Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-11
MOST TERRIBLE FATNlTY.
HISTORY or FANNIE PEAK, A
aUoNDAM BELLE, AND RICH.


! ihthtrh upon the chilufeu unto the thlfd
and fourth generation of them that
hate me."-Exodus. 2O:5
In yesterdays Gazette was published
the death in Dallas OF Fannie Peak
in filth. neglect and starvation She
was woman who was once the leader
in her social circle at Dallas. tho bright
star OF a happy home. embelllshed with
all that wealth could buy. a pretty
| girl. though not handsome; vivnoious,
talented and accomplished, she was
popular wherever she was known. But
there was a stigma In her blood, her
father having had the reputation Of
being rake in his early days, during
which time no less than three girls
OF Tennessee were left with their
shame, And Fannie Peak dragged down
others with her, One man was muir
dered. another died in the insane asy-
lum. another was shot. and numer-
GUS relatives have felt the shame thrust
upon them.
Jake Smith came 10 Texas when the
country was wild and barren OF civlll-
cation. No one hereabouts knows the
''"t VI nus "iri'ni III Dailus' out
he was the first merchant there. In
Tennessee, whence he came. he brought
n reputation Tor having ruined three
girls It was talked in Dallas before
his death that he was not married to
the woman Who bora bia chud,,r ,n.u
~ ..,
49, ei"i oi theih hau peeh porh'
There were two boys and two girls
IN tho family, OF whom the old settlers
have renson Il, r.r,ar,t,s,. Ia, ro.s,,, =,
~. ~ ie'o" Vi
'hef violent or revolving deaths or
waywardness
Smith n,vned , f,r,,, 49,. r,.,,z
"''S'
anu 'ot OF property IN town which
was very valuable Mt the time Of his
death. II has since deprecated consid-
erably, but would have more than
provided for the wants OF Fannie Peak,
his daughter. and prevented her horri-
BILE death In squalOr filth and absolute
neglect. But Il scems she was too much
hesodden to know OF the existence OF
this property. There may be other ron
sons for her not knowing. Her existence
In Dallas has been unknown to her old
time friends FOR many years, and It Is
doubtful II either her relatives or those
OF her late husband knew of her where
abouts.
While the family lived on the farm
near Dallas the young people were non
ulor and. entertainments were often
given. only the better class being adj
mltted TO these festivities
In the set which visited the Smiths
were members Of the Peak family. onr
OF whom. wallace Peak was 10 form
an in,5ortant part In the NE OF Fan
ME smith. She married hin t.nd tbev
seemed 10 have lived hnppily. ,Tyva
sons We're born OF the marriage
All went well FOR several venrs nm
III Mrs Peak undoubtedIv nro,n,ted
by tho paternnl blood in her veins be-
came addicted 10 tho nae of oninm
The habit seems 10 have taken almost
absolute possession on her. FOR nj The
limo ~ bor hrsha,l,s t.a,,i, q" - ~
she knew nothing OF IL thouph she
was siernlnr bv Tia si1c
He demonstrated with her for tho
course OF life she was pursulug nnd
she may have srled earnestiy Ia
shake on tho habit. but her efforts
avalled not. for Il chung To- nor MS
closely ns II the visitatIon Of the
iniuuitles OF the father was upon her
in fact us well Az In theory. The un-
yielding persistence OF the habit dis
couraged the husband and ne took ia
drink He went down rnpidly. M
tempting to blot ont the preo, nj aud
the ,nemorios ~ tbn ,,st H. ~. ~