The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-12
A Remarkable Woman.

Passengers passing TO ana from the
ferry boat at the foot of State street
during the Summer may OR may not
have noticed an old lady, almost blind,
and with features plowed with deep fur
rows of time, seated on the steps near
the corner of Front street However,
there she has been sitting during the
sunlight and into the twilight of seven
long Summer seasons, with her basket
Of fruit at her feet and her knitting in
her hands, plying the needles with fin
gers numbed with callous marks of hard
labor. Beside her stands her grandson,
only one with whom she converses, ex-
cept on matters pertaining to the quality
and price of her wares.
Her name is Mary Elizabeth Mar
shall. She was born near Belfast, Ire
land, and is IS years of age, although in
appearance, the result of her hard lot,
she would pass for person ten years
older. Her parents were wcll.to do peo-
pie, but Notwithstanding this she was in
duced by several girlish companions to
leave home and come to America with
them. She made her home in Montreal,
Canada, and there met her fate in the
form of a husband named Marshall, a mu-
sician in a British regiment stationed
there. They were married in 1915. He
was afterwards reduced to theranks. One
evening, meeting his wife, with his
months pay as a soldier in his hand
eight cents, after deducting expenses
he said " Mary, can't stand this 1
am going to leave" With five compan-
ions he deserted. Four of his compan-
ions were arrested, but he, with the re-
naming one, succeeded in reaching Lew
lston, Me. Her husband wrote her on
his reaching the United States. She
destroyed the letter to prevent the au-
thorities from finding his whereabouts,
and shortly afterward joined him.
He being soldier by nature enlisted
in the United States army as musician
and was off for the Mexican war. Being
taken sick while in Mexico he sent for
his wife and she went to him, and fol-
lowed his fortunes throughout the en-
tire contest. He, as musician, was on
duty during engagements in carrying
was among those who ministered to their
wants. She was ON the field of Mon
terey and Chepultepec while those en-
gagements we've in progress, an eye wit
ness of tt G scenes of carnage and death
When the war closed she was sent to
Governors Island, New York harbor,
in advance of her husband, and there
earned a living by washing for the gar
rison. On her husbands arrival he was
discharged, and with their two children,
for whom she cared during the war,
they came west to Hannibal, where he
found employment on the Hannibal and
st. Joe Railroad, then building, and she
in keeping a boarding shanty.
Being of restless disposition, her
husband was prevailed upon by com
panions to go South, where he was
taken sick, and she by washing obtained
money and sent it to him and finally
joined him, and on his recovery they
went to Cleveland and remained until
the breaking out Of the rebellion, when
lie enlisted in an Ohio regiment and was
sent to Virginia. At New Creek he
was again taken sick and she was sent
for, nursed him through and then re-
manned in the hospital service. On the
close of the rebellion they went to De
troit, then to Milwaukee and finally
back to Hannibal, = where Marshall
died His wife, Will, her children now
grown up, removed to Saltwater, and
the children marrying, she, seven years
ago, moved to this city, where, notwith
standing her poverty and wretchedness,
she has supported grandchild, a boy of
7 or years, partially for the sake Of
having a companion in her loneliness,
and partially because his parents are no
better off than she--La Crosse isemo-
crat. ,--.. .-.r .
The Duchess of Marlborough, says the
Boston Advertiser, now the first lady
in Ireland, likes poplins, but her exam
pie is lost upon her sister American
ladies once drank no tea, out of political
spite, and the ladies of Lima give their
last golden ring to keep up the fight
against Chill little longer. But no
political, patriotic, or national sentiment