The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-09
MINERVA FANNIN.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HER SORROW
FULLY BENIGHTED LIFE AND
Plea BY Their President to the "Daught-
ers Of tho Republic of Texas" to Protect
Her Grave and Keep Green Memo.
ries of Texas Heroic Days.

Her Grave and Keep Green Memo.
ries of Texas Heroic Days.
The announcement of the death of
diss Fannin at the lunatic asylum
asst July brought wildly to mind
many "reminiscences of the past when
was student at Rutersville college
md when little Minerva was under
he guardianship of Mrs. Richardson,
whose motherly care and watchful So
icitude over the dependent and un.
ortunate orphan was of that nature
which only a conscientious, noble
christian woman could give to one so
utterly helpless and dependent. Mrs.
Richardson had her about three years
md sent her to school hoping that her
Plouded intellect might be so bright
bned and developed that che could be
aught to read, and by that means
amuse and entertain herself, as it was
90 we'll understood that she could
never attain TO anything beyond, for
the vapor which clouded her intellect
was too dense and dark ever to be
completely removed.
Day after day the patient and in
;erested teachers labored hard and
faithfully to arouse one ray of sun.
~ line in that obtuse and inactive
8 IN with no reward Of success, but
&Ay to realize that her mental facul-
= s5s grew weaker and weaker as time
Folled on. Well do recall her happy
and contented smile and beaming
face, utterly ignorant of sorrow, care
pr responsibility, and of the impend-
Ing doom which awaited her of beng
Incarcerated behind the bars of a
gloomy asylum the remainder of her
long life, utterly helpless
knd unconscious of her con-
hition. No doubt but the
dreadful scenes of war, its privations
hnd SORROWS had made her it's victim
10y supplying her mental facilities and
tmpoverishing her brain. Thank God,
She has gone to rest and that blank
Existence has frightened and bloomed
into perpetual sunshine and joy.
One beautiful day in spring just
after recess an anxious voice called out
that
L. MINERVA FANNIN WAS MISSING.
Instantly school was dismissed and
teachers and pupils rushed forth in
IEearch of the innocent wanderer.
when, after plodding through heat
and dust some distance from the COL
lege, there among the daisies and vio-
lets, roaming along leisurely and I'M
consciously unattended save by the
Divine eye, was this orphan child,
/ her light hair toyed by the gentle
Ikapy prs and tanning her burning
US /, while the gathering footsteps OF
.sier approaching rescuers betokened
Yno alarm or interest save
jmerry laugh or an unarticulated
| bentence from her childish lips, wholly
Unconscious of any danger, or the
lhlarming condition to which she was
ibxposed, What sad, pitiable condl-
ltl{ n was hers, and how 1t called forth
lAhe deepest sympathy of her more for
(ltunate companions. Within che past
|lfew years, at various times, l have
Heen her at the asylum, and y, now
lfhanged. The roses had vanished
Nrom her cheeks; the luster from the
Eeye, and burrows, deep and VIDE, hao
fmade their impress upon her brow,
while the totterlng head, covered
iwith it's silver crown, all proclaimed
Hin unmistakable language that time
was surely doing it's work, and the
end was rapidly approaching. Lett
: an orphan at an early age by theruth-
FIess hand of wars, Minerva was COM
Knitted to the mercy of strangers. NO
Ilparents, brothers or sisters to love ana
Isympathize, uor in death to wipe the
fcold dew from her brow, shed q tear,
|or prepare her body for the tomb. she
/ was the victim of war, its afilictlons
land its orphanage.
Miss Fannin is entitled to more than
4 "a passing notice. Her heroic father
! sacrificed his life for the Independence
fof Texas, to deliver her from the yoke
of oppression, and left those oil MS
Ifiesh and blood to the guardianship
land protection of the state. Colohel
|Fannin was q grand and noble hero,
lone of Texas most brave ana Illus
|trious soldiers of the revolution, Let
|us not forget the debt OF gratitude we
lowe his memory, nor be unmindful OF
Four obligations. Minerva was the
Hast link of tina! family chain Al
Nave passed'away, and no doubt but
y lat her unfortunate condition was
4 Iresult of the cruel, exciting ana
athrgous strain brought about by the
Ndistressing and alarming condition OF
4 our country. Such tension on the
nervous system was enough to pro-
Once the most serious results, Her
1 weak brain, which for years SO feebIy
flickered, has at last been entirely
axtinguished TO shine with inexpressi'
HE lister above. What happy re-
union! Parents and children "clad ID
tha habiliments of immoltality-slng'