The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-02-06
Truth Stranger than Fiction.

Over twenty years since, n well known and
prominent citizen of Central New York (Chaun-
cey Coe, of Canandaigua) died leaving a widow,
and a son and daughter, with a moderate compe-
tence. The widow retired to one Of the small,
beautiful villages of that region, and devoted
herself to the education of her children.
In due time the daughter grew up and married
n very worthy gentleman OF that place. The son.
having a passion for the sea, INDUCED himself
with a whaling voyage in his youth, and returned
with vigorous health and a hardy constitution.
Upon becoming of age he invested his patri-
mony in n manufacturing business, and continued
50 employed for several years. But in 1919,
when the California fever broke out with such
virulence, he was induced to leave his business
with his partner and relative, and join a party of
friends in seeking his fortune in that region.
Soon after arriving in San Francisco, he re-
ceived information that his factory had been de-
stroyed by fire, and that he was left penniless.
, oy this time he had discovered that gold did not
lie about the streets, and that he was untitled for
the struggle of procuring it by the hard labor of
digging it from the bowels of the earth. lie
became respondent, and after some reflection
decided to once more trust his fortunes upon the
sea, determined never to return TO his friends un-
til he had regained what he had lost. Taking an
opportunity when his friends were temporarily
absent, and informing no one of his intentions,
he suddenly disappeared with his effects, and no
e~xertions could ascertain his destination or mode
of exit.
AA0hA ND1t tAAnC vi N"GANS IOALo hO -
the lost one have reached his friends. His we'll
formed habits Of industry and sobriety forbade
the idea that any disreputable act had induced
him to conceal his whereabouts, and his friends
could only conjecture and fear that some accident
had befallen him and that he must be dead.
Meantime, some years after his disappearance,
n childless uncle (Belah COe, of Buffalo) died, and
by will left to him and his sister ample property for
life, with reversiOn to their children, but with
a provision that in case of their death, without
fs-na tha rorarofnn ahnuI1 rn 70 fun educational
and charitable institutions.
Under the will, the sister has enjoyed her share
of the rents and profits, the share of the lost one
meantime being, under the direction of the court,
deposited in one of the savings banks, until
after some seven years had elapsed, the two re-
versiODary institutions instituted proceedings to
secure his share of the property. The court,
upon n full hearing, decided that after this lapse
of time, without bis being discovered, he must be
judicially dead, and that one of the claimants
should enter upon the enjoyment of his portion
of the rents and profits. As to the other, its
charter not permitting it to take real estate, it
was thrown out altogether, and that share not be-
ing legally conveyed by the will, reverted to the
heirs at law Internationally, who are these same
children.
During all this time the sisters husband, with
a zeal and pertinacity worthy all commentator
has been unremitting in his endeayOrs to find the
lost one. After all else had been compelled to
believe him long dead, he has continued to spend
llllt anu mOneN III Ills ulscOFeTy. III nGe CBIuDlu-
nicated with every American Consul of the Islands
of the Pacific and Australia. He has sent circu-
lars, offering a large reward, to California and
Oregon. He has advertised with n reward in the
papers of the shipping and whaling ports. Has
received many communications from sea captains
and others protesting to give information, which
has proved always erroneous. Until at last every
endeavor having proved futile, and evena mothers
hope discouraged. whose locks have become white
in the long sleepless agony of waiting for the re-
turn of an only and beloved son, within the last
month, suddenly, and without the least previous
notice, the truant drives up to his mothers door.
Alive and well, with face burned and bronzed
to parchment, by exposure TO sun and wind, he
has come back at last to that mother and that
sister, who have so long mourned him as dead
and lost to them forever.
Ard there was joy n that house.
And where upon this earth has the truant been
hidden, that n mothers and a sisters love could
not find him? Why, in about the only part of
the globe which has not been searched for him.
In South Africa, far from the cape for many
years, and in China several times. He was en-
ployed in the Caffre war. lie has hunted ele-
plants and zebras. He has dealt in and drove
cattle, and traded with the natives. He has met
with losses by wreck and fire. He has suffered
fevers and the accidents of n wandering life, I'M
til, at last, in middle age, the yearning to once
more see his native land and embrace his aged
mother and his sister, became too strong to be
resisted. He sailed for Liverpool, and thence to
New York, and there for the first time heard It'd
ings of his family and his fortune, and that, of
all his letters written home, not one had been re-
ceived.