Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-07-02
Strange Adventure,

y
ding in Brooklyn. named j. E. Van
Doren. and engaged in the publication
department of the New York World
left his residence to go duck shooting Oh
Long Island. Previous to leaving he
wrote letter to his wife and children,
who at tie time were on visit to HE
father-in-aw, Sheriff Applegate, of Man
alapan. N. J. In that letter lie stated
his intentions 20 go on a sporting expedi-
tion on the lowing day, aud concluded
by promising to go to Manapalan on the
following Saturday. At the same time
he wrote another letter TO his father, the
Rev. II. II. Van Doren, of Boontcn, n
j., in which be said he was going OH a
hunting excursion, and that on his re-
turn be would stop at Maspeth, l. T.,
and pay taxes on property which the
faith r owned at that place.
On the morning of the 9th of Dece m.
Der lie lrit the house alone, and with his
gun over lis shoulder started for Great
Neck, j. l., leaving word with friend
as he passed ont of the door that he
would return in the evening Three
days passed, and not having returned
word was sent to his wife, and after
wards TO his flther, who, with Sheriff
Arpieea e, Immediately started for
Broakl 1t was found that Vaa To
ren's papers, money, jewelry and best
clothes were in the house, and, in addi-
rion, bundle of hooks magazines, and
some fruit was neatly tied mp, which he
intended carrying to his wife.
As the relatives were unable to find
clue to the missing man after diligent
search, Chief of Police Campbell, of
Brooklyn, was conferred with, who i'm
mediately set two detectives to work to
scour The island. Photographs of Van
Doren were printed, together with de-
scEiptive circulars, offering reward and
for three weeks every portion of Long
Island was thoroughly secured. Inqui-
ries concerning the mans habits were
made by the Chief of Police, but nothing
was ascei tanned which could remove the
impression tn t Doren had been foully
dealt with.
After a fluitless search Van Doren was
given up for lost For seven months the
father, who was deeply attached to his
son, and who bad always regarded him
incompetent to play any serious joke on
his friends, still believed that be was
living, and during the entire time scam
ned daily the newspapers from all parts
of the country which came under his
notice. A few days since the following
letter was received by the father at Boon
ton, n. J .--.-
"RoTTERpAN. Holland, May y, 1873
Ny Dear Father: This, the first op
portunity since leaving home, | take to
write to you to explain my absence, and
TO let you know my whereabouts. On !
the day that l last wrote to you | started
on ducking expedition on the bay, near {
Fire Island Sculling in boat belong I
ing to a schooner lying near, and in com
pany with one of her crew, we were cap
sized, and with great difficulty l man
aged to Chamber on the upturned boat,
my companion being lost, be not being
able to swim Unable to right the boat
| was compelled to cling TO the bottom,
and was drifted with wind and tide out to
sea, being nearly out of sight of land by
the next morning. and nearly q
dead from cold, wet, hunger and fatigue. t
Some time after noon | was seen by the +
crew of Swedish bark, bound to Buenos v
Ayres, South America, and by them res 7
cued and carried on board in a state of
having become unconscious I
just as they reached me. An attack of
brain fever kept ne insensible for five
days, and when | was again conscious v
we were far away at sea. | could do Il
nothing towards my return until after q
being fifty four days cut. During
calm we boarded an English bark bound
from the Pacific to Rotterdam, and know :
ing that could find here chances to get
home, and being on vessel where no I
one but the captain could speak my Ian 5
euage, was glad to exchange ships, Il
" hich was enabled to do through the {
kindness of the English captain. A very
long and tedious voyage to this port fol- 4
lowed, we arriving only yesterday. | a
have already arranged to go to Philadel- \
phia in ship expecting to sail to NOR d
row in place OF one of the crew. could
20 home hence by steamer had | money o
to pay my passage, but the want of it
,ompcls my return in a sailing vessel |
hope to get home in about 45 days, and
will see you very soon on my return l
need scarcely speak of the anxiety that
consumes me, and units nay mind for
sketch like this. Words are inadequate
10 express my feelings, and live in the
,onps of a sneedy return to NV loved
,ncs. l will give fuller description of
my involuntary voyage on my return