The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-07
The Mysterious Box that Farmer Bennett Found
on the Beach.

The Mysterious Box that Farmer Bennett Found
on the Beach.
Four handsome pieces of sculpture
were shipped from Rome for Glasgow
six weeks ago. One was an expensive
life-slze bust of Charles O'Conor; anoth-
er was life-size bust of Cicero, and
the other two were exquisitely wrought
vases for wealthy gentleman in Sche-
nectady. Each piece was inoased in u
heavy box and securely packed. The
boxes were made of two-inch planks,
to protect their contents from Injury
and they were so well made that not a
crack or crevlce was left through which
their contents might be seen. At Glas-
cow the cases were shipped in the steam
ship Olympia, and several days ago they
reached New York.
AZ Pier 20, North river, taking their
turn with barrels of sirup and bales OF
hemp, the busts were unloaded. The
representatives of the old Roman and
new American worlds, In two-inch
cases, stood side by side on the muddy
wharf, with vase for frOntispiece, and
another for a background. For hours
they stood together, vainly waiting for a
single friend to bid them welcome. They
were unnoticed, and even ther names
were dishonored, for they were known
simply >311 and 312,, the numbers
chalked on their wooden covering.
For six days Cis and his friend stood
under the shed on the wharf, the two
vases their only companions. The relief
came, and on Sunday they entered the
city on a triumphal truck. But they
being checked off the bill of lading, and
when their friends inquired for them
they were not to be found. They were
addressed to the care of Henderson
Brothers, 7 Bowling Green; Cicero to be
delivered to William M. Evarts. But
Henderson Brothers knew nothing about
them. Then the steamship company be-
gan to realize that the busts had been
stolen, and they advertised that they
would pay 500 for their return within
ten days.
. Mr.. Wynant Bennett is well-to-do
farmer at Bay Ridge, Long Island. He
lives in coZy white house, within a
hundred yards of the beach. He gets up
over the farm. When he walked along
the shore little after daybreak yester-
day he saw a big box grinding against
the pebbles. The side of the box that
was uppermost had no marks on 1t, and
Mr., Bennett took hold of the case to
drag it ashore; but as soon as he tried to
move it he changed his mind, and went
up to the house for help. With the aid
Of one of his farm hands he turned the
box over. About half of the cover had
been wrencleq 1,and the white, ,ghostly
head of a man WAS visible.
Mr.. Bennett and his man were not
sure whether they should send for a
Coroner or bury the head In the sand. 1t
was too hard for corpse, and rather
white; but the eyes were glazed and set,
and ii might be petrifed. With much
exertion they carried the box up to the
house, took off the remainder OF the lid,
and solemnly lifted out the head. The
hired man suggested that clergyman
be summoned, but this was instantly
hooted down, every one agreeing that
the head was dead, without doubt.
Soon afterward Mr.. Bennetts house
was filled with Long Islanders. There,
in the darkened, quiet room, they took a
look at the dead stranger. The dark sea
water mad soiled his face, and his other
wise snow-white hair was intermingled
with damp sea grass. But nobody would
take the responsibility of expressing
an opinion. The wonderment was in.
creased, when bright little boy discov
cred the figures 312 on one side of the
box. Soon afterward the boy read this
advertisements:
500 REWARD-For the return, within
ten days from the 2Sth April, OF the fou
cases of statuary,, marked Ii. L., 311, 312
| 800, 1922, stolen from Pier 81, North river
on Sunday last. Address Box 2,915
Post-ofice.
Before the boy said Post-office th'
head was back in the box, and the boz
stood in a corner. The room had beer
| empty for some seconds.
An agent of the steamship line wen
to Bay Ridge yesterday afternoon, AM
the bust was brought to New York. The
agent said that it was the bust O
Charles O'Conner, and then everybod
said that he had thought so from th
first.
Henderson Brothers, the cousignees
think that sneak thieves with truck er
tered the company's building at Pier q
i and quietly loaded on the statuary. Th
bust of Cicero and the vases would sci
What the thieves thought of Charles
lO,Conner was illustrated by their trea
ment of him, in throwing him into th
river. The case was SO heavy that
nearly supported the bust and, tt
gether, they halt fioated and half washe
down the bay, until 1t struck the snor
at Bay Ridge.
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