Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-14
CLOUDED BY SORROW.
Romance Surrounding the Lives Of
Two Orphans at Tannehill.
SAD STORY OF A MAYNARD WIFE,
After Months of Wandering Her Husband
Dies at Her Feet.
BACK ONCE MORE TO MERRY ENGLAND

| The threads of q romance Of two conti-
nents were drawn together yesterday at the
| office of the Department of Charities
| Through the kindness of Chief Elliot, two
| little tots, the only remnants of q family OF
six, were started on journey across the
sea to rejoin their grandmother, Mrs. Bar
bara Patterson. in England. The mother
had died out Wylie avenue from remorse and
hunger, and two of her ill-fed children per-
1shed from the same cause. The other two,
deserted, had been placed in the Tannehill
orphanage. Two years ago the mother had
eloped with Peter Mclaughlin from Hiram,
England. Her deserted husband took to
drink and died soon after his wffe'S
departure. The four children were
then brought to America by Nc
LauShlin, who afterward left them to the
world. The story was brought out last
Tuesday by neat little Englishwoman, who
called ut the Department of Charities and
told Chief Elliot the story of the two little
waits, Willie and Nellie Ryan, at the Tame
hill orphanage. The woman had cared for
the mother, Rose Ann Ryan, and had seen
her bury her two children. She believed the
woman died of grief and want Of proper
nourishment. Two of her children had died
before her eyes, and then the poor woman
herself passed away.
Romance of the Runaway Wife.
She showed letters from the grandmother
of the children which told of the woman's
earlier life When only 16 she had married
Matt Ryan, at Wegan, Lancashire, England.
She was living happily ut Hiram when, two
years ago, Peter Mclaughlin induced her to
run away to America. They settled in Pitts
burg and apparently lived happily for a
time, she having taken her lovers name.
The story goes that the husband followed
them, but overcome with grief at being un-
W q "a
He wandered to Pittsburg and died with his
wife watching over his bedside.
She then sent for her children, and the
grandmother, not knowing but what their
father was with her daughter, sent them to
America. From that time the woman be-
came stricken with remorse and slowly
eloped also became morose, and Chief
Elliot says he refused to allow them
enough to live on. Finally, one of the chill
dren died, and last March the broken-heart-
ed mother followed them. The other two
children were placed in the Tannehill Or
phan Asylum and the grandmother notified.
The letters from that old Lady were most
touching. She bewailed the loss of her
daughter. She said that Mclaughlin had
always exercised q bad influence over her
daughter. She wanted to have the children
with her, but was unable to pay their pass
age. In speaking of one of the persons who
had befrtended her grandchildren, she
said: PLEASE send me your portrait, that
may hope to see you some time where oil are
The Man in the Case Pays Up.
Chief Elliot ut once started to work on the
case and found Peter Mclaughlin in Shoen-
bergers mill. He was taken to the Depart
ment of Charities, where the case was laid
before him. He denied the story at first,
but when confronted with the proofs he ad-
mitted that he played part in the tale.
Chief Elliot demanded S1C0 to send the
children home and to buy them some cloth
ing. He declared he was not their father
and would not put up cent.
very WELL" responded Chief Elliott, "1
will then enter suit against you for bringing
people into the country who afterward be-
come a charge on the poor authorities. The
fine is $40 for each one, and the costs will
amount to $25 or s50.''
At that the man began to tremble, and as
Chief Elliot produced few more argu-
ments Mclaughlin produced the century
wrapper" Out of this the passage of the
children will be paid. That will be s2S. A
messenger was also sent with them to turn
them over to the officers of the Cunard line.
They sail on Saturday and the grandmother
will meet them in Liverpool The balance
of the money will be turned over to the
children.
In speaking of the matter yesterday Chief
Elliot laughed and said: 81 am only very
sorry that did not make him give up more,
for have just learned that he has 500 in
the bank. Those little children might Just
as well have had $500 as 500.