The times., 1897-03-20
STORY OF A WRECKED LIFE
Once Beautiful and Refined Mary
land Girl SnceumbS TO Alcohol.
Virgie DuvalI's Miserable Exist
ence Ended in Pain and Suffering
at Cheap Lodging House.

This is the story of poor Virgie Duvall,
whose lifeless wreck of a body was re-
moved from a quarter lodging on the
avenue. TO Lees Chapel for identified
tion. 1t has been identified, and those
who knew her say, I'VE knew her well.
She had a brilliant mind and a pretty
form and face. She could have graced
happy home, but love for drink drove
her from respected society and property to
a horrible life and terrible DEATH
She came here some years ago, from
Frederick, Md, a pretty country girl Of
twenty years. She entered the Treasury
and remained a few years. Her wit and
beauty led her into the association of
educated men. The rapid pace of a few
brief months left her cursed with a love
for whisky. Soon she drank 70 such ex-
cess that she was dismissed from the de-
partment. Then she entered the Pension
Bureau, and while there she acquired a
house and lot on Capitol Hill She mar
ried, but her husband soon left her be-
cause she drank, and again she lost her
position. Her property was sold for debt,
and all she had left was some handsome
furniture This she stored and took a
room al the Hotel Belyedere, Third street
and the Avenue. Piece by piece her fur
niture was sacrificed. Gradually she drank
more and more excessively, and was soon
turned into the street. She fell too low
to even live among the scarlet women.
She was driven from house to house, until
even the vileSt Of these places was closed
against her.
Day and night she could he seen upon
the street, sometimes appearing well, but
generally iny-clad So vitiated was her
taste that whisky would not satisfy her
appetite At last she became victim of
the deadly wood alcohol. By day she slept
an the cheapest of lodging houses, in beds
that cost from 10 to 30 cents. Atnight she
resorted to the streets. Frequently she
could be seen the only woman in the 3-cent
lunch-roomS and 10-cent lodging-houses
around the lower part of the Avenue and
Chinatown. She begged for her food and
bedmght fter night. All she possessed was
upon her back. Her existence was below
the ina gination of those who did not see
IL. The pity OF it all Tas that her education
and intelligence would have placed her on
a higher plane in life could one weakness
ana curse but have been eliminated.
Wednesday night she took a 25-cent room
at No 326 Pennsylvania avenu. She had
been there many times before and Mrs.
widdcombe paid little attention to the
unfortunate creature. at 4 clock Thurs
day afternoon the weak, wretched, suffer
tng creature crawled, undressed, TO the
proprietTeSs room, and in the agony OF
death, rigid, pallid and cold, foaming at
the mouth and groaning with pain, she
threw herself upon sofa. I'm dying"
She said. XIII me, please, and relieve
my pain Dr. A A. Marstella was sent
for, but he would not treat her. She could
not eat and said she had not tasted food
for two days. An empty alcohol bottle in
her room told the reason OF her agony and
moaning.
Policemen were called in to remove
her to tie hospital, Tut they refused TO
have anything to do with her. The
landlady did not know that she could
call az ambulance. although she felt that
the poor creatures life could be saved at
a hospital. at O'Clock she died and then
they removed her quickly. Yesterday
morning Mrs. Hoadley, formerly proprie-
tresS of The Belvedere, identified the
remains as those of her old boarder. Rela-
tives in Frederick, Nd, were notified,
and this morning brief services will be
held over the remains in Lees Chapel.
At l1:40 O'Clock they will be shipped
back to the scenes OF her girlhood, the
home Of her people and the place she left
ten years ago a beautiful country girl, with
the horrbleli life that was ended in cheap
lodging Thursday night all before her.