Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-28
a WONDERFUL OLD WOMAN.

Dying ut 40 After Drinking Rum
md smoking Tobacco FOR 10
Years.
Sylvia Dubois the famous negress, 10 dead
at last, says the Philadelphia Times. Her
death was reported last spring, because the
news that came from Sourland mountain,
where Silvia lived was to the effect that the
ancient negress had d ed during the blizzard,
having persisted in the storm. This was a
mistake. She survived the great snow.storm
and lived through the spring and summer.
But that tremendous vitality that carried the
woman through a century and quarter OF ex-
istcnce began giving out and a few days ago
she died. She had just passed her l2jth BIRTH
day.
There is no doubt Sylvia Dubois was not
only the oldest woman, but the oldest person
in America Her memory and the records
she had at hand proved this fact The story
OF her life in detail has been published sever
al times. She was born In nterdon county
on the very range Of hills where she evidently
died. She was the slave OF man named
Dubois and kept that name all her life. She
had number OF children, but they were all
illegltmatc. VIII lie mere child she was
taken 10y her master To Great Bend, Pa, Nhere
she was reared. The tales OF her prowess are
many. She was fighter all her younger DAYS
and, in fact, until she was 100 years Old. She
knocked out every pugiiist she encountered.
From the time she vas ID years of age she
was hard driuker, brandy being her favorlte
beverage. Liquor never seemed 10 affect her.
She always said the brandy shc drank pre-
served her. 1t Is certain she was never sick
until IA few months preyou To her death. At
tn tavern at Great Bend, OF which her mas
ter was the landlord. she was "A great attrac-
ton owing to her tremendous strength and
IL N It.ll ar he
proiane as she was powerful, and her biog-
raphy, which she dedicated some years ago 10
a school teacher in this state and which was
published literally, aoounded with oaths.
When she was about - years OF age she
got angry at her mistress and nearly killed
her. Before she could be caught she snatch.
ell up her baby and rowed across the Sus-
quehanna aud ran into the woods. There
she accomplished what few women In history
have ever attempted. She made her way
day and night down through Pennsylvania
and upper New Jersey. caring for the child
all the way until she got back to her old
home In Southland mountain. Her mistress
recovered, but no attempt was made TO arrest
or capture Sylvia. On Sourland mounta n
she built hut, where she spent the last CEN
fury OF her ex stence. She had as ALREADY
related, number OF children, but only the
youngest survived. She lived with her moth.
er no 10 the day OF her death. Her name is
Elizabeth, and she is over ~ wears old. She
is her mother over again. There Is not man
on the mountains that can whip her. Her
pugilistc feats are almost as numerous as
her mothers, but she never made such a
business. OF prize fighting.
In the little hut on Sourland Sylvia lived
through all the stormy winters. She learned
10 read little and her daughter got enough
education to enable her TO read to her mother.
They were alea avs poor, but managed 10 beg
enough TO keep them comfortable. Twice a
year the mother anu daughter would tramp
down the mountain and make tour of the
farming country below. Everybody gave
them something. The two women would load
themselves down with provisions, coal, and
clothing and then climb the mountain with
their burdens. Sylvia always asked for news
papers and books, and there were few women
better posted on the events OF the day This
long aud tiresomc tram never seemed TO
injure the Old woman. She took her last trip
las, spring.
Sylvia never made but two public exhibit
billions OF herself She was witness n
murder trial al Pennington anumber OF years
ago, and her opinions of lawyers, courts, and
people generally growing out OF her eX-
pcrience In court were given in her blogra-
phy. They were decidedly sensational and
emphatic. Her second appearance was at
the state fair at Waverly a year ago. She re-
ceved money enough foe sitting in a tent for
four DAYS to last her until death. Her eve
sight grew poor toward the end but her
tongue was as sharp and her memory as keen
as ever. III one could stand the string of
aths that were part OF her conversation, the
anecdotes that she gave and her recollectons
OF past events we're decidedly interesting
Sylvia Dubois drank hard and smoked
strong pipe all her life pretty nearly. She
said she was better for both rum aud tobacco.
She had no religion To- speak Of aud was I'M
questionably one OF the oldest snd most
Ia interesting characters that the nineteenth
century has produced.