The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-30
A WRECKED WOMAN
Josephine oraz's Life From Royal Court to a
ii Morgue. @ -.

/
| The story of the life of Josephine Ord
Is one OF the most romantic and withal
one OF the saddest, that ever occurred out
| slde OF the two covers of work of fiction
Josephine ordz in 1S4S, was young, beau
lliul ana fascinating, central figure i,
the brilliant society of Pestl, the Hungar
ian capital Her father, Count Ordz
sent her early in life to "a Hungarian con
vent, where she received an education that
htted her to shine with brilliancy in noble
society 1t was just at the time when
Hungary revolted against the Austrian
| rule that Josephine became enamored
with Count Karaly, a Hungarian patriot.
Count Ordz was loyal to Austria. and
Josephine had to choose between father
and lover. She chose the latter, and when
Count karaiy was arrested as "a rebel
she did everything in her power to effect
ms release. karaly was sentenced to be
hung, but through the efforts of Josephine,
who bribed an officer he made his cscape.
They fed TO France; were married, and
lived happily together until the husband
died. leaving Josephine almost penniless
She was splendid vocalist, and, changing
her name to d'Orne Josephine made her
debut as singer On the operate stage of
Paris in 1851. She made a brilliant sue
cess, and in all tn, large capital cities of
Europe where she made her appearance
her success was Pronounced phenomenal
The Austrian authorities fOrgave her for
her dlsloyalty, and Josephine returned to
Pesth the reignilg contralto star of all
Europe In 1S52Josephine joined the IA
nous Mario Grlsi troupe, which was under
engagement to Nix Earetzek for an Amer
lean tour, and cary in 1868 made her first
appearance in Ney York at the old acal-
envy of Music. FavOred with fame. for
tune, beautiful ace and figure and ro-
mantle history sle was received with great
favor by the Anglican people Her New
l ork debut was unparalleled in point of
enthusiasm. She outshone Grisi The
audience went wild, some throw
ing rings, chaiIs, watches and other
valuables at thea feet in their en-
thusiasm. She trFeled all over the coun-
try, repeating theremarkable success she
achieved in New fork wherever she went
She next went o Costa Rica Central
America, and is 1868, in company with
Fallini, the baritGe, went to San Fran
cisco, where she ppeared at the Metropol-
itan Theatre. Tough her stage successes
were wonderful, nd individual conquests
which she made were more so. All the
wealthy bachelor of the city knelt at her
feet and laid thur riches at her disposal.
AT the end of ear she left San Francisco
for Australia, bit was shipwrecked on a !
South Sea island inhabited by cannibals |
All the other arvivors were eaten, but
she escaped trough her wonderful
singing, with Thich she pleased the
chief. After years captivity
she escaped nd returned to San
Francisco. JGephine then married |
George Evans, th musical director of the |
theatre. but otliving happily together, |
they were divoced. Josephine during
her career becam addicted to champagne |
drinking. Afte1her divorce she began to |
go down hill. ae would drink all kinds |
of liquor and ct intoxicated She was
not so exclusive a choosing her company
as formerly, amber beauty and voice be-
gan to disappec, While on a spree in
Sacramento she ras thrown out of a car
riage and criplcd for life. Josephine |
now but specte of the beautiful woman
she once was, rfIrned to San Francisco. |
Her money was III gone, and she turned |
to those who ha,fallen at her feet during
her height of uccess for aid They |
spurned her andIrove her from the rooms
they once wouldgive thousands to have
her grace. On he verge of despair, she |
would hobble onaer crutches the stage
entrance Of the heater and l of the
actors for money She next went to live
with a disreputale man named Bower in
a dirty three st9 tenement on Chestnut
street She wdd cook his meals, chop
his wood and ge all her money to him,
for which she irariably received thanks
by blows. Alright the fallen Jose
phine played t. piano at a jackson
saloon, one 0 the lowest resorts in
| the city. For us she received the pit
lance of S1.50per night-ail of which
Bower took froI her to get drunk upon.
! On the night GLOWING Decoration day
Josephine retused home after midnight
from the beer soon, and hobbled unstairs
! to the one roomn which she and Bower
lived She callefor him, but, receiving
no answer, preceded to an adjoining
apartment to seeif he was there. Soon
afterward the inRtes of the house were
aroused by the und of blows and the |
cries of God he me! God help me-, and
then heavy faupon the floor. Upon
going upstairs Iephine was found lying |
! dead upon the fir by her neighbors. The |
! body was taken the city morgue, where |
| it lay in CHASTITY iakedness until an au-
topsy was held. Her death was reported |
1 to have been coed by chronic alcohol |
| ISM but there 7cre three terrible marks |
upon the head ut could have been the
means of death, The remains were buried |
in the potters ield, with no stone or
| tablet to mark lie last resting place of
| T. ,1,,