Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-07
FOLLOWED BY FATE.
The Misfortunes of Mrs. Catharine
Tracey and Her Family.
VICTIMS OF INHERITED INSANITY.
thoroughly Dishea-tened She Wants to
Return to ireland.
CREATING 4 SENSATION IN A CHURCH


Oakland branch of the Society for the I'm
provement of the Poor and asked for aid TO
return to her native land, Ireland. Hers
is a sad story. Fate seems to have pursued
the family through several genera
tions, but now it has exhausted it
self, and the last member wants to return
to her old homestead snd spend the rest OF
her life in quiet and peace.
Mrs. Tracey first came to the society for
widow and wished to get her 15-year-old
daughter position in some good family
Mrs. Tucker, the manager of the Oakland
branch, took an interest in the woman aud
finally succeeded in getting good position
for the girl She was an excellent worker
and honest, which made the lady Of the
household in which she was working take
great interest in her. The poor girl grew
up too rapidly and became very delicate.
At last she began to show signs that her
mind was weakening The lady, upon see
ing this, sent the young girl home to her
mother, and agree d to pay the rent for her
mother and hersel
sensation in Church.
All went we'll until one Sunday morning
becoming more affected than usual she left
her home deshsbille and went to st. Agnes
Church, which was nearby, creating quite a
sensation by entering right in the midst, of
the service. The priest took her home and
the Improvement of the Poor Society,
through their Oakland Office, sent the girl
to DiImont She renamed here for long
time. appearing very happy. The frequent
calls of her mother and those interested in
her made her quite contented. The society
raised the money by which the mother paid
her fare to Di1mont and tried to make
everything as comfortable for the girl as
possible. The girl was taken quite sick
after some time and the doctors gave their
opinion that there was no hope tor her
She died after a long illness of lingering
consumption. The poor mother was terri
bly, stricken with grief, but took her be-
reavement braveiv.
While the daughter was in Dixmont the
society commenced a search for son of
Mrs. Tracey, who she said had ran away
from home when he was but child. After
a long search some OF the soclety's agents
found the son in small Ohio town. He
had grown up, married and was the father
OF large family. He too had had his mis-
fortunes A short time before he had been
run over by a railroad train, and after a
long stay in hospital had his arm ampu-
tated. With only one arm, large family
to support, and out of work, he was not in q
position to aid his mother.
Helped the Son to n Position.
Mrs Tucker succeeded by great endeavor
in getting the railroad company to place
him in their employ as watchman. He
sent what he could spare out of his earnings
to his mother, but the amounts were very
small
Shortly after the death of the daughter,
Mrs. Tracey obtained position for her
only other son, Tom, as driver for firm in
the city. Tom, like his sister. had grown
up too rapidly. He was nearly seven feet
tall, and was not at all strong. He filled
his position well until one evening about
dusk, as he was driving down Elm street,
little child ran under his horses, and not
withstanding all Toms efforts to save her,
she was trampled to death. Tom was ar
rested and sent to jail to await the cere-
mony of the court The child's tragic
death and the idea of being in Jail preyed
dreadfully upon the young man, and he
soon began to show evidences of insanity.
With the assistance of DR.. Classroom,
Mrs Tucker, after working on the
matter seVeTdl udyss sucCeeueu III nav
ing Judge Slagle transfer his case
he was acquitted He frightened up again
and got another position, but in short
time he became raving maniac and had to
be removed to the insane department of the
City Poor Farm where he has been for the
last two years.
1t was then the society first learned that
insanity ran in the family. 1t was traced
back several generations among the rela-
tives on the other side. The mother was
crazy with grief and in her walking about
one day, she fell, injuring her ankle and
foot severely. Mrs. Tucker had her taken
to the Homeopathic Hospital where Mrs.
Tracey was cared for by the liberality of
Mrs Thaw. The doctors thought she would
be crippled for life, but she finally recov-
cred.
Mrs. Tracey Becomes Insane.
Mrs. Tucker visited her and left word
when she was ready to come out to send
word to the society, but some of Mrs.
Tracey's friends came and took her away
before the society had been apprised. This
was about year ago.
Mrs. Tucker heard short time after this
that Mrs. Tracey's mind had become i'm
paired and that her friends had sent her to
the Poor Farm. She entered here in May
and left on August 29. The authorities did
not want her to leave, but she insisted
and they could not keep her.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Tracey came to
the office Of the society in Oakland looking
better than she ever did. She told of her
experience at the farm and said she had
seen her son, but only once. They told her
that it was the last time she would be
allowed to see him, as he was hopeless
maniac She also said she had received an
invitation from her son in Ohio to come and
spend the remainder OF her days with him,
but she thought it might cause trouble in
the family and be too much of a burden
upon him, so did not go. Her sister wrote
to her recently to come over to the old
home and they would care for her there, so
she is now raising the money to cover her
expenses going over. She has had several
contributions but still needs more. Her
devotion to the society is very strong. She
thinks there is no person like Mrs. Tucker
in the world and says she prays every night /
for all her benefactors