Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-19
MR.. PARNELL's GRANDMOTHER
An Eccentric Woman Who Was
Separated from Her Husband.

One of those old fellows who delight
in racy "reminiscences of the past sent
the following to Washington paper of
grandmother, it will be read with inter
est at this time, when the name is so
prominent in the eyes of the world:
'The attention of the whole civilized
world being attracted to the Parnell
name, it might interest your readers to
know that in the past his grandmother
resided here, and, in another way, was
sas much an object of remark and COM
ment as her grandson is now. cannot
say when it was that Mrs. Commodore
Stewart resided here, but my memory
of her as very good. She was very
handsome woman, as l recall her, but
eccentric in appearance and in her gen
eral intercourse. l used to see her al
most every day on the avenue, and she
walked with very queer gait, hardly
lame, but like one wearing tight shoes
which were painful.
''There were two daughters living
here with her who shared their mothers
peculiarities. One of them remember
distinctly, who was known as Peggy
Stewart, and the other one cannot re-
call. Whether either of the ladies was
subsequently Mrs. parnell 1 do not
know, but it would not surprise me, as
any of the family would be liable to in
dulge in the eccentricites which have
,occasioned so much remark of late.
MRS. Commodore Stewart, las the mem
'ory of her comes back to me, while not
a recluse, seems to have had but few
associates. They, Mrs. Stewart and her
daughters, would take their daily walks,
but always alone. l do not remember
ever to have seen them together or with
any one. Mrs. Stewart was supposed to
be wealthy, but made no display of il.
''The story of her separation from the
commodore is almost legendary, coming
as it does from the long past, but as
f5eld me in my boyhood have never for
gotten it. 1t was customary at one
time in the navy for officers OF certain
grade to take their families with them
ron the long cruises which sailing yes
sells had to undertake, and Mrs. Stewart
accompanied the commodore to the
Mediterrapean station. While at Ma
piles revolutionary disturbance oc-
,curred, and one of the leaders of the re-
volt sought shelter among the vessels in
tthe ,harbor, and eventually reached the
UNITED States ship commanded by Com
modoie Stewart, where, appealing to
the sympathy of Mrs. Stewart, he was
secreted in the ship.
"The ship sailed soon after, and when
some distance from Naples Mrs. Stewart
informed the commodore of the presence
of this person on the ship. The commo-
dore at once returned to Naples and de-
aivered the fugitive to the authorities,
and, as was told, put Mrs. Stewart OH
a vessel sailing for America, and never
saw her again.
'JThere was good deal Of kindly sym
pathy for her here, for no one ever ques-
dioned the purity of her motives, and
her friends said it was the harsh treat
ment of the commodore which produced
in her the strange after life she led.
have understood that Mrs. PANEL was
one of the two daughters who were with
her here, but do not know it. Only a
few months ago Mrs. Parnell was appeal
ing to the country for help, and an Irish
comedian, then playing an engagement
in New York, gave a benefit for her
which realized, as l remember, some
thing like $500. 1t was sent to her, but
her need was not relieved, as it was said
her creditors seized it.