Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-14
A Romance ia Real Life.
A Remarkable, True story.

Last Thursday forenoon young man
about twenty-three years of age arrived
by train N this village, and seeking the
residence of Mr.. Albert Glidden,on Main
street, there found his only near relative,
a sister, from whom he had been separated
for over eighteen years The young man
in question is named George WOodman
his sister is Miss Anuie Woodman, a
young lady two years her brothers senior,
who has worked in the family Of MIR.
Glidden for the past six or seven years,
and is probably quite we'll known IN the
village Such a story as that of their
long separation, utterly lost to each other,
is one that is rarely met with outside the
pages of a novel, and correctly illustrates
the phraso"Truth is stranger than fiction"
Eighteen years ago the mother Of
George aud Annie Woodman died in
Portland, in this State, the father having
previously died After the mothers
death the daughter was put in the orphans
asylum in that city and the son was
bound during his minority to a woman
calling herself Lopez. This transaction
seems to have been done by q gentleman
living in Cape Elizabeth, formerly sea
captain, now a farmer, friend Of the
Woodmsn family, and who did not know
the real character Of Madame Lopez. as
she styled herself George, now surnamed
Lopez, was Immediately put in training
for a gymnast and cruelty forced to learn
whatever was laid out for him, and that
his tasks were no easy one is proved by
the marks he bears on his person to-day,
effects of his numerous falls. At Que
time he was confined to his bed thee
months the result of falling sixteen feet
while learning a new act. Kicks aud
cuffs were the rewards Of every failure.
Under this woman's management he
remained thirteen years performing IN
various shows" and circuseS. Some
where about ten years ago he visited this
part Of the State with the Eugene Theat-
rical Company" which exhibited IN Bath
and he thinks in Boothbay and this place.
lie was also afterward with Robinson Is
Circus in the State Twice during this
time he essayod 10 escape from the tender
care of Madame Lopez, both attempts be-
INC unsuccessful and only gaining for him
unmerciful beatings When he was eight
cen years of age he tried the third time,
which never fails and it didn't. He
eluded his prosecutors in Pittsburg, Penn,
and launched out into the world alone.
From that date to the present he has
been d: fitting hither and lhither, most OF
the time at sea, his wanderings taking in
a good portion Of the globe. One incident
OF his sea life was his escape from the i'll
fated steamship Metropolis" on which
he was a cook. About four years ago he
shipped in Philadelphia on the schooner
Agnes, OF Bath, Capt Merrill hodgdon,
OF Boothbay and remained with the latter
about three months, eight weeks of which
were spent at Boothbay in repairing the
vessel During all these years the mem
DRY OF his sister never faded, and on two
occasions previous 10 this last he worked
his way to Portland in the hope OF getting
a clue TO her whereabouts, but was disap-
poin.ed.
A few weeks ago he shipped as cook
on a steam coaer from Philadelphia TO
Salem, Mass, and on arriving at the lat
ter place resolved to make another at
tempt TO fnd his sister. He came to
Portland by cars and sought out the Cape
Elizabeth gentleman, who advised him to
male his case known at the orphan asy-
lum The good people there after dihgent
search, rewarded him with the information
thst his sister had been taken about thir-
teen years ago by Capt. Samuel Borland,
Of Damariscotta Mills. For that place
he at once started, arriving on the morn
ing train last Thursday In store there
he soon learned Of Capt Borland's death,
and the questioned party also knew ofthe
sisters removal here
The long separation was soon at an end.
-DamariscOtta Herald