The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-08
LUXURY TO POVERTY
PITIFUL STORY REVEALED BY A
SUIT FOR 100000 DAMAGES.
Mrs. Lydia Spaulding Dragged from
a Pullman Car, Thrust Into Prison
with Migrants and Robbed.

CHICAGO, Feb. THE life story of Mrs.
Lydia Spaulding. the woman who has
brought suit against the Pullman Palace Car
Company and the Atchison. Topeka & Santa
Fe railway for the recovery of 100000 dam
ages, Is q romantic one. Struggling with
poverty the wife of an aged, unsuccessful
physieian;, the mother of a handsome boy
united by social ties with men and women
who became kings and queens in the twin
worlds of finance and fashion; the mistress
of the most pala tia1 private hotel and board
ing house in San Francisco; suddenly bereft
of husband and son: the possessor of hard
earned fortune; suffering the loss of health
weak in mind and body: burdened with ac-
cumulating years; torn from her railway
apartment; rudely thrust into dingy prison
cell. to be surrounded with the most loath-
some vagrant In the town of Leadvllle;
robbed, as she says, of 5000 in jewels and
money-these are some of the successive
phases, miseries, pleasures. endeavors, hope
less features of Mrs. spauldings history.
The woman who seeks to force two big
corporations to pay her for the indgnities
thrust on her in the Colorado town. and for
which, she alleges, they are responsible. was
born in Virginia. AS girl she possessed
considerable beauty and became the wife of
Ut. OpdutuiHS, WlO was hidny years hCi
senior. With him she went to Virginia City.
New, in the days before the great outburst
of wealth which made San Francisco one
of the most remarkable cities in the world.
In Nevada she became acquainted with the
Mackays. Floods and Fairs. at time when
the future millionaires were poor and toll
ing citizens of Virginia City. The Floods.
Mackays and Fairs prospered and won mill
lions. while Mrs Spaulding saw the pros
poets OF her husband and herself grow
gloomier. A son was born to them, and not
long afterward they removed 10 San Fran
cisco.
settled the great bonanza kings. and while
they lived in homes of splendor Mrs Spauid-
ing was using her utmost endeavors to help
her husband in his profession. He failed,
and she, turning to her former friends,
found assistance. They aided her in leasing
the Ralston mansion. whose owner had
every luxury wealth could bring, in a man.
so romantic and yet so startling that ii
became q part of the history OF the Pacific
coast. This mansion, sumptuously fur
nished. Mrs. Spaulding opened as a private
boarding house. Here lived Mr.. and Mrs.
Fair Mr.. and Mrs. Flood. Mr.. and Mrs.
Mackay and many others of almost fabulous
fortunes. The Ralston Club. with its stately
turrets and broad windows looking out upon
the bay was one of the most elaborate edi-
fices in the city. With polished hardwood
floors, strewn with costly rugs, with rich
mosaics. walls resplendent with mirrors and
seur, parlors divided by softly sliding doors,
filled with quaint little hooks. the place was
almost like a home in fa.ryland Here Mrs.
Spaulding prospered and happiness seemed
hers, until her husband, suddenly taken i'll,
fell lifeless at her feet. Adding TO her sor-
rows, her boy died in an equally sudden
manner.
Then Mrs. Fair became more than ever
her friend and built for her beautiful hotel
of one hundred rooms, the Bella Vista, and
in this establishment the unhappy Mrs.
Spaulding became rich woman. Then her
health deserted her, and disposing of her
city interests, she retired a few years ago
TO her country home. not leaving il save TO
take an occasional trip TO Europe. whittier
she was on her way last June, when,
irving at Leadville. Col. she was taken
from the apartment in a Pullman palace
car and placed in the city prison. where, she
claims, she was detained forty-eight hours
without charge being made against her
When released, having passed two days
among thieves. Migrants and the riffraff of a
Western mining town, she found she had
been robbed. She claims her detention and
attendant indignities were caused by en-
ployes of the Pullman company who she
alleges, took her money and her Jewels
The defendants deny that Mrs. SpaaIldIng's
detention was caused by them, and claim
that IL was brought about by the civil au-
thorlties of Leadville. who took such steps
10 prevent the woman, who is said TO have
been acting in a violent manner from in
fiicting injury on herself. or possibly taking
her own life.