A Young Mother Died After Being Taken From the People Caring for Her

WHATCOM, May 10.—Special.—Two weeks ago a young Swedish woman, Caroline Erickson, who came up from Edison on the steamer a few days before to marry a man whose name is not given, gave birth to a child at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley, who run the railroad row restaurant at Sehome Junction and whose kindness and generosity are well known to many wayfarers and others whom they have helped during hard times. The girl was kindly cared for by Mrs. Riley, and last Saturday was able to sit up, but a number of ladies who had learned of her circumstances and condition and had interested themselves in her welfare sought to have her removed to St. Joseph’s hospital, contrary to her own desire and in spite of the advice and protest of Mrs. Riley. Failing to get Mrs. Riley’s consent, they secured an order from the county commissioners for her removal and, accompanied by the city marshal, took her to the hospital, where she died yesterday.

When she came to Mrs. Riley’s she was very thin and weak, without money, and had only a few things to live upon the previous week. She had been preparing for marriage and had a considerable amount of linen and household articles with her. Her lover visited her while she was there and gave her money. She did not want to go to the hospital, and although the ladies who secured her removal doubtless did so with the best intentions, it is Mrs. Riley’s belief that it caused the girl’s death, as she was able to sit up and seemed to be gaining daily when she was taken away.