Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-15


escaping the country, and longing even
to flee the fellowship of civilized man.
The opportunity was finally discovered in
snip sailing around Cape Horn for the
Pacific coast, on board of which nv SER
wees were accepted in a mental capacity.
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.
need not describe the experience of
long and tedious voyage, and the hard
ships and indignities put upon me in con-
sequence of inefficiency and total igno-
rance OF seaman's duties. To me it was
OF little account. But the change of life
and scene, and the sea air, had a wonder
ful effect in repairing my mental and
physical strength. 1t 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 bitter
collection
AS necessity required, sought en-
ployment, and managed to sustain myself,
leading istless, purposeless sort of life.
But the monotony soon became Oppres-
slye, 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 in which my worst fears
Tunr rnali1a1 IL =.
whose house 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 remorse had so far embittered my ex-
istence, that disdained longer to strug-
| gle for its continuance.
"Gentlemen," | exclaimed, as the of
ticers inclosed my wrists with iron shack
les, "takc your accused reward! ! am
| Charles Harden, murderer, from"
They dragged me to prison, and the
officers of the law came and questioned
me. 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 a
gloomy cell, awaiting the final decree of
fate, until calm indifference succeeded
despair, and gradually every emotion,
even life itself. seemed to subside into a
| dream.
| But day came when my sensibilities
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 of
remorse again descended.
An old man whose kindly countenance
had become familiar to me, as in a 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 soon
be out in the world again"
Then was not in prison, but an insane
asylum. Thank heaven my wretched
guilt had not been discovered.
And then | learned from the old man
the circumstances Of my arrest as luna
tic, and the nature of YIN affection. In the
operation of trepanning at the hand of I'M
skilled surgeons, small splinter of the
fractured skull had been left adhering in
a position to irritate the membrane of the
brain, and this trifiing oversight had
caused the insanity attended with such
sad results, TO blast the happiness of my
life forever, and stamped my memory
with the ignominy of murder.
The arrangement had been effectively
repaired by the skilled surgeon of the
asylum, and my mind now rapidly recov-
cred its original power. But what availed
t, / reflected bitterly land why had been
restored from peaceful lunacy to con-
ciOusness to which death would be re-
lief
One morning the old attendant of
whom | had spoken interrupted my
gloomy meditations with countenance
more than usually cheerful, that seemed
to radiate the heart of some hidden
hope.
Harden" he remarked, "you are grow
| ing vigorous again in both body and
mind. have a message for you that
may excite you lite. Do you think
you can stand an agreeable surprise?'
Anything agreeable to hear would
need be SURPRISE" | replied. s'But, my
dear friend, fear the world could now
hardly afford message to me sufficient
ly pleasurable to inspire any apprehensi-
BILE excitement"
"Well, if you are confident to that ex-
tent, | will permit the bearer of the mes
sage to impart it directly to you''
The old man withdrew, and presently
returned with companion A thrill, re
monitory of some great surprise, startled
me as heard the approaching footsteps.
raised my eyes. Great Heavens! they
met the old loye-look of my wife, ready
to advance into my arms.
The ardor which l returned her en-
brace was assuring that my power of
nerve was restored.
The last great hallucination was dis
hevelled, and ray of gladness burst in
upon my heart, streaming through the
dark cloud of despair that had hung over
me those long and wretched years. /
laughed and wept by turns. And then
drew the recovered treasure of my life
more firmly to my breast, fearful / was
still in dream, that might Danish and
leave me again in misery and despair.
''And how did you follow me hereg'
| demanded, when sufficiently collected
to make the inquiry.
"There is your address," my wife re-
piled, handing me an Eastern paper con-
tanning the following paragraph, copied
from San Francisco paper:
"For Stockon-An unknown man was
taken from boarding house on Sansome
street yesterday, and brought before the
commissioners of lunacy, and by them