Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-19
FOUND DEAD IN BED.
Mira Avery Must Have Died Two Days
Ago According to the Doctor

hrA avery MUST nave DIED Two DoyN
Ago According to the Doctor.
quaint old house on Capitol Hill. which
has been occupied for many years by singular
old couple. was the scene today Of . somewhat
sensational happening.
Lydia T. Avery was found dead in bed this
morning and the doctors say she had been .
corpse for two days Her husband. who occu-
pied the room. was wholly unconscious Of her
demise. Their story is an interesting one.
WHEN THEY CANE HIRE
Thirfy-seven years ago a married couple
named Robert s. and Lydia T. Avery came 20
Washington from Norwich. Conn, and took mp
tneir abode al 32) A street northeast in three
story brick dwelling.
The house stands back from the building
iine and Is almost obscured by the trees and
Ivy winch grow IN profusion in the front yard.
hopert was q graduate Of Harvard College and
soon AFTER has arrival in the city obtained q
position IN the coast survey which he held for
thlrty-two years. resigninc five wears ago
lhe aged couple were quite eccentric in some
tnings' tue wife more so than the husband and
the house, which is literally filed with old to-
mao may cans, winch served Nc plates cups aud
oishes' ana other useless things. gives one the
impression that the occupants were misers
lea, conee, hydrant water, lard and butter
were never used and the old lady used TO make
AL the clothes her husband wore
And here they lived. this eccentric coupie.
shut out from the world, living only for osch
other.
DEAD AND HE DIDN'T KNOW II.
About two months ago the old lady conn
planned OF feeling sick, but though she was
perceptibly failing day by day she struggled on.
until about week ago she took to
her bed The old man nursed her
faithfully and alone. Yesterday he
called Mrs. Bumpus who lives next door in 20
see his wife and tell him how she thought she
was. Mrs. Bumpus called and said she thought
Mrs. Avery was dead. The old man burst ont
IN nood OF tears and told her TO run for doc
tor. She obeyed, but the old man called her
breathing. All nigh. long he hep.
silent watch at the bedside, waiting
for some sign Of life, but il never came. SO this
morning he called in Col Bumpus who az once
declared the woman dead
DIR. Frederick was sent for and he said she
had been dead for two DAYS az least The body
was IN rapid state OF decay when the physi-
clan entered. He attributed Bright's disease AZ
the cause OF her death.
GLOOMY ABODE.
There was an awful gloom about the place
this morning when a STAR reporter called. Up
two flights of winding stairs in a rudely fur
nished room lay the body in an ice box. Stand
ing at the head OF the box was the old man
with his long hair falling in disheyeled masses
aoout his face. The regular drip, drip, drip of
the melting ice and an occasional sob, full Of
anguish, from the old man were the only
sounds that broke the stiffness
1t was truly a pathetic sight and the circum-
stances connected with II made il doubly So For
two days he had not left her, although she was
dead, and through the long hours of the night
he kept the vigil, watching for sign of life. The
sun came through a crack in the shutters and
fell upon the old man. His eyes were bleary,
and, as the soft light fell upon him. he looked
up and approached the reporter. That's all
that's lett of her" he said, as he choked down
sob. and the reporter withdrew. The Old
man will take the body to Norwich Conn, to-
night for burial Ii is stated that the old couple
| were quite wealthy.