Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-02
DR.. NARY WALKER DYING.
Something About tins Curious WOman's
Curious History.
Washington Post. April 1e.

Washington Post. April 1e.
A face almost as pallid as the white
pillow which it pressed looked up from
DIR. Mary Walkers bed in the Provi-
dence Hospital yesterday. and faint.
weary voice responded to the inquiry of
Post reporter as to the condition of
her health. 1t needed but a glance at
the almost transparent hand that
stretched its emaciated fingers to greet
him, and at the CHASTITY pale face whose
bIoodless lips were too weak to smile,
to warrant the conclusion that the little
Doctor was near the end of her trials
and troubles-near the "Great White
Throne" which many, probably less
honest and tried than she, have enjoyed
latter life's fitful fever"
whats the matter, Doctor, pneu-
monia@ asked the reporter.
"No, tobacco" was the faint reply.
What do the doctors say about you?"
Tobacco. They say nothing, do
nothing, breathe nothing but tobacco.
I have so long had to breathe tobacco
smoke and tobacco odor wherever I
have been that my lungs are filled with
tubercules, tobacco planted and tobacco
poisoned. Then [ got cold and l feel
weak" The weary voice and the anx-
ious look on the face told plainly how
weak. "But I'll get over it, think. I
raise so much, a pint a day, and it
weakens me. But my mammoth lungs
can stand 1t"
A fit of coughing here seized her, the
cough of pneumonia, and at its conclu-
sion she sank back exhausted on the
pillow.
"Don't CO." she feebly said, as the
reporter, seeing that talking distressed
her, rose to leave, "don't 60. l feel
better when somebody is around me. 1t
is lonesome here, Notwithstanding the
tender kindness of the Sisters. They
could not be kinder if they were sisters
by blood. But alone with my thoughts,
feeling how much my patients need me
and miss me, and have so much to do
yet for humanity and am so weak, that
feel better when any one is with me.
And then you don't use tobacco"
The reporter hastily put his hand in
to his pocket, where a couple of pipes
and plug of tobacco reposed, and he
felt guilty. Changing the subject he
asked:
where were you born, doctor ?"
"Don't ask me such foolish questions
when nothing is to be gained by it. /
was born and | am here, and [ don't
know whether I'll get out. That's all. !"
And another fit of coughing told the re-
porter it was kindness to leave her. At
the parlor door he met one of the sis
tiers, who told him the do tor was some
what easier than when brought to the
hospital, but was still very sick wo-
man.
"Poor thing" said the Sister, "she
has evidently suffered, and where she
She came here on permit from the
Surgeon-General, which only entitled
her to a bed in the free ward, but we
put her into private room and try to
make her comfortable. She had great
many visitors to-day, and seems better
than when she came. Yet she is sill
very sick, and patients convalescing
from pneumonia are very liable to re-
lapse, and death will ensue if they are
not unusually careful"
1t is very probable that this notable
woman is rapidly drawing near her end,
and, unless all medical predictions
prove false, she will in a few days be
where unkind sayings and thoughtless
pen-thrusts will have no power to give
her pain.
The subject of this sketch has acquir-
ed almost national reputation, and yet
the circumstances connected with her
checkered career are known to COM
Walker was born about the year 1880,
in Oswego, n. Y. Her parents were
the best Of people who looked upon
their daughter, not as Il hayward, but
as a peculiar girl. Mary was superior
scholar and made good use of the few
opportunities afforded her. She is q
regular graduate III medicine, although
many have believed that medically she
is an impostor. Quite early in life she
married DR.. Miller, but the match
was an unfortunate one. She detested
alcohol in all its forms, while he was
fond of it, and besides she believed that
he was not true to her. About twelve
years ago she tried to obtain divorce,
but he successfully resisted and defeat
ed her on the ground that he had al
ways DecH Ietuy ttllu WlllllS W I'VE
with her, but that she deserted him
without cause When the war broke
out Mary espoused TIE side of her sec
ton with her whole soul. At one time
she had charge of United States hos
pital in either Kentucky or Tennessee,
She was captured and confined in Libby
Prison four months. The Confederates
believed her to be spy and treated her
harshly, but her unbending will never
yielded. When they learned her true
status in the United States army she
was liberated. She came to Washing
ton at the fall of Richmond. Of her
personal eccentricities, Mary Walker is
known particularly for the astonishing
tenacity she has exhibited upon the sub
ject of dress. 1t may be that she is
partially insane but no person ever
lived who had a kinder or purer heart.
. Birds of the Lower Rio Grande.
Very little has been known of the