Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-25
A MITCH's WANDERINGS.
A True Story, Stranger and MsR
Fascinating than Fiction.
Remarkable Perseverance Dis
played In Search Of GOId

DO give me a chair; I'm very
tired, said an old woman as she en-
tered the st~ationbouse yesterday mcrn-
lug In charge of a policeman. When
she leaned her stick against the wall,
seated and raised a withered hand to
her parchment face to brush back a
struggling lock of hair.
What a strange old creaturel" ex-
claimed some one, and indeed she was
when her history was once known.
She wore an old brown Bingham
dress, torn and soiled, a pair of wealth
e%r-beaten shoes, an old ragged, gray
shawl, and a pair of yarn mittens. An
old, dusty, black straw hat was
secured by strings tied under her
chin and covered, but did not entirely
conceal a rufled nightcap, much soil
ed. Here and there, through holes in
the hat, elm locks struggled, lending
a weird air to her general appearance.
Her nose and chin kept close com
mpuion, but her eyes we're remark.
ably bright, and burned with a deter
mined fire entirely at variance with
the rest of her person.
You are a very old woman to be
travelling alone" remarked a reporter,
who happened to be standing near.
well, now, I'm not so old, if I do
say It'll" answered the old lady, with a
shipper that seemed entirely unnatural.
I'm the youngest of the family.
My Oldest sister is only seven
ty-six, and she's twelve years
older than | am. McKenney used to
say l was uncommonly young look
ing"
So this was the Mrs. McKenney of
whom so much has been written of
late. The reporter at once grew in
terested, and learned from her own
lips a story marvellous in all its details
aud possessing the additional fasciDa-
ton that every word of it is true.
Years ago her father, Christopher
Wells, emigrated TO Texas and &C.
quired a handsome fortune, which
shortly before his death he converted
into ready money and placed it on de-
deposit in the bank at Austin, Texas.
Dying intestate and having no imme.
date family, his heirs vescIaGverrised
for.
The notice caught the attention Of
Mrs. McKeDney, his only living
child, whose husband began to
make preparations to secure it, bit
died before he was able to accomplish
his purpose. His two sons we're both
bed ridden, one with consumption and
The other with kidney disease. The
task of gaining possession Of the money
upon this old and withered
creature, who, in,bued with new life
by the dazzling h ope Of possessing so
-arge a sum as 100000, and ignorant
the forms of law, determined to I'M
iertake the journey to Texas in per-
ION. Her little store Of 800 was en-.
exhausted by the time she
cached Austin, and when the bank
laughed at her demand for the
money, without evidence of her iden-
ity, she gave way to despair. With
nut consulting any one, she deter
mined to go back to her
elatives in Iowa City. She
legged her way back, passing through
little Rock, Arkansaw, where, she
avs, she employed a lawyer to attend
o her case, promising to give him a
thousand dollars 70 his trouble.
Shortly after her arrival here yes
ordaysshe was given an order upon
n upward bound boat for passage to
It. Louis, but it was not respected,
he law there being severe upon boats
o%nveying paupers.
The rightful owner of 800, 900 was
hus condemned as a l,auper. Ar
aDgements will probably be made to-
ay, however, 10 start Der on her way.
This is n of the Truth stranger
ban fiction; and thong h the old
-oman says she wishes to p rocure the
honey for her sons, it 81 VOWS how
owerless isthe hand oftime 10 quench
he human thirs st for gold.
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