The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-10
Placed in Ships Hold When Insensible
and Landed in Cuba.
Borrowing of his Family on Account of
Ills Supposed Death.
How He Suffered, Labored and
Finally Returned.
PIrTsBURG, March Z, 1878

McDaniels, resident OF Canonsburg, village
handy to this city. McDanies served throughout
the late war, bears the character Of a gentleman
and his reputation for honesty and veracity is I'M
impeacbable. He Is prosperous merchant OF
Canonsburg, the pillar of Presbyterian church, and
your correspondent is assured on the word of a
prominent minister OF this village is strictly true
in his own language, "McDaniels' word is as good
as his bond"
In October last Mechanics lett for New York to
purchase a stock Of goods, and 1t was generally
known the residents OF the village that he had
large sum OF money in his possession. He was to
return within a week. but months went by and no
word came to his family OF his whereabouts or his
Intentions.
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MAN
furnished food for gossip for the press OF the cOun
try al the time; but the conclusion arrived at was
that he had been robbed, murdered and his body
thrown into the river. Some persons were OF the
opinion that he was the brink Of financial ruin,
and had collected all the means he could with a
view OF defrauding his creditors, and had taken a
steamer fer Europe; or, by leaving no trace behind
him, had hoped to battle every attempt at recap
ture by those interested. Detectives were en-
ployed by his relatives; rewards were offered; the
prisons of New York and the Morgue of that city
were searched, and everything done that might
possibly throw some light on the singular disap.
pearance. Months were spent in a
VIGOROUS SEARCH FOR A CLUE
TO the whereabouts Of the missing man, but time
brought no tidings and the circumstance was al
most forgotten, except by his most intimate
friends and grieEstricken family. week or so
ago great was the ast0nishment and Joy OF the
people Of Canonsburg in learning that letter had
been received from Captain Mechanics, dated New
Orleans detailing his wonderful adventures, and
requesting that money be sent to that city to en-
able him to reach home. Some persons had scru-
pies that the writer OF the letter cognizant Of the
disappearance OF McDanels was attempting to
prey upon the credulity OF the family and
swndle them out Of the money, but the
handwriting was familiar and the Overjoyed family
were only too glad to forward the remittance. On
his return home the villagers extended to the
wanderer the heartiest kind of q reception, and
his establishment every day is filed with people
who come to offer their congratulations and hear
his strange story Before he told OF his adventures
to me, he said he learned with regret from his
family that some OF the newspapers had not treated
his case without prejudice to his character as
Christian and honorable gentleman.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
took my leave OF this village on the Sth OF Oc-
tOber, in company with an old and intimate friend
DR.. Martin, and arrived at Philadelphia on the
morning Of the Gay oowng Wss a. the break sabt
business acquaintance, came to the table, and
during our conversation he remarked that he was
going to New York IN the same train intended
to take. Ewing being q salesman in q
wholesale house OF the metropolis our conversation
en the cars was principally on matters pertaining
TO the trade we both were engaged In. l noticed
In our immediate vicinity tall, inelooking gen.
tleman, dressed very tastefuly, and who was
HERALD Of that merning when my Companion
left his seat to take another in the smoking car
this gentleman came forward, and, IN the politest
Pardon me- sir; you have come East for goods,
I fepiied that the nature Of my GRAND was to
purchase stock OF certain kind Of goods for my
Establishment at Cannonsburg, near Pittsbufg,
Sna w ee enereS into lie stated Ne
was salesman for large house in the city, and,
PRODUCING A POCKET SAMPLE CASE,
Laces, ribbons and samples OF most all sorts Of
white goods were shown, and l found his
prices sss low
him at Jersey City after giving hun my address
and particularly requesting him to call at
where ] met Ewing and when midway in the
stream VINO should come up but my polite sample
ton with me Til the erryboat touched the slip.
lost Ewing in the throng, and having been but once
before in New York l was apprehensive lest
would get lost so ! inquired OF the stranger the
teadiest way to the ST. Nicholas, when he kindly
volunteered to conduct me at least part OF the
way and put me on straight road to 1t. On our
way tmther we
STOPPED AT A RESTAURANT
the gentleman inviting me to take some thing, and
having . severe headache through riding on the
cars / called for cup of coffee l can remember
distinctly the barroom, but not Its location. 1t
the rear wall OF the house, the reireshment
tables were in front, and all persons connected
with the place looked clean and tidy.
drank two cups of coffee in this house
when ! became deathly sick and remembered
being removed 10 carriage, wnen became uncon-
thing ever experienced in my life; felt the tor.
lures OF the damned was half frozen-cramped
HAIL n a2lx hrAn my nhc. and
oh heavensi ! thought 1t would crack at every
throb That place was in was as
DARK AS MIDNIGHT
I did not believe this Till ! put my hands to my
eyes to see II actually they were open; felt
myself rocking TO and iro as n l were
Of finding a door or window, but failing in
my efforts sank again into state OF inse visibility
geon. and further discovered pan OF water beside
ine. drank the water, which relieved my parched
throat, and putting my hands in my pockets
taken, also a portion OF my wardrobe. two drafts
on New York, watch, chain and pin; In all amount
That had been
DRuGGED AND PLUNDERED,
ana waited patiently for some one to come ana put
bullet in me; 1t would have afforded me relief.
Ihe rolling and trampling overhead and the floor
ing on every side convinced me that was on board
o. a vessel AT length trap door opened over
mead ano the dim outlines OF human form APP
peared: le came down the ladder, put some
bread, meat and water before me and quickly stole
up the laoaeI, paying no attention whatever to
my questions. crawled up by the same
means he had, but found the tran boted
70 descended aud decided 10 await events. had
no means OF showing how long had been Gagged
In that vile den, for was insensiblc portion OF
the time and continually In darkness Anxiety
for my family had superseded all thong Vt Of ply 81.
cal pain, and 50 patiently awaited III, two men
came TO me and told me TO follow them L willingly
obeyed. They spoke English 6uenty.
STAGGERED Up THE sTEPt
on TO the deck. Two or three men were Toward
and they passed to the port side oil us and br fought
around by means Of q rope boat, into which was
lowered. was ordered to lie Gown forward and
two men rowed and one held the tiner There
were heavy clouds flashing across the sky ana but
few stars were visible. The faces OF the men
could not very well see, though they did not at
tempt to conceal them. The vessel OF course could
not recognize. We grounded In the sand about thirty
feet from shore. and before this knew we were