The evening times., 1896-02-12
LITTLE MAY LEFT ALONE
Mr.. and Mrs. Rsa Claimed by
/ Death Almost at One Time.
THE CHILD ALSO Is ILL
The Wife Was Stricken While the
Husband Was Dying, and She Never
Recovered ConsciOusness-Pr Prattle
of the Baby Girl When the Sad
News Was Told Her..

Death is almost always an unwclcome
| guest, but when he comes twice To the
same household, and that i'll visits little
more than twelve hours apart, his coIning
Is sad, indeed.
AT Spears undertaking establishment
Oh street, lie today the bodies OF r. j..
| Rea and his wife. Mr.. Rea died at his
home, No. $50 + street northwest, OF pnen-
monia little after 10 o'clock yestcrduy y
morning. Before IL o'clock last night
Mrs. Rea died in a room adjoining the one
in which her beloved husband had breathed
| his last.
Behind is left little Mary Louise Rca, the
| last member of the small family, and this
| little tot is just about 10 enter upon a
siege or the measles, IL is believed.
Sad things happen in great cities, but
| ii is seldom saudeT case coIiies around
| than this. Mr.. Rea had been for many
years past the engineer in the Baltic Build
! ing. Four years ago he moved with his
small family into the fourth floor OF the
big office building at No. 629 + street,
rlgnt over the way from the Baltic, and
| he became engineer for that building too.
He was not a very old man, ihirty-nirc,
nor very stout one, but lie was sober. en-
erTetic and faithful, and one Of the best en-
gincers on all r street. He worked very hard,
and that may have been one of the niaiB-
springs that brought about his death. He
was sick less than Il week.
Mrs. Rea WAS never very stout. She WIS
troubled with an affection OF The lungs and
Cougled n grea deal in her rlattcrdays. That
lis the reason she grew suddenly paer and
weaker as her husband began 10 sink. Yes
tcrday morning when he grew suddenly
worse she found it almost unbearabe. and
did not feel strong enough to goiu to see him
f1..sr.N
SHE NEVER BECAME CONSCIOUS
She was just about giving Instructions
over the preparation of breakfast for herself
and May and the friends in the house,
when she threw up her hands, ana said: oh,
| am completely played out"
Then she sank into II chair unconscious,
and never again awokc to recognize those
about her. Before the midnight bells had
struck last evening she had gone TO join her
husband, and maybe IL was happy surprise
10 each 10 find the other in the great beyond.
The undertaken had come and taken the
husbands body away, while the wife lay
unconscious. Again TIE black wagon was
summoned, and they took the remains Of
the wife.
Little May alone was left. She grew
sick yesterday afternoon and the neigh
bors at first thought she Lad the fever, and
were afraid that she was going to DIN her
papa and mama, too, very soon, but when
the doctor came latter on he said he
thought il was measles and the little sur-
ylvor was taken a way to the home Of her
aunt. Mrs. Jackson, Mr.. Rca's sister.
\ brighter little girl could not be found
in days Journey. She Is Just six years
old. and. OF course, has not gone to school
yet. But May is as bright as many a
child that has gone 10 school for more ihan
one year. She has large black eyes that
-ffI. r..I nal tar.ff
pink checks that are stained with tears.
for, young as she is. she realizes already
that she is left destitute OF her two
dearest friends on earth. Her hair Is or
that curly. light Kind that grows darker as
a child grows older.
A picture OF the child, almost full life
size, hangs on the wall OF the neat dining
room and kitchen OF the home that is now
without tenants. In the front room. that
served as Il parlor and sitting groom. and
where the husband and father died. hangsa
crayon OF Mr.. Rca. His wifes picture also
adorns the same chamber.
IN THE LITTLE FLAT.
The Reas had four rooms on the fourth
floor of the building where they lived
Though the flat was not marked with the
hand of luxury. the stamp of comfort was
there. and above all the evidences OF neat
ness and cleanliness. But 1t took three
get up to the rooms.
Those stairs and the draft that comes
up through these windows had much to do
with the death of both of them" said Mrs.
Jackson. when the reporter called this
morning. Neither Of them was any too
stout and Mr.. Rea worked so hard. 1t tisso
sad for little May. She has not seen her
father since he died, hut She Will he tn ken
to see him III the undcrtaEcr's today
she saw her dead mamma. and, like
the wise child she took it philosophicaiiy.
My papa and mamma are both gonc,' she
said, and there is no one left but me-
Il will take her home with me and
educate her. am the closest relative that
can we'll take care of her. OF course, The
courts will appoint an administrator for ier
fathers estate, but / am quite sure they
will give May to me-
Mr.. Rea was prominent leader in labor
circles. and the labor organizations OF the
city will take charge of the funeral. The
remains of both husband and wife viii be
buried tomorrow side by side in the same
grave.