The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-08-09
ITO BE Continued
FORTUNE GAME TOO LATE.
Miss Catherine Gafiney Mentally and Phys
ically Failing.
(New York Star, Aug H.


Miss Catherine Gaffney, who has sud
denly fallen heir to $50 900, is still in the
almshOuse on Blackwells Island, where
she has been an inmate for three years and
eight months. Since last March she has
been in the hospital of the almshouse.
A reporter of the Star called at the hos
pital yesterday to see the fortunate woman
Warden Vought, the genial manager Of the
almshouse and the matron, conducted the
reporter into a neatly kept and well-lighted
ward and stopped before feeble old lady
half arose. lie cheeks were sunken, her
eyes were dim and her voice trembled. Her
memory had faded from her She Is rs
years old. Her fortune had come to her so
late in life that 1t seemed to mock her. She
did not know the warden first, and asked
him II he was her brother. He replied that
he was the warden and the old lady replied:
ITO be sure; | remember you now. God
bless you, warden. They have been very
good and gentle to me here"
A young man and young woman,
nephew and niece of Miss Gaffney, called
| yesterday forenoon to see the old lady and
said that they would take her away today.
They told Warden Vought that they would
| send clothes up to the island for the old
lady and would provide well for her after
she went away. The young man Is II. V.
Sheridan, who is one of the heirs
The old lady was asked If she would like
to go away. She replied: mo, | should
rather stay in the almshouse. ! like it very
well. They are very kind to me-
Miss Gaffney was brought to the aims
house when she was two years past three
score and ten. From the day she entered
till the day she inherited her fortune no
human being ever visited her or inquired
about her. When it was learned that she
had Inherited large amount of money two
| of her kinfolkB rushed for the island at
once. The visit of her niece and nephew
yesterday was the first she had received
since she entered the institution.
'PareLts seldom bring their children to
the almshouse," said Warden Vought, but
children often bring their parents here.
| When the children see their parents safely
installed In the almshouse they kiss their
mother goodbye" and shake hands with
their father. Then they say to their parents
oh, yes, well come and see you. and are
OFT. They come to see them once, and gen
orally they never come again. If their
parents should unexpectedly inherit great
deal Of money they would come over to see
them with a carriage
when Miss Qaifney came to the aims
house, she told me the story of hGr rich
brother, Patrick II. Gaffney Of Chicago.
At her request | wrote him two letters, In.
forming him of his sisters situation. In
answer to the letters, he sent her two dol
lars twice, there being considerable in
tervGl of time between the two gifts
Miss Gaifney was an intelligent and
lady like woman and has never given us
any trouble. She was very pleasant and
and interesting talker up to some months
ago. when her health failed her"
Miss Gaffney has brother In Buffalo
before referred to, and another brother
Matthew Gaffney, In Brooklyn. She is
estate, valued at $3.50, 900, and will proba
bly, get about $35, 900, instead of the $50,
600 1t was thought would fall to her The
physician thinks she has but short time
to enjoy her fortune.