The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-25
HER LIFE WRECKED.
The Touching Story of a Young
English Girl.
Stranded in San Francisco, an Awful Expert
ence Skaters Her Mind-From an
Asylum to Watery Grave.
A piercing Shrek rang through the new


A piercing shrek rang through the new
City Hall, causing the corridor loiterers
to start from their indolent attitudes and
with unwonted CELEBRITY to move toward the
room of the Insanity Commissioners.
They knew whence issued the cry and
that some unfortunate found insane was be-
ing led away to imprisonment.
Before them, when the Commissioners
room had been reached, they saw young
woman her face pale aud haggard and her
eyes depicting fear rather than insanity,
while in piteous tones she entreated the
stalwart men who held her arms to release
her. III a moment more the door of the car
riage into which she was placed slammed
behind her and the vehicle rolled rapidly
away over the cobbles.
The oilers returned to their old quarters,
but young attorney stood gazing after the
departing carriage his face betraying signs
of the deep sympathy which filed his breast.
Not yet deadened to the miseries of the
| world the sight had carried him away with
| sympathy.
Very few realize what her life will be in
an insane asylum" said he to a CALL re-
| porter standing near. True, every care
will be given her, but the very nature of
the place and its surroundings brings the
strongest to premature old age and an early
| grave"
| ALL INSANE BUT SHE.
"In the first place: she will never realize
her own insanity. and Imprisonment Will
| seem to her an everlasting hardship and
| persecution On the other hand, only the
most demented are oblivious to the fact
| that insanity exists everywhere around
| them, and patients frequently dwell in con-
| slant fear of each other. They are never
companionable. and l have heard it said
that were it possible for them to unite to
| effect their escape, the strongest prison
would be impotent to hold them, so surely
do-certain forms of insanity beget craft and
cunning. But their mutual aversio II saves
the keepers many troubles and perils.
LAS an example Of the terrible unhappi-
ness that exists in such places, continued
the young man, Il will tell you a story re-
lated to me by my father, who was resident
| physician OF the Stockton Institution in the
sixties. The narration concerns young
woman who, friendlesS ana alone among
rough people, as Calfornians were in those
days, with parents far away in England,
BECAME the victim of a man who bore what
was once one of the two most prominent
udliiNS III INC ClIlf-Q States. III politics
war alike he achieved renOwn, having been
standard-bearer of a national party and a
General in the army.
A SISTERS GUEST.
This young woman was the daughter of
London clergyman and Belonged to good
old English family, aud her life had been an
uneYenuul one from childhood, until an op-
portunity was offered her to visit distant
lands, Of which she awaited herself.
1T seemed that her brother had gone to
Australia on business and was about to re-
turn when a letter was directed him to wait
for his sister, WHO would accompany him
home. Friends of the old Clergyman were
going to the island, and all Invitation had
been extended to the girl to form one of the
party, 1t being her intention stated, to
remain only SO long as her brothers bust
ness kent him Il ere.
"Accurdingly the party started. but on
their arrival at Melbourne the girl was
Obliged to proceed alone few mles into
the interior, where her brother was sta
toned. But what was her surprise, on fin
lShrng her journey TO learn that the young
man. had disappeared, his destination being
unknown, although it was said that he had
gone to San Francisco. One less unsophls-
ticated would nave immediately reioined
Der friends, but the gIrl, feellng'ali the con-
hdence born OF ineXperlence determined to
follow him She secured passage on q
steamer, therefore, and in que time arrived
In San francisco.
~ Fhl SEARCH
' Der distress and Consideration may be
imagined when, after prolonged search, no
trace Of the young man could be found. No
one had heard of him, aud once again. she
found herself in awkward position. But
this time she was utterly az 4 loss how to
act,it being impossible, for want of funds
to return to England and useless to attempt
to seek her brother, having no clew TO his
Whereabouts.
Thus was she helplessly thrust upon
oil rif "a bO baF
rough manners, must nave sorely tried her
delicate and sensitive nature. Her face was
c0mely ana attracted no little attentiOn-in
fact, too much attention. Innocent as she
was and utterly out Of place among her SUR
roundirgs, is it surprising that the gallant,
deEQhnaire Colonel found favor IN her sight
ana Il grateful recognition of his attentions?
And can you blame her for believing i'm
pllcltly 10 the promises that led to her ruin?
HER BETRAYER DISAPPEARS.
But one day the Colonel disappeared,
having probably gone south with his troops,
and never again did she see him. How she
lived is a mystery TO- me, but this | know
that several months passed, when, imme-
diately after the birth OF her child, she
went crazy and was committed to the Stock
ton Asylum.
Her form of dementia was most pecu-
liar as IL was horrible one. She imagined
herself beset with snakes and worms, and
at every moment, when not asleep, plucked
them aside with the utmost disgust and hor-
Tor. She seemed obliyious to all else about
her, recognizing and noticing nobody.
In some way, whether by the return of
the son or not am unable to say as the
reason for his disappearance is still mys-
terry 10 me, the clergyman learned Of his
daughters terrible fate, and sent two old
servants who had been in the family for
years: to bring her home. On their arrival
at the asylum the patient for moment
seemed 10 recognize them, but the sudden
glimmer OF intelligence left her, as it
seemed by contrast, only more hopelessly
wrecked in mind than before.
A wATERY GRAVE.
Most old residents of California will re-
member the wreck OF the steamer Golden
Gate. She had but barely crossed the head
on her trip TO England when she wa,
wrecked, few of those on board escaping
Among the lost the old couple and their
charge were numbered.
''Ihe little daughter of the girl was
adopted by the COlonel's wife, who, on the
commitment of the unfortunate woman to
Stockton, had learned OF her husbands
heartless trcachery. He has died, but the
widow and foiter-child survive, and live
not far from us.
THE SALVATION ARMY.