The evening world., 1903-05-07
VISITED CRAVE
FOR Is YEARS:
Wan of 70, Almost Totally Blind,
Has Shown Through Long
Years Devotion to Wife Whose
Memory He Cherishes.
HIS ONE JOY LEFT IN LIFE.


cradle man OF seventy years. almost
totally blind. has visited carefully kept
grave in Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey
City. The faithful patriarch is William
Crow. Of No. 2s2 Wayne street, Jersey
City. and the grave he has visited un-
failingly through sunshine and rain,
storm and blizsard. is that OF his wife,
Ellen Riley Crow. whose memory he
treasures In his forsaken old age.
Along Montgomery avenue, where the
old man has walked for fifteen years,
the still erect figure with It's tattered
brown, overcont and old gray felt hat Is
a familiar sight. but the countenance OF
the penniless man with the sightless
eyes. surrounded by the flowing white
waving hair and the long white beard. is
Hllch that no stranger has dared ap-
ngoacb him, though many have desired
TO know what mission led him SO sys-
tematieally down Montgomery street.
They call him the Mystery ef Holy
Name Cemetery" and only the grave
diggers and Cemetery workers know that
he has sat beside the grave near the big
fir tree
His one Comfort.
at is the one comfort have left in
life" said the old man to an Evening
World reporter as he stopped to trim
rose bush at the head Of the grave. she
was as good as gold, and 1t is comfort
TO me 10 sit beside her grave. I don't
believe that spirits ever return to us,
but know that the body OF the woman
/ loved better than anything in the
world Hes here, and / would rather
spend my afternoons here than with a
chattering crowd whose meaningless
conversation does not interest me-"
The grave, though 1t has no headstone,
is covered with violets and mignonette.
while at both head and foot Is a rose
bush.
"I water the flowers and cut the grass
and keep the grave in good condition"
he said. "It is all I can do but I know
she ia1ust as pleased as II she had big
monument,
II suppose folks think It's strange
come here every day. Once q policeman
brought me along Montgomery street 30
regularly. Curious ones stare. but
never tell them my story. It is my own
AFFAIR. Years ago used to Iva "a New
York. i was born In Boston, fsnd my
j was six months old. l grew % In the
city, and my four children NAfe born
Where are they7'' was asked.
IT, ,cid man pent his head over the
"Well.'i he said. 'sans 10 in France
Known where she 1s They have mot
written me for nineteen years They
don't want TO be bothered. One has to
get used to being alone when one II poor.
4 dpa ~
Was Once Well on.
Yes; it's true that used to be well
off ! was in the trucking business In
gan to fail that my trouble began. l
would not be blind now, but bad treat
nnent and incorrect medicines have
ruined nv. sight. My wife used to read
get along with my stick.
81 know the road SO well to the ceme-
terry that ! can tell every step OF the
She started to walk across .She dining
room and fell dead. That war the great
est sorrow OF my life. Only Snce have l
m! missed coming here: That ,s,as in the
three miles from the cemetery, but
always walked. I won't ride on the
trolleys, the conductors don't treat me
Besides. can't afford it. This day
started out and got nearly to the ceme-
terry. but ] got In a snowdrift, and the
wind and sleet were so bad simply had
TO turn back It's been bad nlany times
since then, but never missed. Once I
nearly died in a storm and you'd have
frozen to death II grave digger had
not heard my cries and pulled me out OF
a snowdrift.
"In the summer time I get here every
day at 1.30 or 2 o'clock and / stay till
9. In the winter L. come a. the same
time, but: Of course. / can't stay so
The old man is almost deatitute In
the cold winter months his clothing Is
not sufficient to protect him from the
severe weather.
He Seldom Complains.
81 dry my shoes or thaw them out, as
the case may be. and put them on again.
] don't complain though I am cold.
thinks: Well, I'll be down there beside
her some day and only hope that the day
HILL Land he pointed to the poor-house.
~ came near being taken there last
year, but managed to get enough Jobs
TO prevent IT. Why, II ! had my sight !
could work like any man. / do feel old.
but my right arm Is strong. / get odd
Jobs watering plants and tending graves
for private parties around the ceme-
getting too bad D for even these ' ,obs OBS ~ -
Nov that / can't read there is moth
ing In life for me. / used to wonder how
ignorant people who couldn't read lived,
terrible"
William Crow is well educated and can
talk on any subject. When he can get
any ope 70 read to him he improves the
opportunity.
III haven't been over in New York for
twelve years" he said. with a sigh, land
] wish ] could see Park Row again.
used to live on Perry street twenty-five
years ago and ] never thought | would
end my days without friends.
"You don't, know what comfort It Is
20 come here to this grave. know am
In the way Of people out in the world.
"Ohl I'm not afraid to die In fact
think that would be the best thing FOR
me. I know the hereafter can't be any
worse than this life. When die am
Z going TO leave my brain 70 some medical
college. think have a good mind and
may he OF use to some one when I'm
Crow is a Roman Catholic. though he
hats Ideas OF his own on religion.
"A mans mind Is his Kingdom" he
X said. "and II / couldn't have my
tEoughts 10. myself / certainly would
Z not manage ds well as do"
The figure OF the slghtless old man
! with his venerable head, ragged clothes.
= mis- shoes 30 worn that the feet are not
covered. makes a pathetic picture, and
the devotion OF the blind septuagenn rian
4 and the bravery in his poverty show re-
nIsIo hnr0tam a ulra for