Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-11

er portion OF the distance working as one
of the crew of canal boat I wandered |
along the wharves of the metropolis,
searching anxiously for some means of |
escaping the country, and longing even
to flee the fellowship of civilized man.
The opportunity was finally discovered in
a ship sailing around Cape Horn for the
Pacific coast, on board of which my ser
vices were accepted in mental capacity.
l was soon safe from discovery and
pursuit, and free upon the boundless wa
ters-free as one could feel with the re-
morse of hellish deed upon his soul, and
the abandonment of all hope of happy
hour in life again.
l need not describe the experience of
a long and tedious voyage, and the hard
ships and indignities put upon me in con-
rance OF a seaman's duties. To me it was
of little account. But the change Of life
and scene, and the sea air, had a wonder
full effect in repairing my mental and
physical strength. It was on bright
September morning that first spied the
hazy shores of California, and in day or
two thereafter sauntered along the streets
of San Francisco, alone in a new world,
with only the companionship Of a bitter
recollection.
AS necessity required, I sought en-
ployment, and managed to sustain myself,
leading listless, purposeless sort of life.
But the monotony soon became oppres
sive, and the apprehension Of ultimate
| discovery excited renewed anxiety.
Frequently fancied the recognition of a
familiar countenance on the streets, that
kept me in painful uncertainty.
| The day came i'm which my worst fears
were realized. The miserable wretch in
whose house I was sojourning delivered
me into the hands of justice. By what
means he discovered my identity could
not determine; but met my fate boldly,
for remorsc had so far cmbittered my ex-
istence, that disdained longer to strug-
gle for its continuance
Gentlemen" exclaimed, as the Of
icers Enclosed my wrists with iron shack
les, @'take your accursed reward! | am
Charles Harden, murderer, from"
They dragged me to prison, and the
officers of the law came and questioned
nae. l told them ALL and they transfer
red me to more secure confinement lest
/ should escape again the retribution OF
crime.
| Long fingered in the solitude of 3
gloomy cell, awaiting the final decree o.
fate, until calm Indifference succeeded
despair, and gradually every emotion
even life itself. seemed to subside into
dream.
But aday came when my sensibilitie
seemed terminating, like one emerging
from trance. Slowly my mind mani
tested activity, and in time recalled my
identity; when suddenly the recollection
Of my whole life flooded back upon me
and all the weight of its great burden O
renorse again descended.
An old man whose kindly countenanc'
had become familiar to me, as in vision
appeared and sought to rally my despond
ency with words of hope and encourage
ment.
: You have had long, bad spell
Harden, he remarked, "but.you are com
; ing around all right now, and will sool
be out in the world again.
Then was not in prison, but an insan
| asylum. Thank heaven my wretchet
guilt had not been discovered
And then learned from the old MAJ
the circumstances ,ofmy arrest as a luna
, tic, and the nature of YIN affection. In tn
operation of trepanning at the hand Of I'm
skilled surgeons, a>small splinter of til
fractured skull had been left adhering il
t a position to initiate the membrane of tn
brain, and this trifling oversight ha'
caused the insanity attended with sue
!, sad results, to blast the happiness of m
r life forever, and stamped my .memor
:: with the ignominy of murder.
1 The arrangement had been effectivel
: repaired by the skilled surgeon of tn
I asylum, and my mind now rapidly reco,
l. cred its original power. But what availe
4 it, reflected bitterly and why had bee
y restored from peaceful lunacy to a con
ciousness to which death would be rf
It lief.
One morning the cid attendant
d whom l had spoken interrupted IN
) gloomy meditations with countenane
, more than usually cheerful, that SCENE
+ to radiate the heart of some hidde
;. hope.
: Harden" he remarked, Hyou are GROW
n ing vigorous again in both body an
It mind. l have message for you thu
y may excite you lite. Do you thin
e you can stand an agreeable SURPRISED"
o Anything agreeable to hear woul
It need be a surprise" replied. ''But, m
n dear friend, I fear the world could no,
II hardly afford message to me sufficien
" pleasurable to inspire any apprehens
e bic excitement"
l. "Well, if you are confident to that e,
It tent, will permit the bearer of the me-
q sage to impart it directly to you.''
l. The old man withdrew, and present.
l. returned with companion. A thrill, r.
l. monitory of some great surprise, startle
: me as l heard the approaching footstep
n l raised my eyes. Great Heavens! the
g met the old love-look of my wife, read
to advance into my arms.
r The ardor which 1 returned her en-
1t brace was assuring that my power
$ nerve was restored.
n The last great hallucination was di
h hevelled, and ray of gladness burst j
?, upon my heart, streaming through til
!. dark cloud Of despair that had hung ovt
II me those long and wretched years.
t, laughed and wept by turns. And then
q drew the recovered treasure of nv lii
1t more firmly to my breast, fearful 1 w,
lie still in dream, that MI ht Danish an
1t leave me again in misery and despair
"And how did you follow me here
y l demanded, when sufficiently collecte
e, to make the inquiry.
s.. ''There is your address, my wife r.
h piled, handing me an Eastern paper COZ
a tanning the following paragraph, copie
it from San Francisco paper:
Re "For Stockton unknown man W.
l. taken from boarding house on Samson
d street yesterday, and brought before IL