprisonment. He was met on his release at Millbank by an old chum
(Buff) and the Shelter Captain; came to Shelter, got saved, and has
stood firm.
H. A.--Born at Deptford, 1850. Saved at Clerkenwell, January 12th,
1889. Lost mother in early life, step-mother difficulty supervening,
and a propensity to misappropriation of small things developed into
thieving. He followed the sea, became a hard drinker, a foul-mouthed
blasphemer, and a blatant spouter of infidelity. He drifted about for
years, ashore and afloat, and eventually reached the Shelter stranded.
Here he sought God, and has done well. This summer he had charge of a
gang of haymakers sent into the country, and stood the ordeal
satisfactorily. He seems honest in his profession, and strives
patiently to follow after God. He is at the workshops.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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