Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-11-10
A Strange Story.


The Altoona Tribune of November 81, is
responsible for the following singular story
relative to young man suddenly raised
from poverty to aftiuence. 1t says:
eve have recently been made acquainted
with the facts in Il case, which, in its sim
plicity of deyelopemcnt and astounding Sc
quel, far surpasses the widest fancy of the
widest novelist, and is somewhat rs follows
A young man giving his name as Harry
Stewart arrived in Altoona, not long since,
in state of complctc destitution, and called
upon Rev. Mr. Guyer, to whom be stated
that his parents had died in Idaho, leaving
him alone and penniless; that they had
come from England and moved TO Idaho
when none but Indians infested that ter
ritory, and that he had never enjoyed any
| advantages of education save what his IN III
er had given him. He had heard in Idaho
that in Pennsylvania orphans were given
educations for nothing. and he desired to
reach Harrisburg to obtain an entrance to
one of the State institutions of learning.
| The hoy appeared ingenious, and greatly in
! terested Mr. Guyer in his behalf, who took
| him to Mr John Shoemaker office. Mr..
S hoemaker speedily obtained him situa-
ton in Black S planning mill, but after work
ing three or four hours he came back and
stated that he wished to go on to Harris
| burg \ pass to that place was procured
| for him, and he was sent on his way, those
who had been willing to belrienl him soon
| forgetting ali about him in the busy cares OF
/ life
| While in conversation with hlr. Guyer,
! the boy had stated that his mother had left
him some papers which she declared were
very valuable but which he could not read.
| When i'll Harrisburg a sudden thought
! struck him, and he entered the law Office OF
| Mr.. X. Minnich, to whom he showed his
papers. A brief examination Of the docu-
ments showed the latter their true nature,
and he at once telegraph d to the British
| Minister at Washington who in turn te.e-
! graphcd to the American Minister at Lon
| don, and in short time answer was return
! ed that yoang Stewart was heir to an en-
| tailed fortune amounting to $j3, 900, 01O III
| gold, deposited in the Bank OF London, and
equal 10 about $77,0OO,OOO in American
currency. This fortune has been lying in
the Bank for some six generations and has
thus increased to its present vast proper
| tions.
Young Stewards identity as the legal
| heir to this vast possession, has been fixed
| beyond doubt, and lie win receive the first
| instalment of about 50, OOO 900 during the
present month What effect the sudden
possession of immense wealth will have up
on the mind and character of / young, uned
ucated and inexperienced boy, remains tC
| be seen. Stewart appears to have large
share of sturdy common sense, wcll-Ial
anced though uueducated mind and con
siderable natural shrewducsS. and Il he i,
fortunate enough TO escape the wiies If the
| human sharks that will be attracted by the
! glitter Of his gold, may soon learn to use il
for the benefit of his fellow man, and III,
still further enrichment of himself MIR
Minich has furnished young Stewart with 1
travelling companion, a shrewa and talented
young railroad engineer named Johnston
whose knowledge of the ways Of the world
viii lie a safeguard against the telnptatio
OF designing persons.