p. 6 | White-Slave Traffic; a Warning

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 22, 1912

White-Slave Traffic; a Warning

It is reported that within thirty days seventeen hundred girls have been lost between New York and Chicago, all of whom are still missing. Indeed, it is seldom that those who are entrapped to supply houses of shame escape; most of them are lost forever. Let the following story, taken from one of our exchanges, be a warning to girls and their parents, particularly those in large cities, to be very watchful that strangers do not deceive them.

The story of two girls who recently escaped the loathsome life of shame shows the modus operandi in securing the white slave. There are hundreds who do not escape, as did these girls.

These two girls lived near Chicago. Seeing an advertisement for waitresses, in a Chicago daily, they answered it, and went to the city. They were met at the station by a decent-appearing man, who took charge of them and conducted them to a house. As it did not appear to be a restaurant, the older of the girls was puzzled. She thought they were going to work at once.

At this house the girls were each given a separate room. They protested. They were strangers in a strange place, and had agreed to stay together. The man explained that there were plenty of rooms in the house, and against their will, they were put for the night in different parts of the house. At a late hour one of the girls determined to find the other. She was lucky in finding the room, undiscovered. Joining her companion, she locked the door for the night.

Shortly after this, some one knocked. The older girl inquired who it was. The only reply she could get was a demand for entrance. This was refused. The man outside persisted in his request. The younger girl grew frightened, and began to cry. As the demand outside grew to an insolent order, the older, who was broad-shouldered and brave, looked about for some weapon for protection.

In reply to her firm refusal to open the door, a threat was made that it would be broken. Arming herself and the frightened younger girl with a heavy wash-bowl and pitcher, the young woman waited as the effort was being made to force the door. It was soon broken at the lock; but no sooner did the head of the man show itself, than, with a fury born of desperation, the girl broke the bowl over his head. The blow stunned him. The girls ran into the street, and were taken in charge by a policeman.

They were advised to prosecute the procurer; but were so fearful of notoriety that rather than suffer the mortification of newspaper publicity in their home town, they made no demand other than that their expenses be paid back to their homes. This happened in Chicago but a short time ago.

In Indianapolis a recent case, which has been given some publicity because of the escape of the young girl, shows again the method employed in getting slaves for the human when his manhood has sunk below the level of the beast.

The procurer in this case was an attractive and beautifully dressed woman. She stopped at the counter in a certain leading retail store where the saleswoman was a pretty young girl. After asking the price of certain articles, she told the girl she was interested in the publishing business, and was getting out a volume of portraits of beautiful American girls. She declared that she had seen no face more attractive than that of the girl, and asked permission to put her picture in the book, stating that she would not only pay for the photo graph, but would pay the girl for the time used in having it made.

The girl was delighted. The woman advised going out at once. To this the girl agreed, as it was near the noon hour. Before leaving, she explained to an older girl that she was going to spend her noon hour getting her picture made, and asked that, if she were not back at one, an inquiry should be made for her, the manager be told she would be back very soon after.

She was not back at one o'clock. When, upon inquiry, the manager heard the story, his suspicions were aroused. He had knowledge of the procuring industry in and about Indianapolis. He hastened to the interurban station, but found nothing to arouse his suspicion. From there he went to the union station. A Chicago train stood on the track. A carriage drove up to the side entrance. A young girl was helped out. She seemed to be ill or drugged. It was the girl he sought. She was not with the attractive woman. Since she had left the store, she had been drugged and turned over to the man who was taking her to Chicago. This girl was rescued.

The constantly increasing demand for young girls for immoral purposes is a feature of the business that makes it vastly profitable, and makes necessary the securing of girls under false pretense.—The Gospel Trumpet.