The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-11-11
A Sad Story.
baltimore Americana


Among the shabby, dirty and ragged
unfortunates which came to the South
ern station last night to obtain IL
pight's lodging was an old man bent
with years and showing the evidences
of fatigue and travel by his totterln9
footsteps and wretched apparel. He
gave his name to Captain Delanty as
Paul Feniler of New Orleans, and was
shown back TO the room assigned to
tramps. A glance at his rags aud
carewoIn face wonld never suggest to
the observer that Paul Neniler was at
one time leading business man and
prominent citizen of the Crescent
City, hut such is indeed the case, and
| the history of his life has in it ali the
elements of a dramatic story, which
We may read, throw aside and say it
is improbable. A few points III the
life of this unfortunate individual
may not be uminteresting. About
thirty five years ago there arrived in
New Orleans a young and handsome
man, accompanied by his wife, a Gre
ole, in the full bloom of her youthful
beauty. The couple had come from
Martinique, and brought with them u
large sum of money, which Teniler
proposed to invest in trade. They
settled in IL magnificent house on the
bank of Lake Pontchartrain, which
became, on account of the social quail
tiles of its master and mistress, the
central point of attraction for the
aristrocatical people of the neighbor-
hood. The husband had in the mean
time embarked in the shipping and
commission business and WAS very
successful. Realizing largely on his
Investments he became one nf the
wealthiest citizens, while he ut the
same time attained reputation for
unblemished business integrity, pro-
bity and honesty. Thee children had
been born, and every bright prospect
in life seemed attainable without eff
fort To the young couple. About this
| time gambler, well known in those
days for his success with cards. and
remarkable for his handsome exterior
and pleasing address, met Madame
Eeuiler at u bal masque. Other meet
ings followed, and ;hefooliSh woman
abandoning her luxurious home, her
children, her husband and her honor,
listened to the seductive addresses ai
her destroyer and fled to Cuba. The
husband followed. but never succeeded
in coming up with his wife, to whom
he had forgiveness to offer; nor with
her seducer, for whom he had ven
geance. He gave up the pursuit and
returned 10 New Orleans Bnt bust
ness had no longer any interest fnl
him, now that she for whom he laborcd
so earnestly had deserted him. The
three children fell victims to the chOl-
era. and Neniler, Il broken dawn man
aged before he was old, sold ont hi,
business interests and disappeared
Some weeks later he was discovered
on the levee wandering up aud down
homeless, and without penny of the
large sum he had realized by the sale
of his property. He was taken to 4
madhouse, where he remained fol
tweuty-three years, and finally. whel
former friends had forgotten him and
he was no lauger an object of interest,"
TO the outside world, be WAS released
helpless and prnniless, to live or die
as chance befell him. In his wander
ings he reached Baltimore last night.
carrying with him, as a link connect
ing him with happier days, the New
Orleans and Mobile papers which told
the story of his wife's lesrrtipu, the
subsequent death of the children, aud
of his immurement in the madhoase
Poor old mani he has hut few steps
to take in life before he will 60 out
with the tide, the wreck of II life
blasted by wonlan's perfdy.