The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-06 00:00:00

A FAMILY MYSTERY.

The Dublin Freeman's Journal publishes the follow
ing singular narrative "A strange, and, in some re-
spects, remarkable story comes from Queenstown.
Queenstown is the Irish port of the great transatlantic
steamers of the Anchor Line, of which now the City
of Rome is the largest. Amongst the passengers on
board the big ship on her last outward voyage to Nov,
York at the beginning of this month were two young
people --a girl and a boy, the former aged about 19,
the latter 16, but both looked much younger. They
were fairly well clad, after the style of a farmer's
children, and by their inannerand speech were evidently
rustics. There was no person on the vessel who was in
charge of them, and their somewhat forlornand isolated
condition attracted the attention of some of the pas-
sengers, and especially the notice of the captain. The
'children,' for as such they were known after the vessel
was a few days out, were questioned as to family
history, and how it came to pass that they were alone
and unprotected on their western voyage. These
inquiries were chiefly answered by the girl, who
seemed to be more intelligent than her brother. The
young and friendless strangers were orphans, and
their names Jordan--Kate' and James. They had no
recollection of father or mother. They had an uncle
—a solicitor—living in a western town, who held an
official position. In the same western town lived a
lady, with whom the orphans had for some time
resided. She represented herself as their aunt. For
some time they had been at school in the country, but
they could not tell the exact place. They came back to
the western town, and there they remained under the
care of their uncle until shortly before they found
themselves on board the City of Rome. One day they
were told they should go to America. New York was
named as the port to which they should make their
way as best they could in the New World. £lOO would
be given them to start with, and at New York they
would be met by a relative, a brother, who had gone
out some years ago, and who would put them in the
right way. They had no alternative, and though they
did not like the prospect, they made no opposition.
their outfit—a very limited one—was prepared, and
a man whom they understood to be a clerk or servant
of their uncle took them from the western town to
Queenstown, paid their passage money per the City of
Rome, handed the girl and boy each £5O on the deck
of the vessel, took his leave of them, and so they were
with a future unknown and uncertain before them.
The story of the children aroused a certain sympathy
amongst the passengers. The captain took them under
his charge, and saw to their comfort and protection
during the voyage. Moreover, as the result of more
than one earnest conference on the case, it was resolved
to report the facts as the children gave them to
the Government authorities of New York. When the
City of Rome reached New York this was done. The
children were again interrogated. Their answers
were unchanged. Moreover, they declared their
strong aversion to the American adventure, espacially
as no brother or other relative was there to meet
them; and said they had no idea of what they should
do. The Immigration Commissioners at New York
took up the matter, and acting within their power and
discretion, decided that the Jordan children were
unable to take charge of themselves, and therefore
should not be allowed to settle in America. Pending
this the captain has most kindly placed the children
in suitable lodgings and secured the safety of the 100
sovereigns. Consequent upon the action ot the
Immigration Commissioners the children were
again put on board the City of Rome on her
homeward voyage to Ireland. The peculiar
situation and the singular family history which they
unfolded had now increased fourfold the interest of
all who were acquainted with the facts during the
passage. Little else was talked of but the "Jordan
children." The Rev. Canon Bagot, who was return-
ing after his unprofitable mission to realise for the
Irish Protestant Church the alleged "Moore bequest."
of £60,000, manifested a warm and generous sympathy
with the poor ocean strangers. The canon made very
minute inquiries. They answered as before without
any variation. Questioned as to a motive for send-
ing them to America, the girl made a statement to
the effect that the lady or woman in the western
town who passed as her "aunt;' had told her that
she and her brother were entitled to some family
property, which if they were away this would
go into other hands but she could mention
nothing in support of this allegation. The opinion of
the passengers was that the case certainly involved a
mystery of some sort, but what it was, or who were
interested, it was impossible to tell. The City of
Rome reached Queenstown more than a week ago,
when Canon Bagot and the captain had the Jordan
children placed as boarders in Moores Hotel. Their
100 sovereigns, still intact, were handed over to Mr.
Henderson, the agent of the Anchor Line, to be kept
for their use. The police authorities were informed
of the case and other steps taken to safeguard the
childi en pending the unravelling of their history. It
is understood that they have two aunts in Dublin,
one the widow th -I other the wife of a solicitor"

THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.
In reference to the sensational story published in
Dublin concerning ti e strange adventures of a boy
and girl said to have beon placed on board a steamer
for America, with 50 sovereigns each, and then
practically deserted, being subsequently sent back to
Ireland by the New York authorities, Mr. Malachy
kelly, solicitor, of Castlebar, the uncle of the Jordan
children, says Kate and James Jordan are two of
four children whom he has largely supported, and
since the death of their parents he has paid an
annual sum for their education. The eldest of the
four children, a young man, has left for the
United States, and he supplied him with a large sum
of money to make a start there. Mr. Kelly has sent
the youngest child to a leading convent school near
Belgium, and the remaining two, Kate and James,
expressing their willingness to join their brother in
America, he gave them a first-class outfit, a first-class
cabin to New York, and £5O each. When the two
returned from New York he promised to provide for
them. The girl is 21 and the boy 17 or 18. Mr.
Kelly says he has never received any property belong-
ing to their family, the parents and children of which
have cost him over £lOOO. The lady referred to as
an agent was the children's father's cousin, and treated
them with every possible kindness. The boy and girl
I were not entitled to any family property at all.