Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-27
JOSEPHINE MERKER.
some Facts Regarding the Young Lady
Now Dead.

some Facts Regarding the Young Lady
Now Dead.
correspondence Elyra {ohiol Rcpubliean.l
Iregrct to see copied into your pa-
per of last week. an article entitled a
"Heorine's Life the subject of which
is Miss Josephine Meeker. The wri-
ter of the article seems to be entirely
ignorant of the facts in the case, and
in addition to n series of false state
,ncnts. beginning with the very name
Of his subject, which Is moi Annie. he,
with the shameless heartcssncSs of
that nix OF sensational writers, adds
the browning lie, TINT should forever
har him from recognition in any de-
cent society.
Was it not enough In her brief life
to see father murdered, mother ex-
posed To the horrors of Indian captiy-
ity, herself shut up In a filthy den cX-
Decting hourly to he murdered, or to
sec her mother mutilated and murder
ed before her eyes, to live in terror of
nameleas horrors which she knew not
Off Was not this enough for her 10
bear, and for her family TO bear in
menory, without having added TO IL
such atrooious horrors as this writer
has put upon herr
| wish to give you some facts for the
samc.reaaers.
Miss Meeter was bookkeeper IN II
Denver establishment instead Of an
"ovor- worked, y "underpaid' employee
AT hard labor. Her merit won her
promotion there.
After tho massacre, Secretary Schu1
invited her to Washington on . salary
OF 5000 per year Later, through Sec
I'll sFg.f.k al
her an annuity of $500 year. giving
her with her salary as y clerk an I'M
come of 81 400 per annum.
When Miss Meeker received her ap-
pnintment to a clcrkship IN Washing
ton she promptly came on, and after
locating pleasant home among
friends, sheat once proceeded 20 her
cierlSly duties. Except that she WAS
snjdened by her sorrow and yet sui
inring from the nervous strain OF hci
terrible captivity, she was IN excellent
health Youth, good habits and ,
brave temper soon restored Thu
hindrancc "a perfect vigor and sh'
became valuable assistant in th,
office 20 which she was after tim,
promoted And her death was not 50
entirely due TO pneumonia rs 60 he
ambitious desire 10 DO her work well
aud TO use the opportunities 81 city
iifg to advance still further her cduca
ton YOU will see That she never hat
any "strugglc to get along here. Nh
was never n "suiierer nom hun
uer,n nor "filcudleSs aud home
less She never met With an,
"disheartening difficulties, no
accepted any malSc-shif, minor posi-
uons.n She was never taken up b,
sentimentalists and then dropped out 4
the cold when her tale became an ole
ome,i She came here as your daughte
might have come on aii apn0intmca
. P,uiicreh her as being her due from tn
,,ouutry which she and her father hac
served AT such fearful expense TO then'
She filled her place nodestly nn'
with u gentle dignity which won he
hosts offriends. She was an honore'
guest in my home one summer, ans
by her gentle manners, directne~s ans
sincerity Of character, won all on
hearts. She never liked 10 speak q
her captivity, and one might nevc
know OF IL II they waited for her reia
tions OF the tale. The horror OF Il wa
always fresh
A band of loving friends gathcre'
weeping about the coffin 10 say the lNs
good-hyes, where she lay SO placid un
der the flowers that seemed 70 spring {
life from the tears dropped above hei
THE little children OF her mission