Cook arrives in Montreal heartbroken and penniless

Lost wife and money – The Montreal Herald Apr. 10, 1890

A lumberman’s misfortune causes him to seek protection in a police station

A young man, who had apparently been in better circumstances once, applied for and was given protection at No. 10 police station last night. He met a policeman on St. Catherine street west early last evening and told him a story, which, from the straightforward manner in which it was given, was not doubted.

He said that previous to last fall he had been a cook on the steamship Polynesian, and left the ship at Halifax at the beginning of the winter to take a more lucrative position with a lumbering firm in Nova Scotia. He went into the woods as a cook for a lumbering crew and not caring to take his wife into such rough surroundings sent her on to remain with friends in Montreal. He regularly sent her money for support, but before the season was over the firm for which he was working failed.

Leaving the lumber shanty, he went to the nearest telegraph office, some miles distant, to inform his wife that he was going to join her as soon as possible. At the lumber shanty he left a trunk containing $87 and several suits of clothes. When he arrived back the remaining lumbermen had disappeared and the trunk and its contents with them. He was thus left without a cent in the world and only the clothes he wore.

Heartbroken and weary he made his way to the nearest station, and not being able to get assistance started to make his way, as best he could, to Montreal, where he was expected to meet his wife. As he did not arrive here on the day he stated in his telegram, and receiving no word from him, she waiting for some time, but as her friends were moving to Boston she went with them.

After severe trials the husband arrived in the city only to find his wife had gone away. He endeavored to secure employment but could secure none, and was consequently compelled to seek shelter in the police station.