The Seattle Star

HOUSE FOR FISHER FAMILY AT GREEN LAKE WILL BE COMPLETED TONIGHT
Every Bill Will Also Be Paid This Evening—Hundreds of Citizens Visited the Ragged Tent and Saw With Their Own Eyes

The family of George A. Fisher, driven by conditions by which he was surrounded near Green Lake, will have a house of their own tonight. Four carpenters worked on it yesterday and four will continue and complete the construction today without pay. They say that it will be possible to get the family under the roof by sundown.

The house, which is 14 by 20 feet, has an attic which can be used as a sleeping room. A carpet and some furniture has been purchased by Humane Officer Ridgway, while a stove has been donated by a Green Lake citizen. Plenty of provisions have been donated, also as much clothing as is needed. Shoes and stockings have been bought for the children, and they are now receiving necessary medical attention.

Every Bill Paid
Humane Officer Ridgway has been untiring in his efforts to put this desperately poor family into a condition of comparative comfort. He has purchased lumber, brick, hardware, etc., for the house with the money contributed by sympathetic citizens and informs the Star that he will have every bill paid by tonight, having enough money in hand or promised to meet all obligations.

Since the Star took up the case last Saturday and published the pathetic details of the case hundreds of citizens have visited the Fishers in their lonely, ragged tent and have seen with their own eyes a picture of the most bitter poverty, one which stirred their sympathies to the utmost and brought tears to the eyes of many.

Carried a Stove Over
One man, a commission merchant on Western avenue, having read the Star's account Saturday, visited the Fisher tent Sunday morning. What he saw impressed him so strongly that he went straight to his home, about a mile distant, picked up a small heating stove, put it on his back and started back for the tent, carrying thus cheer and comfort to the benumbed and wretched family. He never stopped half way or halted in his errand of mercy, but insisted upon putting up the stove himself in the tent and then supplied it with several armfuls of wood, assisted by Fisher.

It is seldom that such deserving persons are found in such a condition of misery. Fisher never drinks or even smokes, being a man of excellent habits. He simply found himself unable to cope with the adverse conditions.

Personal Incident
One incident showing the proper spirit which animates this man was related by Officer Ridgway. Sympathetic citizens who had read the Star's story Saturday carried not only provisions and clothing, but money to Fisher's tent on Sunday. Something over $8 was left there and was taken charge of by Fisher himself. Meeting Officer Ridgway Monday, the man insisted on turning this $7 over to him to apply on the expense of building the house, saying that he had no need for the money and that he and his family were sufficiently supplied with necessities for the present life. Ridgway took the money and put it with the other cash donations secured to erect the house.

And now, that the Fishers are on their feet and well provided for, the Star will draw down the curtain and they will retire to the privacy which all desire and have the right to claim. They will probably never reappear in public print but will continue on in an even, prosperous existence, respected and valuable citizens of this community. May success attend them.