Evening star., 1877-10-06
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
A Father Finds His Son After n Sep.
aralisn Of thirteen Years.

A Father Finds His Son After n Sep.
aratisn Of Thirteen Years.
On Friday morning OF last week a genteel
looking stranger introduced himself to Maj or
Richards, At police headquarters, as b.
Frank Eros, clerk TO the police BOARD at
Rochester, New York, and presented a letter
from MAY or Parsons OF that city. The visi-
tor stated that he had been sent here by the
mayor TO get an orphan boy from the Sol
dieTs' aud Sailors Orphans Home in this
city, and being a stranger desired directions
and assistance from the police. Major
Richards after bearing his story, and looking
over sucn papvrs as ne produced, called In
Detective Clarvoe and requested him TO rem
der Mr.. EGos such assistance as he needed.
A STRANGE STORY.
The story told by him was SO strange that
IL enlisted the warmest sympathy Ot Mr..
Clarvoe, who at once set about arranging for
the accomplishment of his mission here.
Among the papers he produced were several
letters from l.. Fsyette Sykes, of this city, 10
Mayor Parsons, of Rochester, asking his aid
IN discovering the father of Willie Neil, or
Neal, a youth in the soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home, the whereabouts of whose
father was supposed to be in the neighbor-
hood of Rochester, letters from Gen. David
Hunter, Mrs. Gen Hunter, and others con-
nected with the Home to the mayor. aud
copies OF the answers thereto from the
this lad, now about tsirteen years of
age, bad been lost sight Of by his father,
soldier during the war IN one of the New
York regiments attached 70 the army of the
Potomac, that he had not he ard OF In im sine !.
he was left wsif upon the world a few
months after the death of his wife, which Oc-
CURED in this city while he was with his
regiment at the front. This correspondence
having been commenced by Mr.. L. Fdyette
Sy keS, the first move of the officer was 10
nnd that sedIl sman- They comm 9ncai their
search and soon found that be had left the
District in July last Tor parts uuknOwa
since which no trace could BE- found of him.
They then called at the Soldiers and Sailors
Home on q, between Eth and iSth streets and
introduced themselves to- the matrol Ms
Sarah Frost, who had already been intorluaI
by letter of their mission, Iut Willie was
called into the parlOr and Informed of ths o.
ject of the visit and the prospect of soon
meeting his father. Willie cook the matter
quite cool, but seemed to brighten up as his
future change III life flashed through his
mind, aud was anxious to set at once about
preparing to leave the Home. The purpose
IN nndiDg Mr.. Sy kes was TO get all the histo-
- of The boy tney could for Information OF
his father. After the disappearance of Mr..
Sykes the CORES pOndence with Mayor Par
sons was kept up by General Hunter, at the
Instance OF Mrs. Hunter, who Is president of
the Soldiers and Sailors Home, and who
has taken a great interest in the welfare of
the lad. To General Hunter belongs the credit
OF arranging for the transportation of the
boy TO bis home in Rochester. IL was ar
ranged between the matrOn and officers that
Willie should be got in readiness to leave
that evening, and that Messrs. Enos and
Clarvoe should call for him later in the day.
The officers then proceeded to the residence
OF General Hunter, on L street, where the
matter was fully discussed with Mrs. H.
PATHETIC PARTING SCENE.
AT the hour appointed, the officers called
1or w lille, VINO was in readiness, and after
An anectlonate leave-taking with all tn.
boys, and a regretful parting with the kind
hearted matrOn and his generous friends,
Mrs. General Hunter and the general he
bounded with light. heart TO the carriage.
anu was soon out of sight Mr.. ClaryOS ac-
cOmpanied Mr.. Enos and bis ward TO the de.
pot, and after giving hlm a supply of fruits
and sweetmeats, reminded him tnat In his
new home he must not forget his kind friends
In this city, and hoped TO see him come back
mere some day member of COngess- Tne
cars were about starting when Willie seemed
Ior the nISt time To realize the separation
from his friends and associations, and the
tears coming into his eyes he com pletely
broke down under IL and left tie depot in that
state.
A FOUR MONTHS OLD ORPHAN AND HIS
FRIENDS.
Desiring TO know more of the history of
this case, STAB reporter, 1n Company with
MI. Ciarvoe, called upon the matrOn of the
Home yesterday. They were welcomed in
by this kind lady, who, upon mention of the
name of Willie, seemed greatly affected
especially when told that he broke down al
leaving this city. She said Willie was q
good, truthful and honest boy, and although
q little mischievOus some times, was a gem
erai favOrite, and when the carriage door
closed upon him the night before the chi ID
zen exclaimed, 80, my, don't IL seem as IL a
funeral had taken place" She then related
that Mrs. Captain Morris, who lived during
the war in East Washington, and now resides
at saeketts Haroor, N. Y, was the first one
four months old when his mother died in
Providence hospital. Mrs. Morris provided
clothing and home for the infant for two
years with Kate Jones, a nurse or patient In
the hospital, she didn't know which. at the
same time the chid's mother was there Mrs
Morris, generous hearted lady, was a con-
slant visitor at the hospital and, knowing
the little orphan, looked after Ii constantly:
had II baptized in st. PauI'S (EpiscopalI
cn1ren' Gnu standing god mother for it herself,
efforts In looking after Willie, and the inter-
est she awakened among other benevolent
persons, that
THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ORPHANS
HOME
was instituted; first at the navy yard; then IT
was moved 10 the Spanish minister's old re-
sidence, on Capitol Hill; then to Kendall
Green finally TO its present comfortable
quarters on y street. and Willie was the irst
child entered IN IL. There have been a large
number OF OrIha raised there and provided
with homes al the age of sixteen years but
none more beloved taan little Willie. There
are now but nfteen children left there.
call was next made by the reporter at
the residence Of Gen. Hunter. Mrs Hunter
was about 10 start 10 the Home TO attend a
meeting OF Tie lady managers, bat the Cen
eral afforded all the Information ne could
From him, and by means OF "a clipping from
the Roche ster Democrat OF the Ijtn uIti1nO
which lie had received from Mayor Parsons,
III was asceriaIned that in April last the latter
received "a letter from Sykes inquiring In
penalI OF W lie Neal whether there was a
Rev MI johnson at Rochester, who resided
there fFom 1915 tO 1854, who, IL was thou ght
haG married NtilIe's parents, that there
scented 10 be doubt aS 20 the name whether
IL was Neal, Neil, or kneale. Mrs. Kneale
was admitted 20 Providence hospital August
iZth and died there September Ist, fS55. On
her deatn bed she was heard 10 say that She
was married In Rochester by a Presbyterian
minister by the name of Johnson, which cir
eumsiance Induced this Inquiry. Publica-
lions made in the Rochester papers a1ou,
this case were circulated, and on the IItn a
man entered the may or's OF &c and intro
duced himself "a William kneale, aud said
iunnlrp no Ha
convinced the mayor that he was
THE FATHER OF THE Orphan BOY.
The paper IN possession of Gen. Hunter re-
cues mat kneale, was a carpen ier, who emi-
grated 10 this country from the Isle of Man
anu went 10 Rochester in 1851. When the
war broke out he enlisted as a two years
man In Capt. Wanzer's company, of the q III
regiment \. Y volunteers, on MayT, 1851.
He served his term, returned to Ro.hesfer
and soon after re-enlisted in Capt McPner-
sons company, OF the 10th n. Y cavalry
Some time before leaving for the front he
was married to . Miss Johnson, and leaving
bis wife he Joined his regiment. This WAS in
ar n of He