The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
Dona Garcia Left in Bed Four
Days Without Food or
Drink.
AN ARMY LAsSIE RESCUES
Flag of Blood and Fire Carries Conso
lation Into a Poverty Stricken
Abode.

One hundred and six years old, Mother
Garcia (Nicolini Garcia was her husband
name( lies dying st her home at 536 Val
lejo street.
For three days past Mother Garcia's only
companion has been big black cat with
sympathetic eyes, which purrs and news
contidingly when one chances to come into
the wretched room, and then fits away to
the further end of the apartment and rubs
its glossy back on the low bedstead when
the aged woman rests.
But for the ministering care of Saliva
ton Army lassie, Cadet Middleton, as she
is known, the centenarian would probably
now be registered at the Morgue as among
those who ''died in bed"
Three days ago the case was reported to
the Salvation Army headquarters and
Cadet Middleton was at once detailed to
look into the matter.
when l reached the wretched abode, u
she said yesterday, 81 found the poor
creature in a horrible condition. Every
window in the room was closed and, IN
consequence, the air was foul and sitting.
Mother Garcia was scarcely breathing and
[ had no idea that she would survive the
day. l opened the windows, letting in the
pure, fresh air, and then with much diff
Guilty forced several spoonfuls Of beef tea
down her throat.
After time she began to revive and
almost before knew it she fired volley OF
Spanish at me. Now l don't happen to
speak Spanish, but | knew just enough of
it to understand that she had something
of importance TO say. | rushed out into
the yard and with some difficulty induced
q Spanish woman who spoke fairly good
English to go with me and act as inter-
prefer.
Through the interpreter Mother Garcia
informed me that she had been i'll for two
weeks, and for four days not a particle of
food had passed her lips. How long she
had been unconscious she could not tell,
but the last thing she remembered before
her eyes rested on me was the faithful
black cat keeping silent vigil at the foot
of the bed.''
a CALL reporter visited Mrs. Garcia 8
last night. In little back room, yards
away from the Vallejo-street entrance, the
old woman was found. The first entrance
was up a pair of stairs, where a buxom
woman, with arms AKIN DO, stood guard.
fright back there" she said pointing
with her hand to some vague spot in a
northerly direction.
Right back there" proved to be any
thing but an easy place to find. Follow
ing the passage, which turns three or four
times before ending anywhere, one finally
lands IN plank-covered yard. Up
another flight OF stairs to a second ward.
and then third pair of rickety braces to
a shed many feet higher than the street,
and one finds che home of the centenarian.
There are two rooms, but the first is less
of an apology than the one where Mrs. Gar
cia lies. Tins, cans and bottles, broken
down bedstead, rickety table, constitute
the principal furniture.
Mrs Garcia was born at Guaymas,
Mexico, 106 years ago, moving to San
Francisco when this City was still in its
infancy.
She has lived in her present home for
the last fourteen years. Up to two weeks age
a nephew, now nearly 90 years old, lived
with her, but when she became too ill to
care for herself he deserted her,
The Salvation Army people will care fol
her until the end comes.