The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-02-09
A MAN OF ILL.LUCK.

Two weeks ago there was "A man at the
Sturtevant House in this city, named John
l.. Sturgeon whose life is almost as curious
romance. Mr.. Sturgeon is perhaps
sixty, TALL spare, with grIzzed hair and
beard. He is a man of singular intelli-
ficationS; in brief, superior man in every
way. Nevertheless he Was lying, three
weeks ago, at the Sturtevant House. a re-
cipient of the bounty of few guests of
great many years ago.
Mir. Sturgeon is Il native of New Britain,
Conn, aud passed the usual boyhood of
Connecticut boy. Only from the time of
but trouble. HIS measles were quite enough
for two, and his mumps wouid have sup
piled an ordinary family. His scarlet fever
was the most scarlet that was ever known
died when he was vaccinated. lie never
went skating but the ice broke under him,
and III cuasting he was certain to be brought
home with broken sled and as a rule a
broken head. He had his right leg broken
twice before he was fourteen, and his left
thumb was shot off while he was cunning
at sixteen, and what added to the poign-
aucy of his grief at this mishap was, he
flock of crows, and set hay stack on fire,
and in predatory excursions with other
boys. he was invariably the one who was
caught and punished, while the others got
safely away with the fruit.
At twenty one he was engaged to be mar
ried to a sweet girl, but another man ran
away with her the day the wedding was 10
have taken place, and when two years after,
soured and misanthropic man, he did
marry supposed rich widow, he discov-
cred the day after the wedding that all the
property she had in the world was the
house she lived in, aud that took fire the first
day he was in it, from the carelessness of
an ungovernabe boy, that he did not know
she was possessed of, and burned down.
The insurance she had was in a company
that went into insolvency before the proofs
of the loss could be made
Somewhat discouraged by his experience
in this part of the country, Mr.. Sturgeon
determined to see if there was anything
better in store for him Oh the other side of
the Continent. The country was in state
of excitement over the discovery of gold in
California, and in 1919 he joined a party of
Adventures who were going across over
land The train they were on ran off the
track between Albany and Utica, and he
was the only man injured. He was advised
to 90 back, and SO after several minor mis-
haps, such as losing his baggage aud be-
ing egregiously swindled and robbed every
where, the party finally struck the plains.
Mr.. Sturgeon had attributed all his misfor-
tunes to the enervatng effects Of civilzi-
ton, and hoped that his luck would turn
when the conditions were changed. But
not so.
The party had not been four days out,
when he hurt his foot in such manner
that be fell behind the train, and was de-
serted by party Of Indians who had been
following the train for a good opportunity
to attack it. He was shot. The scalping
knife had already begun its dennding work,
when "A squad of cavalry in r'iisuit of this
very band arrived upon the scene jjuSt in
time TO save his life. much to Mr.. Stur.
geon's disgust, who had begun to believe
that life did not mean much for him.
He overlook and rtiancd his party. and
was taken on with them. At Green river
he lost his entire baggage by fire, and from
that on was supported by the others of the
party.
1t is proper to say here that at Hoop
skirt Guch he broke his leg, and from that
point onward was carried in wagon.
He finally arrived on the coast more dead
than alive, and was cared for by his COM
rades until he had got sufficient life to do
something for himself.
He went to the diggings, and for time
it seemed that his prOverbial i'll luck had
deserted him. and that "A new era was dawn
ing upon him. He had accumulated about
Sc 900 in dust, aud had not broken limb
or had anything burn for perhaps six
months. But one night he came to his
cabin and found that a rascally Mexican
had taken his whole hoard, and left him
nothing but his hands in the world. The
next day his claim was claimed by another
miner; the decision was against him and
he was forced to seek other fields Again
he did well for time, but a flood which
swept away his cabin and his accumula-
tions left him stranded once more.
Somewhat discouraged but still deter
mined, he commenced again and this time
did well. He struck a good claim, and
worked it till he had made 5000, when
he determined to quit mining, and go to
San Francisco, and settle there in some
business and see if the ill-luck that had
him like spectre through life
was not tired of prosecuting him. He in
vested his all in the grocery business in
1856, and was doing well when the crown
lug disaster of his life came upon him.
His wife, the widow he had married in
New Britain years before, had heard of
his prosperity, and one fine morning she
put in an appearance in San Francisco
with her son. now a young man of perhaps
twenty one. There was no help for it.
She was his lawfully welded wife, and he
took her to his heart, and promptly pro-
vided home for the family. The wife
insisted that the son should
have an interest in the business, which, to
save unpleasantness. he assented to. The
young man turned out badly, and after one
short brilliant year at the faro-tableS OF the
city, the concern was hopelessly insolveut.
The youngstcr had stolen most of the capt.
tai. He ran away with what was left and
the mother firmly declined to die, which
left him with the major part of his trou-
bles on his hands after all.
He was many things in San Francisco,
but there was but one ending 10 them all.
If he went into politics hopinu for nosi-