Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-07
LIFE HAS NO CHARMS
For Calvin Whitehill, Betrayed by
the Woman He Adored.
HOMELESS, PENNILESS AND DYING.
The Somber-Hued Romance Of . Once
Prosperous Business Man.
ENDING HIS DAYS AT THE POOR FARM

Nearly every day the ground work for q
novel is turned up at the Department Of
Charities. Few of them ever get further
than the ears Of the clerks, but yesterday
Mr.. Hoffman, was in an unusually good
humor, and told of his experiences of the
morning.
The principal character of his story was
Calvin Whitehill. He was a resident of
Elk county, and was brought to Chief FL
lots notice by Mayors Messenger Gale.
The man was in the last stage of consump-
tion. Although only 40 years old disease
had made terrible ravages on his once splen-
did physique. He was so weak that it was
feared he would die in the Office. Milk
and whisky were offered him but he refused
to take anything but water. It took almost
an hour for him to tell his story.
He was born in Clarion county on April
4, 1850. Arriving at manhood he drifted
into oil speculation. At times he was on
the top of the heap. For several years he
operated about Bradford and Ridgeway and
made money. In 1873 he met Miss Cook, a
daughter of Alexander Cook, of Phillips
burg, Center county. Her bright eyes and
pleasant manner soon charmed him, and the
following year
THEY WERE MARRIED.
They had happy home at Clarion. A
little boy was born. Fortune was good to
him, and his business ventures proved sue
cessful. Everything his earnings could buy
were lavished on his young wife.
At last he left for Elk county again to
further increase his fortune. Once more
success crowned his efforts. Each week he
sent home liberal allowance to his wife
and child. As often as business would per-
NIT he visited them. All went well until
rumors OF inhdelity reached him, He was
told that another was spending the money
he sent to his wife, and was also stealing the
love which belonged to him alone. He
would not believe the rumors at first, but
was finally compelled to admit the truth. A
separation followed and shortly after this
Mrs. Whitehill went to Oceola, Clearfeld
county, 10 live with q man named Thomp-
son. She left her husband aud child to fol-
low her new lover.
That was hardly ten years ago. The child
was given to the charge of its grandfather,
Mr.. Cook. AS for the father. he lost inter
est in everything. 1t was like cloud on
his Lie, bnrouBu which nope c0ulO never
again penetrate. Wild speculations soon
left hardly a remnant of his fortune. He
deserted oil to become lumberman.
WORKING TO DEADEN SORROW.
To drown sorrow he worked in the woods.
He worked early and late, chopping the
great trees and peeling the bark from them
ready for the mills.
But even here thoughts of the past were
continually with him. The solitude, which
at first soothed, now seemed too great for
him. Then he took to the river, mingled
with the men in the drive and was the most
daring OF them all. Repeated exposures,
however, brought on colds, which were
quickly followed by pneumonia and con-
sum ption. A month ago he drifted into
Pittsburg penniless He was sent to the
b Homeopathic Hospital. Three weeks there
convinced the physicians he was incurable
and he was discharged.
!. After lying about town for few days he |
dragged himself to the Mayors office yester- |
day to ask assistance, and he was sent from |
there to the Department of Charities. His