Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-17
A LIFE STORY.

Young in Years, Maynard In Disposition
Handsome in Person She Deliberatel
Rejected Friendship and Adopted
Life of shame.
Only a few days ago the sudden death il
this city OF Annie Slayback, alias Ma,
Preston, was chronicled in the columns Q
HE MINER, and at the same time it wa
stated that the remains had been sent t.
Denver for interment. OF the unfortunat
young woman the Denver Republican speak
as follows:
THE TORY.
At the undertaking rooms OF Tidball 1
Farmer lie the remains OF a once fair, We
unfortunate young girl. They are those o
Annie, or, as she was commonly called, Nal
Slayback, a young woman well known il
Denver. An account OF her lamentabl
death was published in the Republican o
recent date. 1t occurred in Butte City las
Thursday under most painful circum
stances.
AN LIFE.
The young girls life has been most IN
happy, almost in accordance with the ter
rible evsnts which characterized her last
moments. Nine years ago Miss slaybacl
came to Denver from St. Louis. She was
accompanied by her father, Mr.. Preston
T. Slayback, her mother, two little sisters
and q younger brother. Even at the ten
der age OF 10 the child eyinced a DISPOSE
ton which compelled careful parental re
%straint. As the years advanced she devel
oped into a bright, intelligent miss, loved
and admired by all. Her father had pros
pered and became allied with Mr.. Ezra
Humphrey, and a partnership was later
formed. Nan was her fathers favorite
child. 1t was to him that she applied fol-
solace when disturbed by any annoying
fancy. A bond of deepest love was estab'
lished between the two.
OUT OF TRIPLES.
Yet all was not happy within the Stay.
back home. Tri1ss which magniied into in
tense troubles arose in which Nan vas the
sufferer. She still remained beneath her
fathers roof, improving her studies.
Late in the year 1885 she threw aside
her imagined trammels and sought n posi-
ton whereby she could earn her own liveli-
hood. Being apt and bright, she readily
obtained one with a prominent dry goods
firm.
Some months later a great misfortune
befell her in the death of her father. Miss
Slayback was then but 16 and the blow
was a crushing one. Even to the moment
of her death her loved parent was not for
She never quite got over it and
her changed demeanor betokened how bit
terly the blow had fallen.
REFUSED A PRoFFERED HOME.
Immediately after the funeral Miss Stay
uncle offered her a home with his
promising to treat her with the
kindness bestowed upon his own daughters.
His generosity was not accepted, and until
last June she remained in the employ OF
the dry goods firm.
After her fathers death his daughter al
appeared in deepest mourning. Thus
she presented a striking appearance.
she was u most charming girl.
She was a pronounced brunette with deep,
eyes. Her nature was an ardent
but impulsive one.
Some time later rumor uncharitably
the young girl s name with that OF
a prominent Denver man. For her it was
unfortunate. Her former bosom
looked upon her with suspicion.
This hurt the girls sensitive nature until
she became desperate.
ON THE DOWNWARD PATH.
The month succeeding Miss Slayback's
departure from the dry-goods store was a
most unhappy one. Careless Of herself,
OF the worlds opinion, she formed
acquaintance who rapidly turned her on
a downward course. Among these was q
certain variety actress. A warm friend
ship developed between the two. Under
her guidance Nan came in contact with
many people whose lives were passed be-
fore the footlights in cheap variety thea
tiers. The life fascinated her and she deter
to yield to its imagined attractive
influence. Kind friends, however, per-
suaded her to renounce her foolish inten-
tions, and at their request she left Denver
for st. Louis.
All OF last summer she visited her uncle,
a DR.. Bond, one OF St. Louis most cele-
brated physicians. Here. coming underth
refining influence of d Christian home, the
girls waywardness was checked. When
the summer had passed Miss SlaybaCk re-
turned to Denver. For a few weeks she
lived happily with her uncle. While here
her restless nature asserted itself and she
soon babe adieu to al restraint and
launched forth in pursuit OF imaginary
pleasure.
IN THE HOUSE OF GOOD
Her ~ruinnus course attracted the atten'
ton of friends once more, who interfered
for her salvation. Under the direction Of
II, 1 L., +, 80, cLo woo to bon TO tho HnT1co ~
Good Shepherd. Here she remained but a
brief day. 1t was the last effort to reclaim
her. The succeeding days the unhappy CIR
passed in company most depraved. She
formed an attachment for a VIGOROUSLY
Denver early in November last. She was
destined for Butte, Montana, where she
had engaged as a variety actress. Here she
rcnounced her Christian name and appear,
ed rs May Preston. OF the misery and un'
happiness endured for the succeeding
months no one knows. The next intelli
gence OF Nan Slayback flashed over the
wires last Thursday. 1t briefly told that
she was dead. The preceding evening she
had returned to Butte from Spokane Falls
She was poorly clad, out of funds and was
suffering from agonizing pains. TO alleviate
her extreme distress she had taken copious
draughts of whisky at Intervals OF alarming
frequency.
HER DEATH.
At night she retired with the landlady O.
the hotel at which she was registered. II
was her last repose-she never awakened
Her companion awoke to find Miss Stay
back living ~lifeIess in her arms.
The news created a feeling OF deepest sym
pathy and sorrow amidst her friends in
Denver. The general supposition is that
while afflicted with the terrible pains Of
inaammatory rheumatism, to which she
was subject, she deliberately attempted hel
life. A private dispatch received in Denver
relating that she had taken morphine veri
ties this belief.
Miss Slayback was not quite 10 years o
age. at the time of her death she a de
veloped into a magnificent looking woman
one who deserved a kindlier late thar
overlook her.
Explosion.
BUGETTsTOwN, Pa. March l3.-The pre-
mature explosion of a large charge of dyna
mite in the railroad cut near here this al
ternoon buried thirty workmen beneath
mass of debris. An Italian was killed, two
men fatally injured and most OF the other
more or less bruised.