The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-16
A LONG CAREER.
Death of San FranciscO's Only
Centenarian.
Weighed Down With Years Mary Hurley
Sleeps Her Last sleep-Incidents of Her
Life-A Total Abstainer.

Mary Hurley, who for nearly nine years
had enjoyed the distinction of being one Of
the few known centenarans, died of old age
on Thursday night at the residence of her
granddaughter, q Sherwood place. cul
de sac Of Third street. Her death was
peaceful one-more like a gradual falling to
sleep than dissolution of soul and body,
and to-day she lies in the neat rosewood
caSket as natural in appearance as at any
time during the last few years of her life.
She retained her faculties until the last, and
till very recently could discourse of the
many stirring events in the history of Ire
land, her native land, especially those which
came within her personal Obser walton.
According to documents in the possession
OF her descendants. the deceased was born
In the town Of Bantry, County Cork, Ire
land. on August 10, 1882. and was. conse-
quently. l08 years, months and % days old
at the time of her death. The exact date
of her marriage is not now known, but that
IL took place in the early part of the present
century is borne out by the fact that son,
the last OF her immediate family, died
ABOUT Tour years ago at the age OF rs.
A VENERABLE TRAVELLER.
Some time after her marriage she crossed
over to London England, and lived in the
family OF this son until nineteen years ago.
when he came to California accompanied by
the old lady and her only daughter. She
was 80 years old when she undertook the
Journey, which told no more upon her
strength than on that Of her younger fellow
passengers.
On arriving in San Francisco the travellers
took up their residence at q Sherwood place,
the only home they ever knew in this c0un~
try, for as the years passed son and daughter
went to their long rest, leaving their aged
parent to preside over family of seven
grandchildren and fourteen great-grand~
children. who all survive her.
Some five years ago Mrs. Hurley was
brought 20 the notice of the San Francisco
public by CALL reporter, who described
an Interview he had with her on the subject
OF her age, and among other things discanted
upon the fact that she had always been a
total abstainer from liquor, but admitted
that she was great lover OF the weed. The
item caught the eye of one of The CALI
readers and he deputed the reporter to ex-
pend gold piece in the only luxury she
seemed to care for.
A WELCOME GIFT.
The commission was carried out, and that
afternoon supply Of clay pipes (the only
KIND she would use) and guam tity OF
the best tobacco were given into her hands,
amid blessings loud and long for the good
gentleman and the kind reporter.
That was the open sesame to her heart,
and the old lady talked TO the newspaper
man as she had never talked to q stranger
before. She cOnti1ed all her life story TO
him, told him how good her children her
ehlidren's children, ana her neighbOrs hal
ever been to her. and painted her life In the
most r0seate hueS. Though her surround
ingS were the humOIeSt, and the resources
OF her family the most meager, not a COM
plant crossed her lips, but on the contrary
every word she uttered was full OF content
ment. The reporter, anxious to do some
thing that would please her, then asked if
there was not something she lOnged for oc-
casi0naily, but she shook her head and told
him her every desire was gratihed, that she
wanted tor nothing.
Taking new tack, with the same end in
view, he cOaXed her to speak of any troubles
she might haYe, and this brought out sing
ular trait IN her character.
SHE FEARS FOR HER BOY.
The son with whom she came out from
London, then in his seventy seventh year,
made his living by selling fruit, and in fol-
lowing his employment caught occasional
bad colds. At that very time. in fact, he
was suffering from just such a complaint,
and as the old lady thought of that she
shook her head sOrrOwiuily and admitted
that she had one great trOuble-the fear
that she should never raise her boy. She
was really worried over that, but over moth
ing else ~ life.
Her "boy" died year later and to-
morrow she will be laid in the grave with
Is Ta1