The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-12
A MERCHANT KIDNAPPED,
Exciting Story Of a Canonsburg
Dry Goods Dealer.
Herald Correspondence

Herald Correspondence
PrrrsBUReH, March 7. 1873.
A strange story comes from the Liz
of Captain McDaniels, Q resident {
Csnonsburg, Washington County Pa
McDaniels served throughout th
late war. bears the character Of . gen
tlemau and his reputation for honest
and veracity is uuimpeschable. He is
prosperous merchant of Canousbure
the pillar of Presbyterian church
and the story, though it may smack Q
sensstionalIsm, your correspondent i
assured on the word OF q prominen
minister Of this village, is strictly true
in his own language. "McDsniels
word is as good as his bond"
Iu October last McDaniels left 70
New York to purchase stock Of goods
aud il was generally known to the re-
sidents OF lhe village that he had lsrg'
sum OF money in his possession. II,
was to return within a week, bu
months went by and no word came tc
his family OF his Whereabouts or hi,
intentions.
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF rHE
NAN
furnished food for gossip for the press
OF the country at the time, but the con-
clusion arrived at was that he had been
robbed, murdered and his body thrown
into the river Some persons were oil
the opinion that he was on the brink
OF financial ruin and bad collected all
the means he could with view OF de-
frauding bis creditors, and had taken a
steamer for Europe; or, by leaving no
trace behind him, had hoped to ba ffl e
every attempt at recapture by those in.
terested Detectives we're employed by
his relatives; rewards were offered; the
prisons OF New York and the Morgue
OF that city were searched, and every q.
thing done that might possibly throw
some light on the singular disappear
ance. Months were spent in
VIGOROUS SEARCH FOR A CLUE
to the whereabouts Of the missing man
but time brought no tidings, and the
circumstance was almost forgotten.
except BY his most intimate acquaint>
ances and grief-strrcken family. A
week or 80 ago great was the astonish-
ment and joy OF the people Of Canon.
burg in learning that letter had been
received from Captain McDaniels, da
ted New Orleans, detailing his wonder
full adventures, and requesting that mo
ney be sent to that city to enable him
to reach home. Some persons had
scruples that the writer OF the letter,
co9nizant Of the disappearance of Nc
Daniels, was attempting to prey upon
the credulity of the fsmil y, and swindle
them out Of the money, but the band
writing was familiar, and the overoved
family were only too glad TO forward
the remittance. On his return home
the villagers extended to the wanderer
the heartiest kind OF a reception, and
his establishment every day is filled
with people who come TO offer their
congratulations and hear his strange
story. Before he told of his adventures
to me, he said be learned with regret
from his family that some OF the news.
papers had not treated his case without
prejudice to his character as christian
and An honorable gentleman.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
I took my leave Of this village on the
9th oil October, in company with an old
intimate friend, Dr.. Martin, and arriv-
ed at Philadelphia on the morning Of
The day following. While at the break
last table one Mr. Ewing, with whom
had slight business acquaintance,
came to the table, and during our con-
versation he remarked that he was
gong to New York in the same train |
intended to take Ewing being a sales
man in a wholesale house OF the metro
polls our conversation on the cars was
principally on matters pertaining 10 the
rade we both were engaged in. notic-
ID IN our immediate vicinity q tall, fine
ooking gentleman, dressed very taste-
'ully, and who was deeply interested in
he contents OF the New York Herald
If that morning. When my compau-
on left bis seat TO take another in the
Imoking car this gentleman came for
ward, and. in the politest way imsgina.
,le, said;
Pardon me, sir; YOU have come East
or goods, believer
replied that the nature OF my er-
and was TO purchase q stock OF q GER
ain kind OF goods Tor my establishment
It Csnnonsburg, near Pittsburgh, when
'e took the seat vacated by my friend
Ewing, and We entered into converse
ion. He stated he was q salesman for
large house in the city, and,
PRODUCING POCKET SAMPLE CASH,
equested my permission to exhibit
ONE goods. Lsces, ribbons, and sam.
lies OF most all sorts OF white goods
'ere shown, and found his prices
Tere sstouishiHgly low compared with
that l had been paying. left him at
'ersey City after giving him my sd-
ress and particularly requesting him 10
sll at the ST. Nicholas Hotel. I went
own to the ferry. where I met Ewing.
nd when midway in the stream who
hould come up but my polite sample
ase friend, who engaged 10 an amiable
with me till the ferry boat
ouched the slip. l lost Ewing in the
brong, aud having been but once be.
ore 10 New York I was spprehensive
est would get lost. 90 l inquired OF
be stranger the readiest way to the St.
when he kindly volunteered
r condpct me af least mart of the war