The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-09
AN ASTONISHING RETURN.
SAMUEL WENRICH CoMLs BACK TO HIS OLD
HOME AFTER SEVENTEEN YEARS IN GENITAL
AFRICA.

SAMUEL WENRICH CoMIS RACK TO HIS OLD
HOME AFTER SEVENTEEN YEARS IN GENITAL
From the Coal Gazettc.1
Twenty years ago George Wenrich owned and
aavigatod a canal boat plying between Philadeph ia
and the Schuy KIN county coal regions Hs had two
sons samuel and John. Tho latter was killed by a
fall, and the father died soon after. 1t was in the
month OF April 1861 that Samuel lett what friends o
had In this city, went TO New York and shipped
schooner bound for Brazil with no definite object IN
view.
Seventeen years have passed since he, then mere
STRIPPING and beardess youth, left his native coun
history OF the world. The great reoe,iion, which
for tour years had convulsed the country
In the shroes OF civil War. came and passed
uel Weprch. AT the close OF the war his
relatives had strong hopes Of bis return, but years
passed on, tidings received OF him and he
vas given up Tor dead. lew days ago a heavy
bearded, swarthy and foreign looking man appeared
upon our pubic streets He looked more like a mu-
latte than a CAUCASIAN, aud MS hair tell in heavy
ringlets down his broad shoulders He looked 10 be
man In the very pr'ne oil iife anu his dark features
and strange dress were the wonderment oil every one
who him. Sometimes in tho mornings he would
appear the streets with coat on heavy enough to
40 service IN the winter. HIS beard was at least
Twelve inches in length aud his long mustache was
the envy Of all young men who mad only an pcipient
growth Of hair on their upper mp.
An Eagle representative met him and received the
following history OF his life. II IS so strangely
blended together with the reality OF facts and
the glowing light OF romance that II 10 hard TO be-
Iicve II. Mr.. wcnrich not having heard English
spoken Tor go many years feels quite embarrassed
and then 1t is quite diiicuit TO Understand him. ne
said:-
ACCOUNT or HIS wAspERINGs.
"When l lott New YORK, IN lsol had about 500
In my pocket have some oil that same money with
now. arrived in Rio Janeiro IN the latter part
OF April and was thrown out OF job then shipped
from place In u vess el consigucd to Cape Town.
South Africa; but never reached That point. II was
all plain sailing until We arrived or the west coast Of
geography, aud / and that IL must have been
the mouth oil the Congo River. Wncn wo came there
violent storm ar ose and swept Two 81 orr men over
board. Another sailor and myself were sent on
shore In search OF wator. l never knew his name.
but think bo came from Portugal Ii was early IN
the morning when we came on shore, and,
hiding our boat, went inland. We were
quite successful in our search, and we re-
turned TO signal TO tho ship; but whist was
our CONSERVATION and dismay wnen we discovered
that there no ship In sight We climbed on tho
trees and yelled ourselves hoarso; but II was oil no
The ship was gone, but where We knew not.
That night We laid down In the open air TO Sleep
weary aud exhausted When 1 awoke IN the morning
my companion was gone, knew not where again
went inland Tor about mile, and, by blood tracks
discovered hts remains, horribly mangled no DOUBT
by lion. ~ lrst thought OF jumping nto the wa
tor, and thus end my own misery. l climbed on a
high mountsin, and sesisg number OF natvesa lew
miles away went 10 them ana by signs and caresses
mado them understand that wished 10 be their
friend IL was rather hunttating, tell you, but 1
did H. have lived with Thorn over sixteen ycars IL
was only by n stroke OF good luck that l got away.
had given w, years ago, all hopes OF returning
homo, but lhsre was ming that lmbued me with
a desire to return ~ my native country.
"I this taDd be spread out before tho reporter
a large cambrle handkerchief having IN one OF the
corners the name OF Henry N. staaley) 81 had given
up all hopo OF ever seeing my friends again on tbs
earth but when came across this IL put new lie Into
me. was taken inland about i've hundred miles, ana
there ivod all these yesrA Wnen Irst came there
was closely gu rdcd but as the years rolled on aud
! made no attempt to escape, was allowed 70 stay
away from the village rs long as pleased One Gay.
alter had been away three days while was crossing
large rivor found this handkerchief between TWO
rocks Whom saw thai u was an article only USED ~
civilized countries | knew that whiIo men had
pocn there and from It's appearances knew
that IL coulont have been very long went
down 10 tho village, aud was told that whlls
had been there, put had gone away two days be-
lore NY feelings can be better imagined Than dc.
scrbed. Amer ssayDg ali tbcss years with the savaeei
l hza q secret wish 10 return home again. One day
started out 10 be absent ABOUT week. travelled ny
night day auo must havs been about at least
eighty days the road. AT length wed az Cape
Town aud my appearance created quite an excitement
sailed rom that point 10 Now York about Two
months ago and here am"
lie left last evening To visit friends IN Lebanon
county, who have long since gwen bim up as dead
Rcddtng Edgle.