The evening times., 1899-04-26
DYING FROM Many
COCAINE INFECTIONS
Mrs. Van Auken, Once Wealthy,
in Bellevue Hospital.
Sought Forgetfulness From a Mul-
titude Of Troubles.
From . High Station. and Twice
dent on the City's Bounty.

New York, April 26.-Twice widowed,
fallen from afluence to be a dependent
upon the bounty Of the city. and victim
| OF the cocaine habit, Mrs. Barrett H. Van
Auken, jr., yesterday lay in Bellevue Hos
pital, kept from becoming hysterical by
occasional hypodermic injections Of the
drug which has wrecked her life. The
daughter law Of the wife Of a supreme
court Judge. the daughter Of a wealthy
| real estate dealer in Buffalo. and the wife
Of a man Of distinguished family. she had
only one caller, a richly dressed and at
tractive young woman, who cleared UP a
part Of the mystery concerning the patient
Mrs. Van Auken was taken from a drug
store at Columbus Avenue and Eighty first
Street on Monday night. suffering from
cocaine poisoning. She was recognized by
policeman. who took her first to the
West Sixty eighth Street police station
and afterward sent her to Bellevue. as the
woman who early ON the morning Of that
day had asked to be directed to the office
Of DIR. Arthur Hills. OF No. 129 West
Eighty-first Street.
A cab drove to Bellevue early in the aft
ernoon, and young woman alighting
made enquiry in the Office as to Mrs. Van
Auken The visitor was taken to the al
coholic ward. where the two women i'm
mediately recognized each other.
The visitor after she left Mrs. Van Au-
ken declined to disclose her identity, but
said that she had known the patient sew
eral years ago, before she became addicted
to the use of the drug.
MRS. Van Auken," she continued. has
had much trouble. both Of family and
OF a financial nature. 1t is to her distress
that attribute her turning to cocaine for
forgetfulness. Her father. Thomas Barn.
ard, is a wealthy real estate man living
in a suburb of Buffalo. His daughter vas
estranged from him after her marriage.
and 1t was not until long after the death
Of her husband that they became recon-
ciled.''
When seen in the ward Mrs. Van Auken
said: Il came from Buffalo some time
ago-just when 1 do not know. l was in
ST. Elizabeths Hospital two weeks ago,
ard in other hospitals also. but they would
not keep me. had no money to pay. and
my friends will do nothing for me.
II think / am going to die this time. /
am glad. too for 1 am tired Of living"
The sufferer could not continue cohsr-
emily. -...
She had pawn tickets in her possession
when she reached the hospital. one OF
which showed that In February OF this
year she had pledged ring for S125. That
was the latest date on any OF the tickets.
several Of which showed that she had
pawned articles In 1897.
Mrs. Van Aukens father was at one
time connected with the Western Union
Telegraph Company. When nineteen years
old she was married to r. d. Milsom,
well-to-do merchant Of Buffalo. but he
died within a year. The young widow
then came to New York and was employed
in the Office of the corporation with which
her father was connected.
She met Mr.. Van Auken. the wealthy
son of Mrs. Caroline Andrews. grandson
of Commodore C. X. Garrison. and a noted
amateur yachtsman. Mrs Andrews had
obtained a divorce from the young mans
father and had married the judge in Bel
grave Chapel. London. in 1889.
After year of mourning the young
widow married the judges stepson. The
ceremony was quietly performed in Meri-
den. Conn, in December. 1892. The young
man and his bride went to Central
America. where Van Auken had railroad
interests, and when they returned the fact
of their marriage was announced. Then
came family discussions.
Mr.. Van Aukon died in April. 1895. from
congestion Of the brain. after short ILL
ness. 1t was found that his estate was not
nearly SO large as had been thought. and
what he did leave has been tied up in liti-
cation.
Judge Andrews said yesterday that the
description of the patient coincided with
that Of his stepson's widow. but he had
heard nothing of her since the young
mans death.
Mrs. Van Auken's father is said to be
living now in New York. but his name is
not in the directory, and his daughter
could not give his address.