At the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge on the evening of November 24, 1904, commuters encountered a new face among the young men selling newspapers along Park Row.
Joseph Schmidt was approximately 20 years old and had lost both arms in a railroad accident the previous year. While walking along the tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad, he was struck and run over by a train. His right arm was severed near the shoulder and his left near the elbow.
A lawyer later obtained $350 for Schmidt from the railroad company. It was a modest sum for such a devastating injury, and it did not last. According to the newspaper, Schmidt bought clothing, treated a group of men to drinks, and then discovered that his remaining money was gone. He accused a cab driver, but the man was discharged when the matter reached court.
With little money and limited English, Schmidt was referred to the Charity Organization Society. A collection provided enough assistance for him to purchase a supply of evening newspapers and begin earning money for himself.
His new workplace required a few practical arrangements. A policeman assigned him a selling spot near the telephone booth at the bridge entrance. Schmidt carried the newspapers beneath what remained of one arm, while a helpful passerby supplied a box where customers could leave payment and make their own change.
The arrangement apparently worked. The energetic young seller reportedly received several nickels instead of pennies from sympathetic customers during his first evening.
Armless Newsboy Begins Work
An armless newsboy is a newcomer at the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge, in Park Row. He arrived there last evening.
The lad is Joseph Schmidt, about 20 years old. He is full of energy, and last night got several nickels instead of cents for papers.
Schmidt, about a year ago, while walking on the tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad, was run over by a train. His right arm was severed near the shoulder, and his left arm near the elbow.
Recently a lawyer managed to secure $350 for him from the railroad company. After buying some clothes and a new hat, he met some tough characters on West Street. He bought drinks for them, and soon lost all his money. A cab driver whom he accused was discharged in court.
Park Row, Manhattan
A collection was made up for the helpless boy, who speaks poor English, and he was referred by the court to the Charity Organization Society.
Yesterday, with a stock of evening papers under his remnant of an arm, Schmidt went to the bridge. A policeman designated a place for him to sell them, near the telephone booth at the bridge entrance, and a citizen provided a box for change so that buyers may make their own change.
Schmidt will probably find a home at the Newsboys’ Lodging House, at No. 14 New Chambers St., where there are good hearted newsboys who will help care for him.
Source: New York Tribune. New York, N.Y. November 25, 1904.
