The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-01
BALTlMoRE,s LAST SENSATION.

/
Particulars reached Baltimore recently of an
exceedingly interesting and romantic case in Will
mington Delaware. Thomas Patterson, brother
OF United States District Attorney Patterson, who
disappeared from Baltimore, after bidding his
young and lovely wife adieu, some fifteen years
ago. and was long supposed to have been dead,
has appeared at Grand Rapids, Michigan Mrs
Patterson is the daughter of Mr.. E. L. Rice, Jr, a
wealthy citizen of Wilmington. Patterson's alb
sence, after saying "good by" to his wife, was
unexplained until his relatives read in newspa-
per the description of an unknown man who had
been found dead in Erie, Pa. The body was sub
sequently identified by brother of Patterson as
that of the missing man, the letters T. p in India
ink on his arm being to him conclusive evidence.
The body was inferred in the family lot in Will
mingtOn, and the tomb cared for and adorned
with flowers, which were tenderly watered by
the tears of the supposed widow. The discov-
cries just made show that Patterson after falling
into dsreputable habits went to Texas and was
captured by the Indians. He subsequently
escaped and made his way to Michigan, where he
amassed a comfortable fortune. A short time ago
Mrs. Patterson, who still resides with her parents
in Wilmington, was surprised to receive an en-
velope bearing the postmark of Grand Rapids,
and at once recognized the handwriting of her
husband. The discovery at first seemed like a
DREAM but when the seal was broken and she
hurriedly glanced at the signature her fond hopes
were fully realized. 1t conveyed the joyful in
telligence that Mr.. Thomas Patterson is pros
porous merchant of large city in Michigan; the
communication further stated that the writer had
years ago discarded all his bad habits, was lead
ing the exemplary life of an honest temperate
man. and that by strict attention to business he
had accumulated a fortune. 1t is understood
that he will return to Wilmington. Mrs Patter-
son is still a beautiful woman, and has had many
suitors for her hand since the supposed death of
her husband, all of whom of course, she declined
A NEW TUNNEL UNDER MONT BLANC,
The construction of another great Alpine tun-
mel which should bring Paris and the north of
France into more direct communication with
Italy than is afforded by the existing tunnel
through Mont Cents is under consideration with
the French government, the projects including
not only one through Mont Blanc, but also
through the Simplon or the Great St. Bernard
1t is not likely, however that the latter will meet
with much encouragement. The tunnel under
the Smplon would be 6O,719 feet long while that
under Mont Blanc is only 1892 feet As COM
pared with other Alpine tunnels, Mont Gents is
40,093 feet and ST. Gothard 1882 feet. The
Simplon would, therefore, be longest of ALL but
on the other hand, it would be on lower level
than the others. the entrance at Brieg being only
1888 feet and that at Isele 1888 feet above the
sea level. The entrance to the Mont Blanc tun-
mel would be 2,345 feet at Montquart, and 4215
feet at Entreves above the sea level The Bar
donneche entrance to Mont Cents is 1910 feet
and that at Modane 3,799 feet, while in the case
of the St. Gothard tunnel the northern entrance
at GuschenOn is 1858 feet, and the southern at
Airolo, 1856 feet above the sea. Thus the Mont
Gents tunnel is shorter, $50 feet higher than the
Mont Blanc while the SimplOn would be about
half as long again, but about 1000 feet lower
SuppOsing that the operations would be con-
Quoted at the same rate as they have been at ST.
Gothard, the boring will take 4,21S days. or work
inc at both ends, 2109-nearly six years. The
total sum for the execution of the work is esti-
mated at 544 millions of francs (St Gothard
having cost 81 millions) though this amount
would only apply to the actual piercing of the
tunnel and a large additional sum would be re-
quired for the laying down of the line, the ap-
proaches &c. The distance between Paris and
Brindisi would be shortened by about twenty
four miles, but the real benefit that both France
and Italy would reap would be in the great IA
cilites for the interchange of commerce between
the two cOuntres-London Times.