Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-07
Alefanoria 6ax&tte
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THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 7.
Over FivescOre Years.

Brennan yesterday or tho doatn ol FeuaiAa'
bic woman, whose life has been both cVentluI
and strange. Catharino Hayes was admitted to
the Amshouse Hospital on the 18th OF May.
1874, being then ono hundred years old. Her
complaint took 20 particular physical form be
yond the fact that she was imbeclle through
extremo old age, or in what is known as SEQ
ond childhood" Her alterations of mind took
whimsical shape. At ono time she imagined
herself to bo endowed with her youthful vIgor,
and mumbled over in voluble sentences her early
impressions and experiences Strange to say, her
memory seemed to be impaired only as regarded
comparatively recent events, while tho happen,
ings ofovcr hafa conturycame to her 10 her lucid
moments without an effort of tho memory. From
all that can be learned other life 1t appears that
in her young days she was tavorlte domestic 10
The household ofthcMalquis ofBercsford' g tami
Iy. Although living uoder tho root OF the Leading
| Orange family OF Ireland at that dark and
troubled period-a family whose loyalty to the
| Crown was 30 pronounced that the then Mar.
ouis of Beresford became o terror 10 the land
to SO. o.ealed rebes-she nevertheless welded and
outlaw with price upon his head. Ho was
taken prisoner at the memorable battle OF
Oulert Hill and sentenced to be hanged. Ills
youpp wife heard Of his capture and sentence
| and invoked the all powerful Marquis of Beres
ford to intorpose his cemenoy 10 saving the
| lfc of her patriotic husband. Tho Marquis,
for once in his life, was inclined to be mercifu
| to ''rebels" and gave reluctant promise that
he would interest himself in saving from tho
gallows the hero of Oulert Hill. And so Inc
story goes, that as Myes Ryan was about bcing
led from his dungeon to the scatold tree par
don was granted him, without his knowledge
of the influence that saved bis life. Tho par.
don was road in the presence OF the yeomanry.
who wero so eDraged at tho escape OF one OF
their Victims and he, too, the most dangerous
that they concluded he should not escape their
vengeance, even ii royal pardon had been
granted.
Myles Ryan had scarcely emerged from tho
precincts of the prison gates when he was clasped
in the arms of his rescuer the faithful Catharlne
whose heart was too full TO express her gratitude
save in tears While the happy couple we're
walking arm in arm. alternately embracing
each other and Offering fervent prayers to Hea'
ven for the miraculous escape of Myles from
the gsllows, they were overtakon by iroup OF
| woman, who fell upon Myles and ssbred him 10
shiold him from the merciless blows OF his as.
ssssins, received sabre cut on the hoad which
| laid her PROSTATE by tho side OF her husband.
From that sight and blow she nevor fully recoy,,
ered The memory Of that awful day haunted
| her through life, and frequently in after yolrs
| the old woman WAS seen to crouch upon the
ground, raise her hands implorngly over her
| head and entroat the sangunary yoomen to
| spare her poor Myles. While in this psroxysm
| she would pour forth tho most piteous lamenta'
| tions. She would wiring her hands, utter heart
piercing shrieks and nestle in her lap the imag.
| nary head Of her poor murdered husband. And
| then she would aposLrophize, "Uh. alsnna
machreel The big cut, can't be healed Oh how
! tho blood trickles down his neck They haVo
killed him, and he wont speak to me any moro"
| A nd then she would Groom mourntul death
| drge The poor old woman remained in Ire
| land until 1926, half wtted creature, when sho
came to this country and has been mainly sup
ported by charity and few good frlonds ever
since. Warden Vought in informing tho do
psrtment of her demise says that "she retained
possession of al her faculties to great oxteht
] up TO tho time of hor decesse and Is noted IN
| stance of remarkable longevity" She will DO
buried in Potters Fiold-N. Z. Herald.
The DESTRUCTION OF TRoY.-Priam being
King of Troy sent hia son Alexander into south
orn Greece to negotiate for treaty OF peaco.-~-
Instead of strictly attending to his official du
ties he increased hnstilitlcs by carrying Oft tho
wife of Mcnelaus, King of Sparta. This afro.
cious treatment aroused the Indignation OF the
| Greek princcs who determined to avcuge the
insult. Marshaling their respective lorces they
united thom into ono grand army and marched
forward to besoge tho city OF Troy. for ten
years thoy endured tho vclssltudcS OF war
without obtaining decisive victory and 1t wad
only by rcsorllng 10 strategy that the CITY Was
taken. The Trcjans being led to believe tha'
the sicpc had been abandoned threw open the
gates OF the city, and the inhabitants, young
and old, rushed forth to rrconnoltcr the grounds
Of the Invaders and to rejoice that their dread
ful euomy had departed.
One Of the first objects which rivetcd thc'i
attention was q monstrous wooden horse OF such
hupn nroportions that I1cas compared it to
mountain, but this must have been hyper
bocal description as they experienced no great
dihicntv io removing it into tho walls OF tic
civ. The Trcans viewed the efigy with muoh
astonishmcnt and curiosity. They could not
conceive for what purpose it had been con
| structed. nor how to dispose oil such rcmarka
bic prize. The opinions concerning It were
various, but they arrived at 20 definite conclu
sion until the mystery was solved by the state
ment Of captive Greek-who for certain rea'
- sons had been pardoned aud received as clti-
zeu-Gho declared it had been bult by the
Greeks as q substitute Tor 40 image OF fa'!aS.
! which they had captured and appropriate
themselves. This story was told with SUCH ap
/ parent sincerity tnat thcy "oiU r., ,'"o
- oeive it as true statement Ihey accotologiy
j.. made arrangements to convey the sacred trophy
within the gates Of tho city, and soon 1t was
deposited n one of the courts.
That night, after the inhabitants had all re-
tired to sleep, and only the sentinels watched
beside tho gates, Simon llhe prisonerl arose
It from feigned sleep and cautiously eluding tn
vigilance of the scntinels, repaired to the court
and opening a secret door 10 the side of th'
~ horse liberated a band of desperadoes, VIII
rushed upon the sentinels and watchmen. Kill
ing them and throwing open the gates Ct tb
a city, which was soon filled with hIood'thirst
es Greeks, for. having only made pretense
6usl departure. they were anchored just out
~ sight and were ready at moments notice. In
10 saCkiug Of the city Immediately commence N
and the work Of destruction went swiftly OF OF
Il Soon the palace and other stronghods OF tn