Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-03-16
Helena, Montana, Thursday, March 16, 1876.
A Remarkable coincidence.
[From the Atchison (Kansas) Patriot.

! The old adage that ''truth is stranger than
| fiction has had many veritications, but none,
perhaps, more remarkable than the follow.
ing: Yesterday, on the Missouri Pacific
Railroad train, which reaches this city at a
few minutes after 10 o'clock, q stranger ar
rived, who sought out the Lindell Hotel for a
| comfortable meal and a few hours rest before
proceeding on his journey across the CONT
nent to California After his baggage had
been cared for he registered his name on the
hotel register: ''Frederick Moffatt, Bangor,
Maine 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. and G. B. Railroad, stepped
out into the hotel, and after divesting himself
of overcoat and wrappings he proceeded to
register his name and location. Much to his
surprise he found that his name, Frederick
Motfatt, had already been registered He
had not written it, he had but just arrived :;
he was total stranger-who had written the
name? He could have almost sworn the
writing was his; he was puzzled; but a bet
ter look at the register disclosed the fact that
Moffatt No. 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 Tor Moffatt No. l.
Having been Informed that he was then at
dinner, he stated that he would like an inter-
view with him, and quietly seated himself by
the stove until Motfatt No. l returned from
the dining room, and was pointed out to him
by the clerk. He introduced himself, and the
two men bearing the same name who were
totally unknown to each other sat down to a
conversation which disclosed the following
remarkable coincidents
MOffatt No. was born in Maine, and was
81 years old the Sd day of January, 1876
Moffatt No. 2 was born in California, and
was 81 years old on the Sd 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 proprietors of livery
and feed stables in their respective places of
residence, and the residences of both were
consumed by fire on the 5th day of March,
1875, and were insured in the Etna Fire
insurance Company. These two men are
very similar in appearance. In height, avor-
dupols, and general appearance they are
almost enough alike to be twins. The only
difference is in the complexion and color of
the hair. The Maine mans hair is black,
while that of the one from California is fiery
red.
These two men stayed over night at the
Lindell, and left this morning-the Califor-
1ian on his way to Maine on bushes, while |
he Maine man goes to California for the
benefit of his health.
When the fact is taken into consideration |
hat these two men were no kin, had never
heard Of each other or their respective fami-
les before this strange meeting, this chapter
# coincidents will read all the more like a
These statements, however, are
strictly true. just as we have stated them, and
will be verified by Mr.. Moore of the Lindell
HOTEL