The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-13
ACCIDENTS OF A LIFE.
THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES
OF A NEW YORK MERCHANT.

1cnOla 1OuuS, u "feSpeCGaDlo mercuauC
Of New York city, turned the key in his
store door and directed his steps home
ward.
He had been busily engaged in taking
account of stock, and was, therefore, un.
usually late. A model of regularity in
all his habits, he was never known to, be
out of his house after ten in the even
ing, except on s7ch periodical occasions
rs the present.
Ho was a plain man of forty-fve, who
had never married, and inhabited an IN
pretending but comfortable abode in
what was then the semi-rural district
about Blocker street. His family con-
sisted solely of his old housekeeper and
q colored man.
He had not walked far on tho night in
question, when he was startled by q cry
rs of a female in distress, seemingly
proceeding from a close carriage, which
was driving past at q moderate rate of
speed. The vehicle had not como twenty
yards further before the cry was again
raised, clear and shriI, and he distinctly
saw a white handkerchief waving from
the window.
Constitutionally fearless, and endowed
with no small share of native chivalry,
Mr.. Young lost 70 time in fastening to
the rescue OF the presumed captive.
accident seemed to favor him, for just
then the driver dropped is whip, and.
before he could recover it and regain
bis seat, the merchant was at the car
rage door, which he attempted to open.
He was resisted by o strong grasp from
within, while q man thrust his head
from the window and angrily demanded
what was meant by such unwarrantable
intrusion.
Mr.. Young as peremptorily inquired
whether Il female was being carried off
against her will, and stated his intention
Of searching into the matter. He was
answered at once by a blow on the head
from a slungshot, or similar instrument,
which felled him to the ground %iusensi-
ole. On recovering, he found himself
lying, gagged and bound, at the bottom
Of the coach, which was being driven
furiously. Defenseless as a sheep borne
to the SHAMELESS, he could only await his
fate with such resignation as he could
muster.
Hours seemed to pass before the vehi-
Gle came to q stop, when the door was
opened and he was lifted out in perfect
silence by two tout men. He now saw,
by the glimmering starlight, that they
we're standing on the further end OF a
long wharf-a pier-the other extremity
Of which was hidden in darkness. Rock
ing on the waves, almost under their
feet, lay a small rowboat. Into this,
still without a word being spoken, he
was transferred by the same hands, and
it was then made fast to the stern of a
sailing vessel, which lay close by with
all her canvas set. His two captors
climbed aboard the latter craft, whose
anchor was immediately weighed, and
she stood out to sea, towing MI. Young,
alone and helpless, behind her.
Before morning the boat wa cast off,
the sailing vessel quickly disappeared
from his view, and thoAunfortunate mer.
chant found himself drifting, without
oars or provisions, at the mercy Of the
Y When day broke, he had suc-
ceeded in freeing M of his hands, and
shortly afterward released himself from
all his fastenings. He now discovered
that his pockets had been riHed, and his
watch and wallet taken, together with
the keys of his Office door and safe.
On the morning following Mr..
Young's abduction, Mrs. Comft, bis
housekeeper, awaited in vain his ap-
pearance at the breakfast table. Never
before, during the fifteen years she had
lived with him, had he been ten minutes
behind time. Of course, he must be
indisposed. With some trepidation she
she went up stairs and knocked at his
chamber door. The summons, again
and again repeated, awakened no re-
Spouse. he might have gone out for a
walk, though such had never been his
habit. An hour passed, and she grew
seriously alarmed. Finally, when a
business acquaintance Of Mr.. Young's
called to inquire why his store remained
closed, Mrs. Oomit procured assistance,
and her masters door was broken open.
A careful search of the apartment only
resulted in showing that it had appa-
rently not been occupied during the pre-
ceding night.
Days and weeks rolled on, and moth
ing was seen or heard of the missing
merchant. Advertisements appeared in
the leading journals. Offering liberal re-
wards for information concerning him !;
bat no. LAS forthcoming. The case
created considerable excitement as well
in the community at large, rs among
Mr.. Young's immediate connections,
but all attempts to u~nravel the mys-
terry proved unavailing +; and when, n
moraing, his Office safe was found open,
and robbed of all its valuable %contcuts,
the conclusion was generally arrived at
that he had been foully dealt with, and
that his temperance was not to be
looked for. A distant relative of the
lost man came forward, instituted the
necessary proceedings, and took quiet
possession of the property which MIR.
Young had toiled through so manyye
to amass.
To return. now, to our ill.fated hero
himself.
After drifting in his boat for two
days, the weather being fortunately
calm and moderate, he was picked up by
a homeward bound italian brig. AS