Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-08
ropounsKrs ROMANCE.

Disguised as a Bec Picker lie Seeks Hi
Reereant Wife. and, After Wear
, Months, FINDS Her Married Again II
Chicago.
From ne Chfea0o Meas.
The story of the wanderings of Anton
PodcursH would i'll book and striking
lv illustrate the stolid tenacity Of mar
when aroused by love and hate for W ON
an. The streets OF New York and Brook
lyn were Travelled as bloodhound follow
the trail. and he had secured half OF Chi
caCO, when his search was ended las
saturday. A little over one year and a
half ago Anton POdgurski and Elizabeth
Podgurski, his wife, lived together il
Flelki, a little town of PTussian Poland
Ihey were poor and lived happily togeth-
er until one day Anton had the fortune
on rather misfortune, as it afterWard
| turned out to inherit some $500. The wife
while oyerjOyed at her husbands posses
sion Of this windtall, insisted that he
! should at once make out a will leaving
/ the money TO her in case he died. Fnis
| he refused to do. A bitter quarrel ensued
| which terminated by the wOman's taking
| nignt one night. She had with her few
| dollars, which she had boarded unknown
! to her husband, and took passage for
! America.
Two months after Anton PodGurski
landed 10 Castle Garden. He had begun
| his long search after his truant wife. lie
| had with him the 5000, besides some little
money be had raised before his departure
by the sale Of his household effects. The
$500 was sewed into a belt which he wore
about his waist beneath his clothes, and
he resolved not TO spend a cent OF it until
be found his wife. II she was still true
to him tnen he would give it to her; if not,
he resolved that the money should be used
TO prosecute her. Unable 10 speak or read
English, and, at the same time, suspi-
ciOus OF having his arrival in New York
known TO his vile, he resolved on a un-
ique plan of search. Casting aside his
old-country clothes he disguised himself
as a rag-picker, and started out 10 search
New York in every nook and granny
where his wife might hide. He told bis
story to no one, afraid lest his possession
OF the $500 be suspected. Beginning with
the back streets he worked steadily ana
stOlidly, passing from door to door and
from street 10 street, always pretending
to be willing TO pay handsome price for
old clothes or rags, ana yet always Offer
Ing to pay but pittance. In spite OF this
plan many people were willing TO almost
give MIN castaWay clothing, and as his
stock OF ready money was fast diminish
ing, he found a dealer who agreed to puT-
chase from him. For days and days and
for weeks and weeks he pursued this plan
until at the end OF eleven months he had
searched New York and Brooklyn from
beginning to end. In addition to this be
had accumulated nearly $500, made by
the sale of rags.
Hearing OF Chicago as the second larg-
est city in America, and being told by a
rather well-read fellow-Tag- picker that 1t
was the abode Of a great many bad wom-
en-, POdgurski resolved to come here at
once. Six months ago he arrived in this
city and FASTENED to resume his garb OF a
rag-plcker ana the search for his wife.
Beginning on the north side he worked
from door to door with unabated VigOT,
His cheerful cry Of "RaIgs, Olt iron," was
heard on every side street and alley of the
north side, still he found no trace OF the
missing Elizabeth. Finally he got over
onto the south side. Last Thursday he
was passing down Twenty-eighth street,
looking like Teliphus, the ibeggar, in the
lost play OF Euripides, when his vigorous
cry Of Rags brought face to the win
dow of little frame house. 1t was the
face of buxOm German woman. The
heart of poor Anton Podgurski almost
stopped beating. The face was the exact
counterpart of that of his recreant wife's.
While ne stood as one turned to stone the
face disappeared, the door opened. and the
buxOm German woman Deckoned to MIN
to come in. Scarcely able to move, be
dragged himself to the doorstep and look
ed up. 1t was his wife.
your bag is too heavy now" said the
woman in German, mistaking the cause
OF his lettering footsteps, Come to-mOr-
row and l will sell you some of my hus-
bands old clothes.'
"YOur husbandv exclaimed the rag
picker in a terrible voice, raising him
self to his full height and tossing down his
bag. Il am your husband, l, Anton Pod
guTskiw
A dramatic scene ensued. The woman
wept, pleaded, swOre to do anything on
condition that her husband would leave
her.
~ have another man." she said. "His
name is Nicholas Swartz. He will kill
me-"
Podgurski was unforgiving and uncom-
promising.
II should kill you now" he said, 'but l
will see first a friend"
Saturday he sWore out warrant in
Justice Kistler's court, charging his wife
with bigamy. He also retained a good
lawyer and united the belt about his waist.
Yesterday the woman was brought into
court and confronted by her relentless
husband. The case was continued until
next Monday, the woman being held I'M
der 81 200 bail.