Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-06
NIECE OF FAMOUS
WARRIOR DESTITUTE
BELLE OF FORMER DAYS ILL AT
COUNTY HOSPITAL
Relative of Col. Tom Mosby Suffering
from Injuries Received In Acct
dent--Lost Her Fortune
Through Treaehery

Among the patients at the county hos
pitai Is Mrs. Annie Ertei. niece of the
late Colonel Tom Mosby, the famous
southern guerilla fighter Of civil war
days.
Misfortune has brought the brave lit
tie woman into need, but she is cheerful
and animated despite her Affections.
One would not suppose, while looking
at the iron gray curls which frame her
laughing face, that more than seventy
five winters have passed over her.
Mrs Ertel was a belle OF the city or
New Orleans even before the war, and her
fathers big home was the scene OF many
great social functions in which that
aristocratic city was glad to participate,
and where the best families of the city
gathered Among her friends were such
famous people as Jefferson Davis, Robert
L. Lee, Fitzhugh Lee and General Long
street.
She. of course, is a great admirer OF
eBobbie" Lee and also OF the president
of the southern republic confederacy,
Jefferson Davis. whom she declares had
a most charming personality.
strangely enough, she also is a great
admirer of Genera. Butler, who became
acquainted with her during his stay in
the city of New Orleans. In fact she
won his esteem and admiration by GER
this courageous little woman.
Fond of Music
She was intensely fond of music and,
Ii goes without saying, of southern war
songs especially. She would hear Cen
eral Butler coming into the parlor of her
home and would commence to sing The
Bonnie Blue Flag" much to his apparent
distress but really to his pride In her
constancy to the southland
He would often tell me to stop play
ing that air." she said yesterday ''or
else he would have me arrested. OF
course. he never did, but 1 would tease
him by playing that air whenever he
came around. He wanted me to marry
a young FELLOW in the Union army-but
that would never do" she added with
ringing laugh which defied the years.
Wealth and position and friends all
have left her, for she is left alone almost
in the California city which is refuge
to so many in trouble.
Her father was killed in the famous
'battle above the Clouds" while her hus-
band also died while fighting for the
gray under Lee.
A fortune of $780, 900 was left her Unac-
customed to business affairs, this little
woman trusted two other people and en-
tered a hotel business with them. I'm
fortunately they stole all but $1,000 from
her. and with this money the heroic
widow came to California, where the
small sum dwind.ed away.
Injured n Accident
She had to exc out a scanty livelihood
by whatever work she could find, and 1t
seemed as though the last hope had oiled
when she was compelled to give up her
work owing TO an accident received when
run into by bicycle.
She was well nigh destitute for some
time. but was finally taken to the county
hospital, where the nurses and doctors
do all in their power to make 1t pleasant
for this example of American woman
hood.
..Oh, it doesn't do to worry" she ex-
claimed laughing; that's what makes
me feel so happy. by looking on the
bright side of things constantly. See
what beautiful things my friends have
sent me-this cup and saucer are but two
of the remembrances given me here"
And the curls not half so gray as the
uniforms her beloved father and her hus-
band wore in the Iron days" gone by,
reflected the CHEEKY smile which lit up
the face of this woman who is perhaps
the bravest of the brave" at the county
hospital, where SO many are bravely
battling against misfortune, disaster and
old age.
For by far the cheeriest people in ali
los Angeles are to be found in the coun-
ty hospital, the last place where some
would look for observation-disclosures.
All Are Cheerful
But the longer a patient has been
there the happier he or she is, and 1t is
often true the most heroic are the woman
sufferers There is Mrs. Honora Watts,
for instance, who has been a patient for
almost thirteen years. She is full of
spirit, AMI when seen yesterday spoke of
the beautiful weather with a devout
Yes. 1t is beautiful weather, thank
God" which sounded like the hearty ex-
camation of a man accustomed TO four
meals a day and with all his system
toned up to training quarters pitch.
''And a happy New Year to you" ex-
claimed Mrs Watts, as joyously as a
child when the seasons greetings were
exchanged.
In another ,yard is "Old Daddy
Friendship" as he is Familiarity called
He said yesterday he was 100 years old
Saturday.
'.Great pain, great PAIN was this
veterans courageous reply when asked
how he felt. Il don't expect to live much
longer I'm a century old now, and
there's not many live to be that old My
father lived to be 100 and my grandfather
ITO years old. while my mother was 81
years old Wneu Sne uleu. eS, 1 III lVN
years old and was never drunk but once
that was when l smoked a pipe of a
friend of mine when l was but a lad OF
49," added the old man, with a smile
USED to swim from my home at Wool
wich across the Thames to Black Wall
many and many a time
Several additions have been made Il
the hospital buildings recently, while 9th
ers are still in the course of construc
ton. A nurses home, a brick addition
to the buildings, containing twenty rooms
a dining room and a kitchen, is being
built. This will prove of inestimablt
value. as heretofore the nurses have beer
placed everywhere throughout the
buildings. Another much-needed add
ton is the new dining hall for consump
tive patients. When completed this viii
stand in front of the ole laundry, anC
Will be connected with the corridor
The hospital is crowded with patients
all of whom echo the sentiments of on,
Of the occupants of woman's ward, whC
said;
II used to dread the idea of ever com
ing to the county hospital. I have lonl
since learned, during my stay here, tina
it is one Of the incest places to be found
anywhere. One is well cared for and hal
every need promptly attended TO b.
nurses ana physicians"
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REV. MILLS RESIGNS TO
ENTER A LARGER FIEL[