New-York tribune., 1902-06-22
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.

surpr Sc TO many when recently her name was
brought before the public by means Of a letter
which she Magistrate Devoy. in the Myr-
1le-ave. court md il learned that she was
s.in in the land Of the living. Miss Fancher's
letter concerned the husband Of the woman who
has been her faithful nurse for the last fifteen
Shst The man c"eseS to bdther his wife who has
been separated from him for some Years rms ns is
into public notice for many years. although ten
years ago ii was household word.
Miss Fancher's case has been the theme Of much
study and speculation on the part Of both physi-
clans and psychologists all over the country She
born in jS4s and when still in her teens re-
ceived the injuries which made her hopeless in
valid. First she thrown from horse. and
had scarcely recovered from the injuries thus re-
ceived when she slipped in alighting from street
car, and. her dress being caught. she dragged
for almost e block. Frightfully injured. Miss
Fancher expected To die. She was paralyzed
and for many months her body drawn mp il
the form of bow, Gradually the body became
straightened out. but for twenty-five years the
brave woman Law OF her right side. Her nervous
Inent consisted almost solely OF fruit JulceS- S
Fancher has never grown any netteT out mas @ Ilel4
gone. faithful nurse looks after her every want
night ana CAY ne 5aT'ei,ous i - If bss heer
the wonder of medical men
1t was soon after Miss Fancher's second accident
that her gift OF second sight developed It was
shown in many ways. again and again she was
able to describe persons and scenes not under her
personal observation. Miss Fancher was not
pleased at the possession Of her peculiar Slft and
attempted get rio of IL. but ii constantly OBJ
truded on her and those around her. The womans
gradually became known in Brooklyn ana
spread even further. a representative OF T. l.
Barnum offered Miss Fancher independent
fortune if she would put herself in the great show
mans care but she refused to listen TO any OF the
aiuring propositions. Miss Fanchers home is at
Gates-ave. and Downng-st-, over a little store,
fCb for many he
her SICK bed living there she was able see
everything that was going below, and each
night was able to tell just what had been sold and
make up her accounts without haNns IeeelveG i 12
worse. and it was expected that she would die but
she finally better Since then little has been
heard Of her.
Miss Fancher at the tine Of her injury was
pupil Of the Brooklyn Heights Seminary, in Mon
tague-st of which Professor Charles r. West was
the founder. Professor West took the keenest in
terest in the woman ana made careful study OF
her wonderful mental powers. Speaking Of them
in 1892 he said:
.'I have told Miss Fancher that she should
either write book dictate one. in which she
shall describe all her symptoms and feelings as
she knows them best. If she does not hope to
present to the world my knowledge # this most
marvellous case. 7 have two volumes prepared
and expect to add A third. hope 70 present them
after her death, provided ! survive her. for that
But Professor West did not survive Miss Fanoher.
Ssngy n2ggn fyns It co1 not be learned in
Brooklyn what had become of his history on the
library was sold and the remainder went to rela-
tves. So far as known MISS Fdncner mas ffer beT
life Former Judge Abram H DALEY, Of DALEY
case to the PsychicaI Science. Congress held In
son m iS TesteFay however that he had
followed the case for some time
Odd incidents hay happen even in so quiet
and eminently respectable part Of Brooklyn as
Nontague-st. as witness the following on last
Monday evening Soon after o'clock. when a
heavy shower falling young man. fashiona-
bly, dressed. came down the stairs of the Brooklyn
library. and he stood on the stoop gazed with
sdismay at the rain. ne was not provided with
an umbrella. Then he looked down at his new
-,sset shoes and the lines of pain MS face deep
ened. There were several women standing near
him waiting for the shower to cease but. despite
their presence, the young man deliberately pulled Leo
shoes in his stockings. and carefully slowed them
ls snouhd ar nrn his new hat. Which might have been
Panama. and turning up the collar OF ms coat
around mis- ears, he started off on trot down
siontague-st.
The curious interest excited by the barefooted pc
saestrian apparently cid not feaze him until a
crowd began follow and express various shades
OF opinion the proprietY Of protecting a pair
Of russet shoes from the rain in unconventional
a way no matter how beautiful they might be.
nor how highly PRICED by their owner. The crowd
rapidly grew larger ana thelr T )2eose % regaI @ S
arted into convenient area quickly put put on shoes T
5aerest SI he car which happened to be passing
in time for him to escape his prosecutors
Rear Admiral Barker commandant Of the Brook
.vn Navy yard is a kindhearted but bluff and stern
old sea dog who believes that il does not hurt
sailor any 10 have few privetions. When the
training ship Dixie was recently ordered TO go TO
Martinique with relief supplies for those who had
been rendered homeless by the eruption OF Mont
Pelee there was grumblins among the sailors
Most Of them were landsmen who had just re
turned from a years cruise. ano had been count
snc much on going shore again to see their
friends. When Rear Admiral Barker was asked
about il ne said: Il don't believe there is much
srumbling among those lan5smen Captain Berry OF
The Dixie out sailors and men, and they have
teen with him for a year now however, there is
When ] a ship as young man we used TO
eat salt horse and considered ourselves lucky if
more than double that OF the service to-day. Look
Yf magnificent quarters OF the
shfp-and then. the boys live like they do at the
Waldorf-AStOrla
On the occasion Of his ninetieth birthday. cele-
brated recently. George Ormond Smith, of No. 80
Halsey-st danced with his daughter. his
granddaughter and his great-g grandchildren Then
he showed that his memory and voice less
well preserved than his agility by singing a ballad
which was popular 1870. Mr. Smith is in excel
lent health. and looks least twenty years
printing business, and rarely misses DAY the
ofice. Up to three years ago he made il a practice
he needed the exercise Mr.. Smith was one of
family OF twelve children. and named after
Lord Ormond. Of England. who was friend of
his father, Captain Moses Rogers Smith, L. S. y.
CAUGHT AFTER LONG CHASE