Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-17
DEATH FINDS WIFI
WHILE HUSBAND
SEEKS IN VAIN


CARTERsvILLE. Febs 1s.--Mrs. Fife
Covington is dead.
This Is. a very commonplace statement,
and yet it is the end OF a very pathetic
and at the same time a very unusual
story. 1t is a story of an unfortunate
woman who was made human football
and who was kicked all over the south
by city and town officials who wanted to
get rid of her.
Several months ago a man OF middle
age walked into my study and told me a
remarkable story. He was from Tennes4
see. His wife was afflicted with epilepsy.
Their only child was a baby. The moth
err seized with an epileptic fit dropped
the child in the fire, where 1t was burned
to death and she herself was terribly
burned in both legs and feet
There was little in the way Of medical
attention that could be secured, so the
husband, J. b. Covington, decided to bring
his wife to Atlanta. They started, but
soon found out that their money would
not hold out. Near the Georgia line, Mr..
Covington shipped their earthly posses
sions in a valise to Marietta He then put
Is wife on the train with ticket to Dali
ton. He told her to walt in the depot
until he arrived and then set out after the
train.
II was night when ne reached Dalton
and he did not find his wife. He secured
lodgings and the next morning learned
that an officer had sent his wife down to
Calhoun.
Mr.. Covington began counting cross
ties down the road toward Calhoun. On
the way he had to leave the track for the
morning train that went laundering on It's
way to the north. When he reached CAL
houn he learned that the people. moved
with pity for his unfortunate wife, had
bought her a ticket and sent her back
to Dalton on the train that had passed
him a short while before. A telegram
was sent to Dalton asking that the Wo-
man be held until Mr.. Covington could
come after her. The reply came back
that Mrs. Covington had already been
sent over to Rome. A small purse was
made up for Mr.. Covington, and he left
for Rome on the next train. On arriving
there he found that his wife had been
sent off to Alabama or to Atlanta. De
spairing Of ever finding her he decided to
get his valise and to go on to Atlanta.
Through a publication In The Journal
learned that Mrs. Covington had been
sent to Atlanta. I made up a purse for
the husband and sent him on his way.
The next morning he passed through Car
tersville on his way to Rome. The At
lanta officials had bundled up the woman
and sent her flying back to the place from
which she came.
That was the last / heard or the flying
woman ana the unfortunate husband, who
was hot on her trail, until a few days
ago / received a copy of the Columbus
Commercial, published in Columbus. Mis-
sissippi, in winch appeared the end OF
this remarkable chase. Here is the story:
Mrs. Efhe Covington died in her room
al the Bankhead house on Main street,
Tuesday at noon-a total stranger to the
people, among whom she had spent her
last hours. and by whom she was tenderly
nursed.
The woman, who was young, about %
years of age, arrived in Columbus last
Sunday morning over the Southern rail-
way and went direct to the hotel, where
she engaged a room. stating that she was
from Tuscaloosa, Ala, and that her hus-
band would follow her Monday. Mrs.
Bankhead, the landlady, says that the
young woman was i'll when she arrived;
that she walked on crutches, as both her
legs had been seriously burned, and that
she visited a drug store in the city be-.
fore returning to her room, claiming that
she wanted medicine for her injured
limbs.
On Monday morning the stranger did
not appear, and she was found to be Sc
riously i'll, apparently from the effects of
a drug.
Drs. Duncan and Davis were called and
upon investigation found the woman suf-
fering from an overdose of morphine.
Mayor Lincoln was also notified, and steps
were taken to find her people
But all efforts In this respect were un-