Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-04-21

J"O thou foul thief, where hast thou STOW u my
daughter!
Judge me the world, il It's gross in sense,
That thou hast practiced on her with foul
Charms, abus'd her delicate youth with drugs
Or minerals.
therefore do apprehend thee;-
Lay hold upon him; if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril"
A handbill was this morning circula.
ted thro'out the city offering a reward
of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
for the apprehension Of Capt. Bristol,
Commander Oft the James Madison, one Of
the most magnificent steamboats, on the
western waters. We read the haadbill
with the most pure and perfect astonish-
ment, for it described the gallant Cap
tain as a villain OF the blackest kind, in
short modern Oihello, who had been
guilty ofrobbing grey-headed parent
Of beloved daughter, the ornament and
consolation Of his declining years. We
perused the statement Of the fact with
cold shudders, the simple and touching
eloquence of the handbill moved our
hearts, but when we glanced at the ma
gical words FIVE HUNDRED DOL
LARS reward, we felt an intense glow
ofholy horror and disinterested indigna-
ton, which utterly conquered all our
habits of self command. Well was it
for Captain Bristol that in that moment
of our vir:uous sympathy he was not
within our grasp.
The true circumstances Of this most
singular case, are, we believe, as fol-
lows:
Captain Bristol, and young lady of
Erie, Pa, had formed an attachment,
succeeded by matrimonial engage
ment, which was at that time, approved
by the father Of the young lady. This
old gentleman,who by his eccentric con-
duct, has secured to himself a niche in
the story of some future novelist, is a
MIR. Hanoi, the wealthiest and one OF
the most respectable citizens Of Erie.
He approved the eilgagement,of his
daughter, and nothing seemed wanting
to brighten the prospect of her happi-
ness. Young, lovely, and rich, she was
devotedly attached to her lover, and
confident in his truth. He, too, il we
are rightly informed, was worthy Of her
love, and under The encouragement OF
her father, their union was considered a
matter of certainty.
But, alas the dreams they had formed
were soon destined to vanish, and like
bright bubbles to melt and fade away in
air. Some honest Iago,' envious Of our
hero's good fortune, wrote TO Mr.. Ham
OF, an anonymous note, in which he ira
fduced the character Of Capt. Bristol,
and among other slanders, asserted that
he was a married man, and that his wife
was still living in one Of the eastern
states. The old gentleman, ever alive
to the welfare of his daughter, swallow
ed the story with TOO easy credulity /;
and, at once ordered his daughter to dis
card her lover. This, however, was not
so easily effected: and, in the mean time,
Captain Bristol wrote to his rative
State, and procured from the most rc-
spectacle individuals, letters establishing
hisreputation, and exculpating him from
the malicious ISLANDERS of his assassin
likc-enemy. But all was Of no avail.
The old man was not to be appcased.
In this state, ii,sitiiefs remained for
some time, the parties still retaining
their undated affection, and the old man
persisting in his anger and obstinacy.
What the result would be, it was very
difficult to conjecture; as the daughter
would probably be disinherited ifshe dis
lobeyed her fathers commands; andas|
such sacrifices Of interest are often rel
corded in works Of romance, yet they
donot occur sufficiently often il reality,
to form the Foundation Of any very con-
fident belief: y \: n
Such was The aspect Of affairs, when,
a few evenings since, d cotillion was
given at Erie, at which all the beauty
and fashion Of the place were present.
Among others, our unfortunate lovers
were there and even their sadness
seemed dispeIled BY the brightneSs a1d
gaiety Of the scene.
Late that night 4 spectator would
have observed something rather suspi.
Icious IN tie f1o4aInenls Of the James
Madison, which was then lying IN tbo||
port of Ere. The people On board 2!