Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-23
and I WI, %. ~. And he did. The vessel

and VIII 90. And he did. The vesse
sailed on the Slst of January last. When
four days out she encountered heavy gale
and it became necessary 10 close reef every
thing. In the haste of executing this order
the lib downhaul became fouled, and the
mate went forward to clear it. As he ran
out on the bowsprit for this purpose the
vessel gave lurch and simultaneously ran
her head into fearfully heavy sea. As
the deluge of water cleared away and the
ship slowly regaiied her upright position,
it was noticed that the mate was gone. 1t
was impossible to put the vessel about, or
to do anything to rescue the unfortunate
seaman, who was never seen again. The
vessel pursued her course to Melbourne,
and finally to China.
In the meantime the absence of letters
from the Earl hadvawakened the deepest
solicitude in the minds of his relatives and
friends. Detectives were sent out from
England, an3'instructions were sent IN all
directions to spare neither money nor eff
fort to track him out. The. best aud
shrewdest officers of this country were also
employed, and about The time the Hera
sailed from Boston these united efforts had
struck the first trail. Slowly but surely
the strange, career was developed, until
the wanderer was traced aboard the Hera.
TO make sure of the identity OF the man,
parties visited Richmond. Maine, where
was found o photograph, which Osborne
had given to a young lady with whom he
had formed an acquaintance at his board
ing-house. This young lady is of ac-
knowledgedrespectablity and on learning
Of Osborne's real position in life, and his
great wealth. frankly admitted that there
was no closer relation between them than
mere. friends. nor any understanding or
be different. This photograph, which she
said was good one of Osborne, Was inn
mediately recognized as the likeness Of
the missing Earl. With this information
it ct once became manifest that the mate
of the Hera was the long-sought noblemaH.
When this point was settled instructions
were at once sent out to China to head off
the vessel and if possible charter her for
a trip to England, sxsA u it should be
necessary to. send her there empty. But
on the arrival Of the Hera in Chinese wa
ters. Osborne was reported drowned. The
log was searched and the entry of the dis
aster discovered substantially as given
above. ssggss s; 8sl ua
This discovery left the Earldom vacant,
with its vast estates subject to the orders
of the English Court of Chancery. To
settle this estate and also to clothe the le-
gal heir with the honors now belonging
to him, the Court OF Chancery sent COM
mission to this country some months ago
to take testimony as to the Earl's death,
and also to learn whether during his alb
sencc he has not married and had issue.
To settle these points it is necessary to
trace the wanderer through all his career
from the time of his leaving Aberdeen to
the moment of his death. Tha great point
to be established is the identity of The
mate of the Hera and the hate Earl. This
is definitely proved by the signature to
the ships article, on Ale jim the Boston
Custom House. Application for these
original papers, the only evidence the
Court of Chancery will receive on the ques-
ton of their contents so long as they are
in existence, was made on the Treasury
Department at w Washington, which author
lied their withdrawal on the substitution
of perfect photographs OF them. This has
been done. 1ess4s aas aa
The pilot who took the Hera to sea iden-
tilhCb 0tU utNtC uc eiU AuicSiuS WIur
out doubt. To test him on this point
half dozen photographs were placed be-
fore him including one of the Earl, all
dressed in sailors costume. He at once
pointed to the right one as the mate of
the ship. Following This chain Of evidence,
it will be necessary to prove the death,
which can only be done by the testimony
Of the ships company eftke Hera. and her
original log showing the casualty at the
time it is alleged to have occurred. To
get this evidence, it. will be necessary
either to send a commissioner to China,
or wait the Hera's arrival, and then send
her to England. 1t is understood that she
has been chartered to proceed at once to
The story of this. brave gentleman reads
like aronc nee. and would be utterly dis
credited and pronounced far-fetched ii
produced by novelist. The tragic end
Ing Is very different from that intended
for it by the hero, who would doubtless
have made. his experience and observa-
tons of practical benefit to the great and
important class for whom he encountered
them. He had saved from his earnings
considerable sum of money toward the
purchase If a ship, in which to sail home
at the end Of his prolonged cruise. This
money is now deposited in savings banks
in New York and Boston. 70.