Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-26
UNITED IN DEATH,
Tragic Romance of n white Girl ana
Her Indian Lover.


Wichita has just witnessed romance
which in its tragic end and dramatic de-
tails is pathetic in the extreme The vic
tins Of this haplcss love were a young
Kansas girl named Ella Richards of well
to do parents. excellent education and
delicate refinement and q young, full
Hooded Indian brave, Jack Flinthouse,
Tho had felt the touch of civilizations
band and had become an intelligent and
ambitious citizen. Both died afflicted by
terrible malady, though their deaths
were due to fearful exaggerations Of love.
Ella Richards was brought up in her
fathers home ut Mulvane, Kan, sur
rounded by all modern refining influences.
She was heart whole until a year ago,
when she visited Wichita. Then she met
the man who could gain a power over
her, who awakened her susceptibilitlcs,
and she forthwith fell in love with him
and he with her.
This was the growth Of month that
Miss Richards spent at Wichita. But
the sweetness had to end eventually, and
she went back to Mhlvane In due time.
On both sides protestations Of undying
love were made, and the two were happy
in their consciousness, even though I'M
fortunate necessity separated them by
100 miles or more.
Both hoped and eagerly awaited the re-
union which they expected would follow
his appointment to government post for
which he was an applicant and which he
was assured by political influence of SC.
curing. But the reunion came earlier un-
der much different circumstances than
they anticipated.
They corresponded constantly with one
another. Daily letters came to Mulvnne
to Miss Richards. For nire months this
continued, and then suddenly they ccas.
ed. At a loss to understand the cause
she wrote three or four letters. but none
were answered. There were fortnight's
silence and bitter grief and disappoint-
ment. Then this was relieved, only tn be
heightened. by telegram.
"Jack Flinthouse is i'll with smallpox"
It read. "All communication with him is
forbidden"
The poor girl was frantic. She deter
mined to 60 to him. Her parents forbade
it, fearing the danger of infection. They
would not aid her. But love was too
strong to be denied. She ran away from
them and walked 100 miles between her
home and Wichita. When she arrived
she rushed to the house on the outskirts
in which her lover was isolated. She was
by his side despite the dissuasion of the
doctors and happy in the thought that
she could nurse him back to health.
And this she might have done had it
not been for an unfortunate misundcr-
standing. One day the two doctors stood
without the door of the sckroom in con-
sultation. They talked of his recovery,
but she misunderstood and thought they
had predicted his death. She was wild.
He should not die and leave her. She
would join him in disease and death.
Unhappily the means were at hand. A
scalpel lay close at hand. She seized it,
thrust it into a vein near the surface Of
his arm. AS the blood started ber lips
covered the wound. She drew the poi.
soned blood between her lips and then
swallowed 1t. bandagcd the arm and
awaited the hand of disease.
1t soon afflicted her. Weakened by the
worry and stress of nursing she fell a
ready victim. She grew rapidly worse.
Her life was despaired Of, and in four
days she died.
Meantime the stronger constitution of
the son of nature had asserted itself. He