The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-25

Chicago, Jan. 24-Mrs. Elijah Car
son, most remarkable woman, died
Friday night at Anamosa, Iowa. Mrs.
Carson had crossed the ocean $50
times and possessed the extraordinary
record of never having missed a trip
on the Lucania since that splendid
vessel was launched.
For 80 years she has been travelling
across the Atlantic until her face had
! become a familiar one, not Onl-- to the
officers of the vessels of the Cunard
line, but the customs officials on both
sides of the Atlantic. She is said to
have been received on intimate terms
| by the Astors and Vanderbilts and
other prominent families of the coun-
try, who had long been accustomed TO
meeting her on her trips across the
sea. Mile. Patti, the prima donna, had
the strongest liking for Mrs. Carson.
Mrs. Carson was the wife of Samuel
Carson of Belfast. Her name was
Newell before her marriage, and her
brother, William B. Newell, was
millionaire of Nashville Tenn. Shortly
after the death of her husband in 1864.
Mrs. Carson, accompanied by her
daughter Elizabeth. came to America
to visit her brother.
This was Mrs. Carson's first ocean
trip, and was the beginning of her in
fatuatiOn for the sea. Mr.. Newell pre-
vailed upon her to remain in America,
and on his death beGueathed TO her
half million dollars in cash and prop
erty. This formed an ample fund to
permit the indulgence of her eccentric
desire to be continually on the water.
1t was in the year 1856 that Mrs. Car
son was first at liberty to follow her
penchant. She left her young daughter
in the hands of friends and took her
second trip to Belfast. She returned
in a few weeks, saw her child was in
safe hands and from that time until
the day she was seized with her last
illness, a month seldom passed but she
took a voyage across the Atlantic
In the year 1888, her daughter was
married to julius Rohrbach, a trav-
cling man of Chicago. Mrs. Carson
then felt that she had no more family
ties which would restrain her from
keeping continually on the sea. Since
1886 her entire time has been spent
in her voyages.
Mrs. Carson had the strongest af-
lection for Captain Mckay and all the
officers of the Luciano and remem-
bered them in her will 1t is said
Captain Mckay was beQueathed $4,000
and the subalterns sums propOrtionate
to the esteem in which she held them.
cannot be learned, as the document
was filed in Belfast.
Mrs. Carson was well known in Chi |
cago. About two years ago her SON. |
in-law. julius Rohrbach, by the ad
vice of his wife, MADE an EFFORT to |
restrain Mrs Carson from taking any |
more trips across the ocean, While |
she was stopping at the hotel here on /
4 visit to her daughter, Mr.. Rohrbach |
went before a local court and asked |
for the appointment of a guardian, |
making the statement that Mrs. Car
son had already spent S250.0 900 in her /
sea voyages and that unless a stop
was put on it her entire fortune would !
De spent. Mrs. Carson violently fought
his legal move. In her vigorous manner
she announced that she would submit
o no restraint and that if her son-in-
aw dared to interfere with her liberty
;he would cut him off without a cent.
This so alarmed Mr.. Rohrbach and his
wife that the proceedings were dropped
md Mrs. Carson was permitted to re-
ume her journeyings. The incident.
however, had made an impression on
Ter mind, for on her next visit to Bel
asst she made and placed on record a
will in which she gave but 81 900 to her
laughter, S25, 900 each to her banker at
Belfast and her agent in New York
,ity, and the remainder of her for
une to the officers and crew of the
-ucania.
Mrs. Carson made her last voyage
cross the Atlantic five weeks ago. On
he trip out from Liverpool she was
eized with an attack of pneumonia,
nd when the steamer reached New
-ork she was falling rapidly. She was
AIKEN to a hotel, where she remained
wo days, when her daughter, Mrs
.ohrbach, of Anamosa, Iowa, arrived |
nd took her west.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rohrback arrived this
vening from Iowa with Mrs. Carsons
ody. They were on their way to
Nashville, Tenn, where the interment
ill take place. Mrs. Carson was "A
ears old.
Corded silks are great favorites for tea
owns and evening waists, and are pre- {