The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-09

The DesoIatIon IL Brought TO Two
Orphan Girls.

A sad story of the late panic was told
at the Union depot last night by Miss
Anna StiVetts of Kansas City, an or
phan, who, after a bereavement under
the most distressing circumstances, was
on her way to accept a position as type
writer in New York
My sister and myself have been self
supporting for ten years, said Miss
StiVetts, she as a school teacher and
as z stenographer and typewriter. This
year we decided to spend a few months
in California, as my sister was in very
poor health, and selected San Diego as
the place possessing the climate most
likely to benefit her. The journey thither
was a very distressing one 10 her, and
she was never able TO sit up after reach
ing there. / attended her until almost
worn out, and then went to San Fran
cisco for a trained nurse to assist me.
On the morning of the nurses arrival I
went 10 the bank TO draw some money
with which to pay her travelling ex-
penses- I was horror-stricken when told
that the bank had failed. On my assur-
ance that / had money in Kansas City
the nurse went to work for a few nights.
then made a draft on Kansas City,
and was almost crushed when informed,
a few days later, that the Kansas City
bank had also suspended payments.
4 had less than SO in cash. which 1
was obliged to hand over to my nurse,
leaving my dying sister and myself alb
u
were stopping at a rather expensive
hotel, but we could not leave, as il meant
sure death to my sister to have attempted
to move her. 1 kept the dreadful state
Of affairs from Julia's knowledge as long
as possible. but one day she was made
aware of our true condition in a start
ling and heartless manner. The nurse
suddenly burst in the room and de-
nounced US as thieves and frauds and
heaped the vilest abuse upon my sister
n \ 17-earg n 4
greater part of our little stock of jew
elry Thinking that perhaps the
nurse had been drinking, and hoping to
pacify her, 1 besought her to take a
portion of the remainder and such arti-
cles in our wardrobes as she might fancy
in part payment, and leave US in peace.
But the heartless woman proceeded 10
gather up every trinket she could lay
her hands on, including my dying Julia's
rings and earrings. and continuing her
disgraCeful abuse Of us. This was more
than my patience could withstand. and
l attacked her with all the strength of
my temporary madness had given me.
We fell to the floor together, and this
is the last / remember.
when regained consciousness was
lying in bed in a darkened room. A sin
gle effort convinced me that / was not
able to arise. I cried out for help, when
a kindly faced gentleman and an elderly
lady came out of the gloom toward me.
(
soothing words and injunctions to lie
quiet. But l would not. I demanded To
be carried TO her presence. This request
being denied, 1 began to struggle to get
out of bed. The old lady then held me
down. while the gentleman left the room.
| Presently he returned, accompanied by
! the doctor. who told me that my sister
was dead. After this dreaded announce
ment l lay in a stupor until nearly day
| light. In sew ral days 1 regained my
strength, but was unable to attend my
sisters inUerment. The gentleman,
whom l have mentioned proved TO be a
horse-breeder from San Gabriel valley,
Los Angeles county. He told me that
the nurse had been arrested and the
iewelry recovered. / begged him not to
permit any further publicity at such a
time. and he. agreeing with me, paid her
claim in full and himself saw her depart
( for San Francisco. He was one Of the
directors of the bank that had failed i'm
San Diego, and he bought our claim
/ against il for face value and offered me
I cash for my balance in the Kansas City
bank. The latter proposition I declined.
+ He also secured me, by wire, position
in New York City at three times as
large a salary as 1 have ever before re-
ceived. This / am now on my way to
/ fulfill "-Globe-Democrat.