The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-21
AN ENGLISH ROMANCE.

Heir Apparent, and UnuHuRl Excite
ment in the World of Fashion, Etc.
b LONDON, February 2.-While the political
world OF England Is engaged in the discussion
OF reform, ana British statesmen are at their
Wits ends to discover q scheme by which to
silence the voice of public opinion, and satisfy
the people, the fashionable CIRCLES OF Belgravia,
and the upper ten" generally, are eagerly dis
cussing the merits Of a case shortly TO be
brought before the courts, in which is involved
q baronetage and halt a million of dollars
per annum. The English press has been occu-
pied for some time with voluminous cores
pondence on the subject, and great interest in
the case Is felt by all who make the history of
aristocratic families their particular study.
Although many versions of this extraordinary
story have been given to the public have not
seen as yet anything like true and correct
narrative in the English press. AS happen TO
be acquainted with the principal character,
and know all the incidents IN the drama, am
enabled to afford your readers one more illus
tratiOn of the maxim that truth is stranger
than fiction. Before proceeding with the story,
no 6ever, it is necessary TO clear the ground by
q short sketch ot family history.
The family Of Tichborne, or,as it was formerly
called, De ltchenborne is one of the oldest in
England. In the county oil Hants the bearer OF
the title and the possessor OF the estate of that
name was respected for centuries. The family
was notable in Hampshire before the Conquest,
aud ever since, In spite OF revolutions and in
trieuee, has inherited the same land Similar
possessions in other parts of the Country-in
cludlng property in Galway, ireland have
Deeu .auue0 TO Jne original BStdteS from Iltne 10
time; but these changes took place so long ago
that the latest OF them Is old in history. From
the time OF Henry II till 1920 the principal
representatives of the family were simple
knights. But when Queen Elizabeth died, Sir
Johnde Tichborne, Knight, who was at the time
Sheriff OF Southampton, acting on his own re-
sponsibllity, went directly to Winchester, and
there proclaimed James vi OF Scotland her sue
cessor, as King James | of England. After the
monarch had been settled on his throne, one of
his first acts was to reward his Hampshire
champion, and Sir John de Tichborne was
created a baronet, and his four sons were
knighted, He was also made custodian of the
Castle of Winchester, which was settled on him
IN fee form.
ants IN the present dav, and Sir Alfred Doughty
Tchborne Baronet, who died short time slnce
was the last bearer of the hereditary dignity
The career of this gentleman was wild aud
reckless one, and the English public recollect
seeing his name in the Court OF Bankruptcy.
His net income-97 $4,000 per annum-was' not
sufficient, and in fact Sir Alfred was terribly
embarrassed. One of his first acts on succeed
ing to the title and estates was to purchase a
yacht at cost OF $40, 900 and five hundred stand
OF the best breach loading rifles for his own
private shooting. The estates became heavily
mortgaged; but the Jews VINO lent the money
felt perfectly secure On Christmas day last,
however, there landed in England, from the
steamship Celia from New YORK to London
a gentleman whose presence appears TO have
had the effect of falling bombshell among
Jews and Gentiles who lent money on the Tlch-
full owner to the estate, Sir Roger Charles Itch
borne, Baronet. Never before in the family
history has so strange an incident been known.
The official books record that Sir James
Francis Doughty Tichborne, Baronet, of Tch-
borne, Hants, born in 1854, succeeded his
brother as tenth Baronet in 1858. He had at
this time two sons, viz, Roger Charles, born in
1929, and Alfred Joseph, born 4th September,
1885, who married in 1861 Teresa Mary, eldest
daughter of Lord Arundel. There we're of this
mily also two daughters who died. Thus the
a16 and harl yUQ who
his father became baron in 1858, twenty-four
years of age, and mis- younger brother, Alfred
Joseph, was fourteen years old. In 1862 the
father died, but in the meantime the heir, who
had been subject from childhood to nervous
attacks, took his departure from England, with
the intention of visiting America and the colo
MES at the antipodes. Some time before the
death OF Sir James news came to this country
that the ship in which Roger Charles took his
departure TO Australia was .ost off Cape Horn,
with all on board. The sad Intelligence was
confirmed by the fact that nothing was after
wards heard of the lost heir. So the younger
brother tOok The title aud estates. However,
he had no son to succeed him, and when he
died, a few months ago, 1T was thought by
many that the title would be exiting ushed in
that branch. But his lady bore posthumous
child, and great rejoicing v as made when the
infant was formally declared heir Of the line
But now comes the extraordinary part of the
story. Although the ship (the Edinburgh, |
beleve) IN which Roger Charlie sailed was lost,
with nearly all on board, he himself, with four
among the icebergs of the Cape, for four dreary
days and nights held on to existence. Picked
up by a vessel bound to Valparaiso, Roger
Charles landed in South America, his sole pro-
perty beng a suit of clothes and a borrowed
hat. A good Samaritan, named Thomas de
Castro, Spaniard, took compassion on the
castaway, and lent him such aid that he was
enabled to live comfortably, and at the same
time acquire knowledge OF the people amonl
whom he was so strangely thrown. He wan
dered among the different States tor two years
but when at Callao he made the acquaintance
of a sea captain in the Australian trade he &C
cepted berth as ships steward, and in thai
capacity landed in Melbourne Australia.
In grateful remembrance OF his Spansf
friend he assumed the name of Thomas de Gas
tro and leaving the ship at Melbourne, sough
work as a shepherd in the interior of thu
colony. He readily obtained employment, ant
by attention to his duties verv soon secured
the confidence of his employers and the settler
generally. About this unC he learnt, through
the English papers, that his father Sir James
was dead and that the title and estates hat
been assumed by his brother Alfred Joseph, I,
whom he was very much attached THINKING
that as he was considered dead it would b
better TO let his brother enjoy the title tor
time at least, and besides the rowing wild life o
an Australian settler was suited to his taste
while he enjoyed better health under the south
ern sun than he ever did in England, he mad
up his mind to maintain his inc)gnito, an
settle down in the country. Years rolled by
and Thomas de Castro, alias Sir Roger Charlie
TichbOrne, BarOnet, became the manager au
owner of butchering establishment in Wall
Walla, near Sydney. He prOspered in business
and Mr.. de Castro became known IN the settle
ment as an excellent butcher and an hone'
man. 80
But the romance would not be complete witt
out the usual tale of love, ending with happ
marriage. Thomas de Castro. the butcher te