The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-02-24
A Remarkable Coincidence.

The Atchison (Kansas) Patriot tells
the following curious story, and vouches
for its truth: The old adage that Truth
is stranger than fiction" has had many
yeriications, but none, perhaps, more
remarkable than the following:
Recently, on the Missouri Pacific rail-
road train, which reaches this city at a
few minutes afier twelve O'Clock, a
stranger arrived, who sought out the
Lindell Hotel fora comfortable meal and
a few hours rest before proceeding on
his journey across the continent to Cal
~ifornia. After his baggage had been
cared for he registered his name on the
hotel register, Frederick Moffatt, Ban
gor, Me. The gentleman was soon shown
the dining room and began eating his
dinner.
A few moments after these events hap
pened, the bus drove up to the entrance
Of the hotel and a stranger, just arrived
by the X. c., ST. 10 & G. B. railroad,
stepped out and into the hotel, and after
divesting himself of oyercoat and wrap
pings he proceeded to register his name
and location. Much to his surprise he
found his name, Frederick Moffatt,
already registered. He had not written
it; he had but Just arrived; he was a
total stranger-who had written the
name? He could have almost sworn the
| writing was his. He was puzzled, but a
better look at the register disclosed the
fact that Mofatt No. l hailed from
Maine, while he resided in San Jose,
California. Moffatt No. 2 wrote his
| name on the register, and turned to the
clerk and asked for Mofatt No. l. Hay-
ing been informed that be was then at
dinner, he stated he would like an in
teryiew with him, and quietly seated
himself by the stove until Moffatt No. /
returned from the dining-room, and wa
pointed out to him by the clerk. He in
troduced himself, and the two men bear
ing the same name, who were totally I'M
known to e1ch other, sat down to a con-
versation which disclosed the following
remarkable c~oincidents:
Moffatt No. l was born in Maine, and
was thirty-one years old the third day of
January, 1876. Mofatt No. 2 was born
in California, and was t~hirty-one years
old on the third day of January, 1876.
The father of both families was named
Charles, and the mother Mary. Each
have two sisters living and one brother
dead, whose name was Charles, named
after their fathers. Both were propri'
etors of livery and feed stables in their
respective places of residence, and the
residences of both were consumed by
fire on the 9th of March, 1875, and were
insured in the Etna Fire Insurance
Company. These two men are very SINH
lar in appearance. In height, avoirdu'
pois and general appearance they ara
almost enough alike to be twins. The
only difference is in the complexion and
color of the hair. The Maine man.
: hair is black, while that of the Califor
MAN is fiery red.
These two men stayed over night a
the Lindell House and departed in thu
morning, the Californian on his way II
Maine on business, while the Maine ma
goes to California for the benefit of hi
!. health.
!, When the fact is taken into considers
ton, Il at these two men we're no kin, ha'
, never heard of each other or their re
! spective families before this strange meet
: ing, this chapter of coincidents will rea
. all the more like a omanc Thes
: statements, however, are actually true
just as we have stated them, and wi
be verified by Mr.. Moore of the Linde
Hotel.