Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-09


at hand, rather than abide his fate, or seek
refuge 10 suicide, he left his wife and friend
and business, and took fight, arriving in
San Francisco in 1866. Cronan was in
every way an extraordinary man-tall, OF
soldierly bearing, and Of fine presence, he
was withal highly accomplished. A brilliant
conversationalist and splendid liuguist, he
could converse in French Spanish, Italian
and German, as we'll as in English aud Gel
tic. He was also a mathematician, could
steer a ship, construct fort on the most ap.
proved principles Of engineering; was an
architect, machinist excelcd in chirogra-
ply, was 6rst-class book.keeper, musl-
clan, singer, and skillful fencer-iu short,
he was in many respects q second Admirable
Crichton. He arrived 10 San Francisco
without dollar, and he was glad to get
job at shoveling sand. With his other natu-
raj qualities aud qualifications he was gifted
with cheerful, hopeful disposition, which
nothing could disturb. lie did very well at
sand-shoveling, and, though ambitious, was
content. When he had been about three
months in the city, he began to make ac-
quaintancos, not among the hoodlum classes,
but with respectable merchants, who, it is
needless to say admired his versatile powers
and resolved to help him when opportunity
offered. He was initiated into orgauza-
tons aud clubs in the city, which widened
the circle Of his acquaintance, aud Cronan
understood the tact aud art Of making the
most he could Of the circumstance. An adj
vertisement appeared in one Of the morning
papers from the Anatomical museum, on
Montgomery street, calling for person to
translate into English the French inscrip-
tons on specimens Just delivered at the mu-
scum, such translations to be written 10 a
good, legible hand. Cronan applied for the
job, and got it. He was paid $40 day
for the work, and gave the utmost satisIac-
ton to his employer. 1t would be suppos-
ing something beyond human nature to think
that he was in hurry to get through with
the job. Whenever he completed a dozen
TRANSACTIONS or so. his fertile imagination
would suggest some improvement in the work
His employer, who knew very well he could
make the public pay for 1t all when his mu-
scum was opened, readily adopted every sug.
gestion, and Cronan, ID the receipt of his
$40 day. was recuperating fast In fact,
he thought Nemsis had forgotten all about
him But she was on his track still. One
morning, he was strolliug up Montgomery
street juggling his gold in his pockets and
Illuminating whether he should try game of
chance once more or put on the armor of
virtuous resolution and keep aloof. If he
won he could go back to his wife in New
Orleans, pays his debts like man, and re-
sumo business with his friend but then,
again, if he lost-ah, there was the diff
Guilty While ponderiug in this way he
reached the corner Of Post street, where two
or three men happened to be standing, en-.
gagged in conversation. As he was brushing
past, one Of them lifted his hat. .I
"Ah, colonel" said he, "you here, Ell ?
Glad to see you. IT'S some time since we
met"
"Really, my dear sir" .aa.
you don't know me, eh ?" interrupted
the stranger.
IL have some vague recollection of you"
at this moment"
"Let me aid your memory" observed The
stranger. "Do you remember the Wilder
ness ?" I'M" .. LH-".
al should think So" replied Cronan, still
cudgeling his brains.
"Do you remember the one-armed man
you wanted to have shot as Union spy p
said the stranger, Haunting the arnless sleeve
in the others face.
"Certainly, sir, certainly" returned Gro.
nau, quickly, but without the change of a
muscle. 'Yuu are the man. believe
Your name is Smith, If don't forget"
you don't forget That's my name
And now, my dear colonel, since you remem.
Der my name, you must also remember thai
you owe me reckoning"
Anything you wish" returned Cronan,
promptly.
"Well, then" resumed Smith, 81 chal
lenge you to mortal combat. 1t is moon
light and we must meet tonight, as | hav,
urgent business which calls me elsewhere.
That evening at eight, the parties met
three blocks to the north Of Laurel hill Gem
etery Cronan went alone. the only friend
in whom he could conGde being absent from
the city. Revolvers were the weapons, anC
Cronan fell at the first exchange of shots.
The blood oozed from his side, aud he wa,
apparently dangerously, if not fatally
wounded. Smith and his friends though
him hopelessly injured, aud to conceal the
deed, wipe out all the traces OF the en-
counter, and thus prevent tedious and un,
pleasant investigation, they carried him to
Neigg's wharf, and threw him in and left
him. Tho friend. on returning to the city
and missing Cronan. acquainted six or sever
mutual friends Of the circumstance that Gro
nan had left him a note in his room announc
, ing that he was about to fight a duel. No
doubling that no was killed, they made dill
gent search for his remains, but TO no pur
pose. They were anxious to recover tn
body 10 order to give it decent interment
but the search was lruitless.
, Fifteen months aiterward, a respectable
5 painter in this city-the friend already al
9 luded to as being absent from the city at tn,
I time Of the hostile meeting-receIved a let
+. ter from our adyenturer, detailing anon
!. the other things the circumstances Of tn
e duel he fell slightly wounded; how h
s feigued insensibility for fear Of being assas
b. snated, and how the parties bore him t
9 Megg's wharf aud threw him into the water
/ where the shock from the cold water revive
}. him, and he swan out when his enemies wer
9 at short distance and finally how he LEI
Q California as cook on shipboard to escap
|, his vengeful enemy, who, he had no doub
/ would pursue him like a sleuth-heund if b
a remained in the country 1t remains to tel
IS the pOstmark Of this extraordinary letter
e and the more extraordinary announcement
4 with which it was concluded, The Versatl
n Cronan dates his letter from Cairo, an
y makes the astounding revelation that he
i an officer in high command in the khedive
i service No later than six weeks ago,
q gentleman 10 this city received a letter irOl
a Mrs. Cronau, in New Orleans, inqurin
o about her husband, stating that, as she ha
Il never heard from him since he left, she mus
}. conclude he was dead and in that event he
It interests prompted her to listen to the &C
l-- u -. f..,,... M rAr,n. IL, h,,airnna a M