New-York tribune., 1906-11-05
snowy-hsired weman, positively, eytng the great
painting machine with keen disfsvor.

snowy-hsired wousn, positively, eytng the Ereat
painting machine with keen disfsvor.
"oh. try f. grandma" coaxed her son-in-iaw
TIL guarantee 70 land you In safety"
Reluctantly Mrs. Cottle allowed herself 20 be
helped into the tonneau When. after being
whirled across town, she dismounted at the
Evans apartment at No. 244 West 5eth street.
she had succumbed TO the charms and glortes
why, it was Ike being rocked gently In a
cradle" said She with pretty little gesture. ss
of baby being hushed to sleep in a crib.
Mrs Cottle, who is ninety-eight years old, is
impressive example OF splendid vitality and
vigorous mentality preserved long after the
average woman has succumbed either 10 death
10 the infrnities Of age. When seen by
Tribune reporter she was IN the hands of
dressrnaker, engaged IN the interesting occupa-
tion OF standing up &c have princess dress
tried on" She is as erect as a girl In her
twenties and looks the junior OF many woman
with hearing and sight practically untmpeired.
she offers an inspiring proof Of what the simple
life will accomplish.
Il attribute my health and strength" she
said ito good, straightforward. honest living.
nothing else. 1 have never had any health
fa6s. I have eaten what the others ate, bathed
and slept and worked and had fun about like
other people. I have been a domestic woman
all my life, although in my early days was
very active In the phianthropies OF the Baptist
Church I have had two children. of whom
Mrs. Cottle was born in NIartha's Vineyard.
In 1852 she iourneyed by way OF the isthmus to
-,
tractor, was 1usy putting up some Of the earliest
permanent buildings in the great, oVergrown
mining camp, among the first the Cliff House.
OF the events OF last April IS. the venerable
woman, whose remarkable constitution enabled
her 10 go through all the rigors Of earthquake
and fire uninJured gives q moving account.
Il was awakened little after o'clock in the
morning" she said by being lifted bodily with
my bed from the floor, and then as violently
dropped back The house was rocking and
swaying not only back and forth and from side
70 side, but diagonally. rattling and creaking
and groaning frightfully, while pictures tumbled
furniture few about.
Grandma, keep IN bed. keep in bed" cried
my grandson and [ did till the first CONFUSION
was over. BY o'clock In the evening the fire
safe, and. gathering together our small value-
bles, we left for Fort Mason, where General
Funston had his headquarters, and there was an
army hospital Our old home went up in smoke
thst night.
owing TO my age, and the fact that I was
bent nearly double from a recent injury TO my
back, was admitted 70 the hospital I never
want 20 see one again. From one I was moved
90 another, and everywhere went We're people
groaning, children crying for bread hremen and
soldiers their heads cut open by dynamite or
falling debris In the berth beneath me
woman lay dying Of consumption. Between the
morning Of the earthquake and my arrival IN
New York stopped in ten different places"
In spite OF these hardships, and the fact that
she, her daughter. Mrs. Evans, and her grandson
lost ell their personal effects Mrs Cottle reached
her friends In the East unharmed except for
the inevitable nervous shock. She is now busy
with q new wardrobe 20 replace that which went
the moment when, wrapped in a beautiful fur
automobile coat which her son-in-law has
bought for her and wearing a pair Of goggles she
will start on her big ride. The party will stop
tn her honor by friends. and then go on to
Boston-