The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-16
A LONELY WIDOW FOUND DEAD.


Catherine Rowland, q widow, seventy-six
years of age, who lived all alone at 1S
North Blake street, was found dead yes
terday beside her bed in the front room
of the little cottage where she has lived
for thirty years. Mrs. Rowland had no rel
atives living here and for the past three
years, since the death of her husband,
Rowland. the ~neighbors, have kept
a friendly watch over her movements, visit
ing her when she was sick and ministering
to here wants Saturday night she went to
the house of one OF her tenants, q Mr..
Turner, living next door north of her cot
tage. At $50 she returned home and short
ly after her lights were out. Yesterday
morning Mrs. Catherine Quinn, living
across the street from Mrs. Rowland, no.
iced that the snow had been swept Off the
sidewalks in the yard leading to her side
door and supposed she had been out early,
as was her usual custom. During the Gay
nothing was seen of her and towards dark
Mrs. Quinn and Miss Ferrel, another neigh
Dor, became alarmed and inquired whether
she had been seen. The Turner's were away
from home all day. When they returned at
night Mrs. Quinn told them that she was
afraid something had happened to the
widow. In their talk 1t developed that
Turner had swept the snow of her walks
before leaving home yesterday morning.
He feared that some i'll had befallen her
and notified the police.
Patrolmen Spearing, Sheridan and Walk
err went to the house, and. after finding
the blinds drawn and the doors and win
dows all tightly closed. broke open the
kitchen door. The house was dark. After
obtaining a light the patrolmen, followed
by neighbors, went to the front room and
found Mrs. Rowland stretched full length
upon the floor, cold In death. Her features
were calm and peaceful. There was nothing
to indicate that death had not come easily
and naturally. 1t is supposed by the coro-
ner that she died from heart failure.
tally clad. In the pocket Of her skirt, hang
ing on the head Of the bed, the coroner found
500 in paper money and III in silver. In
the money. Mrs. Quinn. one oSSthe neigh
Dor women, says that Mrs. Rowland always
turned out the gas in her kitchen stove be-
6 O'Clock every morning, the old woman
holding with tenacity to habits contracted
during the life of her husband, who was a
Journeyman cooper: After arising. she al,
then returned to bed for a short time, until
the house became warm enough for her to
cook COO her breakfast IN comfort; The supposSs -.
usual hour seems to be correct, as the gas
was burning in the kitchen stove. 1t is
probable that after lighting the gas she un-
overcome and fell to the floor in
the warm feather bed were but slightly
d~isarranged. indicating that she passed Sat-
urday night without suffering from illness.
A half century ago. Mrs. Rowland and her
husband emigrated from Ireland to Canada.
came to indianapolis, and lived in the inn
mediate neighborhood of Blake and New
York streets ever since. John Rowland was
were a careful, frugal couple, and in course
of time saved enough money to buy the
little cottage in which the widow died. Time
at the time Of Rowland's death, three years
ago, the old couple owned four houses
and lots. John Rowland was eighty-four
Mrs. McGann. a sister Of Mrs. Rowland.
lives at Wallaceburg, Canada. She also
had a nephew. John Mccain. who lives
away Catherine Rowland needed not the
invitations Of her relatives to make her
home with them, preferring to live out her
dear to her. surrounded as it was with
memories of her dead companion. And so
she lived alone, the rentals from the prop
One of her nephews spent the winter with
her last year. A niece is en- route from Can
ada to spend, the coming summer. She
when she would see her relatives again.
But death interviewed. and when they ar
rive her relatives will find her surrounded
with the death emblems Of the Catholic
Church, Of which she was a devout men,
Der. The little cottage in which Mrs. Row
land lived is filled with everything neces-
sary to contribute to her comfort. There is
nothing luxurious. only a homely. thrifty
plenty.
Mrs. Cornelius Kelly and two other
neighbor women promised to be responsible
70 tho nnrnnar fnr the nrnnaY nQra nf fha
body. They will notify the relatives. Her
funeral will be held in the Catholic Church,
but no definite arrangements will be made
until word is received from her sister.