Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-17


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A SwINDLER ExPosED.-A letter dated
Frankfort, KY, February l3, gives the follow
mo details of an affair which was briefly re-
ftrred to in our columns a few days ago:
This community has been excited for day
or two past with the extraordinary adventures
Of one S. Adams Lee, who claimed to be a
nephew of the late General r. E. Lee, exhi-
biting letters and papers in authorization OF
the assumed fact His first appearance here
was fortnight ago, when by plausible address
and adroit use Of his letters and papers he in
duced the Legislature to grant him the use Of
its hall to deliver lecture on 'God in the
Ocean, He claimed to have been naval Of
icer on the Merrimac at the time OF its COM
bat with the Monitor, and by a pitiful tale Of
his misfortunes as a Confederate he induced
General John G. Breckenridge, through his
regard for the Lee family, to loan him fifty
dollars Similar exactions were made upon
the confidence of Colonel j. Stoddard Johnston
and other leading ex. x.Coufederates.
$ Adams Lee wore military attire and
sports a cork leg, which he says is the fruit of
his Confederate service. After his first ex-
ploits here information came from the Georgia
papers and through private sources that he was
rare impostor, and although distant rea.
tive of the Lee family, yet he had been dlsowned
BY them. His fine address and polished man
ners gained him entrance into the best society
and for while he was sort OF hon. Partl-
among the ladies.
lneratiating himself into the confidence Of
the principal of female academy at New Cas-
tle Kentucky, he made the acquaintance and
won the affections of one OF the teachers;
an intelligent and attractive young lady from
a northern State. Her mother sought to pre-
vent their marriage and took her home, but she
returned alone to Eminence, where she joined
Lee, and both came to this city yesterday to
consummate the bans, taking rooms ut the Mer
riwether House.
Fortunately an acquaintance of the young
lady discovered their presence; and, having
seen the published accounts OF Lee 5 rascaIlty
elsewhere, he took steps to prevent the intend
Stoddard Johnston, the latter, with General
John c. Breckenridge, Colonel George Jessie,
Colonel Taylor the county attorney, John Ju-
Ian, and others formed themselves into com
nttee and proceeded to the Merriwether
House where they confronted Lee with the
proof of his deceptions. He admitted the
charge, but said he suffered so much from the
use ofopium Ia tin box of which he displayed
to his intcrviewers) that he hoped that they
would excuse him.
By this time quite crowd had collected,
aud threats of violence were muttered. As he
was cripple, and upon his agreeing to leaye
the county, he was conducted to the Louisville
train and allowed to depart. The lady express
ed much surprise at the proofs OF his vlllalny,
INT kissed him ere he went. She remained IN
nyr"iny Dr Qqight qht, and at times expressed
tem examination, this morning ioun, tic ...'i
:ure and depression to be in the parlctal bone,
md has preserved the injured ra,t for evidence
he murderer has been nyEsi66nn rggaInst those
whom he declared his prosecutors, but 1t is to
he hoped the publicity of his present adventur-
es will prevent other communities from being
yictimized by so adroit villain.
ONE HUNDRED AND TwENTY-N NINE DAYS ON
A WRECK.-One OF the most dismal stories on
record is that in connection with the wreck OF
the ShelehoF, which was found floating water
logged near the Sandwich Island few weeks
ago. The wreck was seen one morning by the
look out on board the steamship Moses Taylor,
whilst on the voyage from Japan to San Fran.
CISCO A solitary man was taken OFT the wreck,
the only survivor of the crew and passengers.
lie was the captain Of the vessel, and although
he was in most exhausted condition, he gave
the following particulars Of her disaster: "Ihe
Shelehoff sailed from San Francisco for Callao
on The 22d of June last with cargo of timber,
under command of Captain Hopkep. She had
a crew consisting of first and second mates and
fourteen seamen, together with four ,passen-
gers The weather was rather rough at the
commencement of the passage, but on the lst
of July there was dead calm. On the Sd,
however, the. ship was overtaken by, heavy
squalls, and the vessel was compelled to run
under bare poles The wind and sea continued
TO increase, and it soon became evident that
the ship was caught In cyclone, and on the
morning of the 4th instant she was on her
beam ends, the sea making clean breach over
her. and in order to keep her from tounderlng
the masts were cut away, and the vessel
partially righted The cargo in the tween
decks in the meantime got loose and car
ried away the skylights, wheel-house, compan-
ionway, and jammed up the entrance to the
cabin. It was found that this was lmmovable,
and that it was impossible to get at either pro-
visions or water, and the vessel soon hlled with
the sea. The stem, where there was less cargo,
settled deeply, and was comp pletey, ;, Wasnea pS
every wave. In this desperate condition, With
out food or drink, or control over their vessel,
aud out of the track of any probable passing
sail. the unfortunate crew thought their case
hopeless They succeeded in getting barrel
of tongues, two half barrels Of salmon, and
box of starch, but the water butts were stove
in, and not drop could be had from them. A
sail was, however, rigged IN such way as 10
catch some rain water. The cargo now, began
to press the deck and sides asuoder and 1t W, was
feared that the vessel would 60 to pieces: Inc
hawsers were got out and lashed around the en-
tire hull of the Ship, but though the crew were for
time safe from drowning, they were torment
ed by thirst, and it was in vain the captain beg
dthem not to drink salt water. They, how
ever, drank it. Great bois burst out all over
their bodies; they were attacked with dysentery'
and soon afterwards died in raging madness.
In spite Of all the privatons endured, 1t was vas