The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-03
FROM TENNESSEE TO TEXAS
A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Rescued From Death in i Desperate
Way.

Jonn Alexander Depew was a queer
man, known throughout the south from
Savannah, on the east, to Santa Fe, and
the borders of old Mexico on the west
For thirty years he had gone to bed
poor, expecting to be rich the next day.
he had spent his early days in unsuc-
cessful'mining ventures, finally becom-
Ing discouraged, and engaging in the
cattle raising business in Texas, early
IN the sixties. But his turn came.
Slowly, but surely, in the face of nu-
merous vicissitudes, he accumulated a
fortune of over million dollars.
He now had money to burn Not
withstauding he was on the shady side
OF sixty, with his hair and beard long
and unkempt, he was considered great
catch by the mothers of marriageable
daughters.
By the aid of barber, few Turkish
baths and tailor, Mr.. Depew was
changed from the rough cattlemau to
very respectable, fine-looking, elderly
gentleman. In this improved condition
he returned to his old home in the east,
where, thirty years before, he had left
a sweetheart to whom he had vowed
that he would return some time, and
make her his wife. The girl had
waited for years in vain for her
recreant lovers return, finally giving
him up for dead, and marrying a pros
porous merchant. Her husband died
during the war, she following a few
years later: leaving beautiful daugh-
ter.
On the old ranchman's return to the
scene OF his youth, he found his sweet
heart, since wife and mother, dead,
but in her stead, he found an exact
image in the daughter. His love for
the child knew no bounds. He could
scarcely realize that she was not his
old sweetheart of thirty years ago. By
his devotion and attention (possibly
aided by his gold) he soon distanced all
rivals, and Imogene Middleton was
soon Imogene Depew.
Never was there happier man than
this old ranchman with his girl bride,
Notwithstanding the fact that dark
cloud hung over him in the form of a
warning from his physicians that she
was going into decline and could not
live long. He refused to believe it, and
added to her happiness by laying in
her lap the wealth of thousands.
She grew fearfully and rapidly worse,
and many of the leading physicians of
the country were consulted, but no two
agreed as to her trouble.
"A heart trouble" said one, with a
grave look: "a complication of difficult
ties involving the liver and spleen,''
said a second; while the third pro-
nounced it an favourable lung affec-
tion''
In September of 1898, Mr.. Depew and
his dying wife visited Louisville, KY,
to consult, as last resort, the noted
specialist of that city. This specialist
was out of the city for about three
weeks, at that time, and the disap-
pointed couple returned to their south
ern home without seeing him.
The middle of the month, new symp-
toms developed, and after a consulta-
ton of physicians, Mr.. Depew was in
formed, again: that his wife was dying:
that she might live day or two, but
that she could not last long.
Then it was that Mr.. Depew sent to
DR.. Rea, of Louisville, who was then
at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis,
Tenn, the following telegram:
My wife is dying. Doctors have
given her up. Come quick. Spare no
expense. Answer at once"
10 which DR.. Rea answered: Twill
come without delay
In thirty minutes DR.. Rea was on a
special car, en- route to Galveston, Mr..
Depew's home, and after fast and ex-
citing ride, he arrived at 1905 the next
day.
He was met at the depot by the
anxious husband, who said: II am glad
w 900 y W. Ouu GILL dlIdlu IL Is LOO ldG0.
my wife is dying, she is unconscious. :"
''Let US hasten to the house, said
the doctor. He found his patient
propped up in bed, in half-conscious
state, gasping for breath and cold up
to the knees, with two nurses tanning
her.
In less than one minute, DR.. Rea said:
II discover great accumulation of
pus which is drowning out the lungs
and heart"
He realized that the woman was
nearly gone. In less time than it takes
to write it, his instruments were
brought into play. He made a deep
incision; the heavy pus matter poured
forth until nearly two pints were dis
charged. In twenty minutes the pa