Agricultural colonies; Poor -- Great Britain; Salvation Army; Unemployed -- Great Britain
F. H.--Was born at Birmingham, 1858. Saved at Whitechapel,
March 26th, 1890. Father died in his infancy, mother marrying again.
The stepfather was a drunken navvy, and used to knock the mother about,
and the lad was left to the streets. At 12 years of age he left home,
and tramped to Liverpool, begging his way, and sleeping on the
roadsides. In Liverpool he lived about the Docks for some days,
sleeping where he could. Police found him and returned him to
Birmingham; his reception being an unmerciful thrashing from the
drunken stepfather. He got several jobs as errand-boy, remarkable for
his secret pilferings, and two years later left with fifty shillings
stolen money, and reached Middlesbrough by road. Got work in a nail
factory stayed nine months, then stole nine shillings from
fellow-lodger, and again took the road. He reached Birmingham, and
finding a warrant out for him, joined the Navy. He was in the
Impregnable training-ship three years behaved himself, only getting
"one dozen," and was transferred with character marked "good" to the
Iron Duke in the China seas; soon got drinking, and was locked up and
imprisoned for riotous conduct in almost every port in the stations.
He broke ship, and deserted several times, and was a thorough specimen
of a bad British tar. He saw gaol in Signapore, Hong Kong, Yokohama,
Shanghai, Canton, and other places. In five years returned home, and,
after furlough, joined the Belle Isle in the Irish station. Whisky
here again got hold of him, and excess ruined his constitution.
On his leave he had married, and on his discharge joined his wife in
Birmingham. For some time he worked as sweeper in the market, but two
years ago deserted his wife and family, and came to London, settled
down to a loafer's life, lived on the streets with Casual Wards for his
home. Eventually came to Whitechapel Shelter, and got saved.
He is now a trustworthy, reliable lad; has become reconciled to wife,
who came to London to see him, and he bids fair to be a useful man.
J. W. S.--Born in Plymouth. His parents are respectable people.
He is clever at his business, and has held good situations. Two years
ago he came to London, fell into evil courses, and took to drink.
Lost situation after situation, and kept on drinking; lost everything,
and came to the streets. He found out Westminster Shelter,
and eventually got saved; his parents were communicated with, and help
and clothes forthcoming; with Salvation came hope and energy; he got a
situation at Lewisham (7d. per hour) at his trade. Four months
standing, and is a promising Soldier as well as a respectable mechanic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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