The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-08
BLIND BEGGAR.
The History Of a Girl who
asks for Aims.
The Heroine of a Romantic
Love Story.

| standing on I'd avenue ana Market
Square. who was engaged in singing She
held in her hand box, into which sympa
thetic pedestrians were expected to shows
er their small change. 1t is not known
how large a fortune the blind minstrel
carried with her from this city. but it is
potent fact that the majority OF those
engaged in that particular domain OF aims
gathering business, manage 70 hve ana
thrive upon their contributions, and in
some instances have laid by a snug little
sum for the inevitable rainy day" OF hu
man existence.
MUSICAL MENDICANTs
Catherine Heimann, the name OF the
singer 10 question. is not an isolated case
| among the hordes who infest the different
cities and towns of this country, but her
history has a tinge of the romantic about
/ it. which, if generally known. would cause
her exebeouer to be more speedily filled,
and thus perhaps decrease the
number of days 10 which she would
feel OBLIGED to expose her sightess eyes
and exercise her vocal powers for the
penny offerings of the passing masses.
No tablet or placard in her instance is
necessary to communicate to the public
the fact that she is bind. Such affection
is ,evident at glance, and while she is
supposed to excite pity on that account,
she -endeavors to give some return for
such gratuetous devotions by her singing
which at times is:quaint and.touebiDg.
HER HISTORY.
A few years ago Catherine Heenann
was a resident of St. Louis, Mo. where
she lived in contentcd but humble mans
ner with her parents who had emigrated
porter 10 one of the large Wholesale estsb
llshwents of that city, and was a frugal
hard working man. 10 this frugality. her
mother also participated in the hopes that
their little savings might perform wonders
for their only daughter. After remaining
a few years they were: enabled to secure
for themselves q plain little home
on Gratiot street, and here the
little daughter grew into womanaood
She attended school for short time and
Goally, to assis: the family. became a do
mesic and thus added her mete 10 the
common fund.
HER COMELY APPEARANCE
soon attracted spitors who made every
eff prt TO ingratiate themselves into the
good graces of the festive Catherine. Her
vocal powers had been cultivated. ands
possessing natural voice OF good quality,
this gift of :tE2if proved an attractive fea
ture for her admirers Her choice fnally
fell upon young Saxon. a country mar.
who was employed in some manual posi- |
ton in ShaW's Gardens. The n.mc of the
lucky sHitor proved to be Philip Deich |
mer, who WASH acceptable to the parents
and the two were formally afianced. As
the result will thssrejected lovers. or
at least one of them, did not graciousy |
receive his congo; but bided his time to
avenge the slight.
ECONOMY AND PIRE. |
As an economical stroke Deichmer took |
up mis- abode at: the house of the Hei. |
N aDn's previous to the Wedding which had
been decided upon and full arrangements |
OF a simple character were made for the |
approaching nuptials. On the morning of |
the BIB of May, 1879, the young woman
eft her place of employment at an early |
hour to visit her home, and on arriving |
there found the building in flames and the
inmates still within the structure. The |
are soon attracted the attention of the |
neighbors, aud an alarm was turned in,
but before the department could reach the J
oeation the little home was destroyed with |
The three occupants. Catherine entered |
The burning building on FIRST arriving and |
sndenvored to arouse and assist her lover.
who was suffocated with the smoke. She
not only failed to extricate him, but also
ost her eyeslgbt from the intense heat of
The flames She had her suspicious even
While 10 the hospital where she was con-
geyed after the are. that rejected lover
aad caused the fire; but having no proof
he suspected parties were never brought
20 trial. After remaining in the hospital
until she regained her health she went
eorth to battle the world, and has since be-
some wanderer on the face of the earth. |