Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-03-07
A LUCKY MISTAKE.
Pacts that are Stranger than Fiotion-Ths
Most Romantic Piece Of Truth on Record,

girl named Louise Dumont. Her desuna-
tion was Newark, this State, where she
had distant female relative living, in
INDECENT circumstances. and, as she be
lleved, the only surviving kin she had In
the world. By some mistake, owing to
her inability to understand the Engllsh
language, she took train on the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western Rail-
load, and got Oft at Newark, N. J.
When she ives Informed OF her error. she
bought a ticket to return again to New
York on the next train, but on account
of very remarkable occurrence she was
induced to change her mind.
AZ the girl sat in the depot, downcast
In spirits, alone In strange land and
almost penniless, visions Of her home
in ola Belle France " crossed her mind.
She thought Of her mother who had re-
eeutly died, OF her only brother who fell
With his father As they fought side by
side at the terrible battle Of Saarbruck,
and as she unused upon her past JOYS and
present loneliness, she unconsclously
toyed with large gold locket that was
suspended by a strong silver chain from
her neck, while tears trickled down her
checks. She was a brunette of the love-
Hest type. and her Jet black, wavy hair
was arranged with such exquisite taste
that II made the broad high forehead,
expressive brown eyes, and graceful, full
throat appear to the best advantage.
While Louise was abstractedly playing
with her locket, there came into the depot
tall and handsome gentleman, about
sixlv years Of age. He had something Of
a military bearing, and his countepance
indicated intelligence and refinement.
The girl's appearance Immediately at
trac,ed his attention. and as he, too, was
waiting for train, he occupied the time
in watching her. As he walked lelsurely
to and fro In the ladies room, he came
near to where the girl was sitting Just as
she opened the locket and revealed a well
known face, that was the exact counter
part Of picture he had at home In his
library. It represented the Empress
josephine, the deceased wife of Napoleon
BOnaparte. The gentleman Immediately
asked the girl, In good French, where she
obtained the picture. She replied, with
much simplicityi
"My mother gave II to me-"
Requesting the favor Of examining the
locket, be took It In his hand, and with
great establishment, read the following
inscription;
1912"
"My mother was Mlratel," said he,
scanning the beautiful French girls
features closely, "and." he added, as a
light seemed to fash in uDou his con-
fused Ideas, "she was a sister tn IIOi tens Q
De Miratel, Rho, for some act Of faithful
ness to the unhappy Josephine, received
this locset and portrait az reward. My
good girl, who are YOU, anyhow 7"
The child then related her etOry-how
her father and brother had been killed in
the battle, and that her mother had re
Gently died that she had committed her
to the care of The only relative that she
believed to be living, at Newark, 10 this
State.
The gentleman then being satisfied
that the girl vas bis own niece, disclosed
his own name, Victor Provost. He had
escaped from prison when a young man,
having been incarcerated by the Bourbons
about the time of the sojourn Of Louis
Nsroleon In America.
He hed to this country and settled al
Wtlkesbarre, Pa, where he now lives In
Hfiinence, being interested In large Goa
aud iron tracts In that locality. IL II
hardly necessary to state that the melee
needed but little persuasion to accompany
her uncle home. The romance of heI
story is Increased by the fact that Mr.
Provost has a son, who Ia a very promis
lug young man, aud that he Immediately
became fascinated with bis newly fuunt
cousin, The old gentleman is 10 ecstaey
at the turn things have taken, and has
resolved that his son shall marry the CIR
rs soon as il is possible COR her to ge
| ready for 50 momebtOus an occasion. U
course young Provost has accepted thii
| proposition with much Joy, aud order
| for a magnificent bridal rousseau ART
now heing filed by various parties IL
New York, for the fortunate girl who
but little more than week ago, was
pennilr.s Storage passenger In an emil
grant ship.
on the FIoStI.e zee. --,s-
dispatch TO STATE JOURNAL on tn
24.h ult., briefly mentioned the remarka
bic escape Of a number of fishermen
carried away by drifting ice on LAX
Michigan. We ind fuller details of th
affair 10 a special dispatch of that dat
from Bay City to the Detroit Post. Tn
Dispatch Is rs follows;
The drilling ice affair has tumei on
uot to be so isastrous ~ WAS 81 owe tim
reported. TIE ice hy'd drncl 40 10 tl
east shore Mon7ay rnaht. unaaI D.. ~.
WHO lad NOT pi's!uus csc+Irl li p
during the night and yes,tidt, incoming
All who were on t4e Ice FL he time
went out Hre now reported safe. This
the thlrd time this winter that tie ice ha
hoated out into open water, the first tin
carrying Smith and McEwau, and N
second time six or eight men, who escape
the next day.
Some very remarkable escapes wei
made over the broken ice. Among thei
We may mention shat of Arthur sevei
son aud seven comrades. Stevenson ha
horse and sleigh, and with them Il
I party attempted 10 come ashore. II
ice was 70 badly broken, however, that
, was deemed safer 10 take the horse fro
+, the sleigh and lead him, leaving the nj
, to draw the vehicle. Il was necessary
i make the animal jump from one Ice cal
to another In a Journey OF 1--we mil
over the broken ice,
IL seems almost Incredible, but III
trip was made without serious misha
and horse, sleigh, and men came safe
e ashore at last Mr. Stevenson says tn
u all the men who were within sight of h
e point where he landed got ashore.
e We learn of two men who had
i horse, but were provided with a han
o sled. When the ice broke they want
5, to go eastward and northward In quest
70 some point of escape, and rgged
their hand sled to take a ride at the ra
T. Of forty miles an hour In the gale viii
q was sweeping over the ice from the sout
n west. They sped along at lightning G
y, press speed for mile after mile.
choose their course was impossible
u went the sled, straight as an arrOR fro
bow and abOnt as fast, dead toleewai
y, skimmng and singing along over I
X ice. Suddenly the men saw right abe
u of them channel Of open water.
ID they rushed toward il, aud what at q
=, looked like narrow strip Of wa
oi opened wider and wider as they I
20 preached II on the wings of the wiz
~ There was no such thing as stopping
pc turning the sled, and the strip Of wa
ca was opening out the wider Every secol
" There was nothing else to be done
ne two men rollsd of the sled, one on ca
side, and went spinning along the ice
TX rod or two; while the sled the NJ
~ instant plunged luto the open channel q
zee disappeared. The men picked themsel
wv up, and finally made their way ashore
Gu loot, content 10 60 slower but safer ID
Sc on n sled before The gale.
ne We have heard numerous other mar
10 tives of extreme hazard all going TO
Gu crease the wonder that thus far no
nu single life is reported lost. The be
us laet night was that the Ice would
70 closed up BY the wind before morning,
that the men remaining near the v
en- shore would all come oil As they b
We shelter, food and fire, they will not su
on Ia the mean time.
IN,
New York.
ms SHOCKING TRAGEDY-A MURDER A