Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-05-26
A Wonderful Story Of a Wonder.
full Man.
rFrom the Dallas Herald. I

FROM the Ualla6 Herald.
For. . day or two past, in faot since
Wednesday afternoon, there has been stop
ping at the Grand. W indsor hotel remark.
able man. There is nothing particular
striking or that is very peculiar either IN
his appearance or manner. yet no one sees
him without looking at him second time
and being directly impressed with the idea
that there is something mysterious about
him. He ID we'll dressed, though in
fashion somewhat quaint, and he is as
pleasant, as polite and as jovial as gen--
tleman could well be. He'is not obtrusive,
neither is. he retiring or unduly retioent.
He 10 we'll informed on oil subjeots but the
current events of the past years in our
country, but of quick intelligence, he has
managed to pick up smattering knowledge
of even these. What first interested our
reporter in him, although he had looked ct
him time, and again, and though there was
something strange about tho man, was
remark he made yesterday that he had not
heard of the civil war between the States
until that morning. This was rather
starter. The man showed no symptoms of
insanity, and was long way from being an
idiot; he has ample funds and loves toddy
as we'll as the next one, and. is lavish in
ordering them. To mako long story
short, as the gentleman made himself so
pleasant our reporter determined to inter.
view him and find out if possible who he
was and What he had to say for himself, if
anything. When approached on the sub
jeot,' he smiled sadly and far away look
entered his eyes and he stopped as if in
reverie. After few moments he said: "Well.
might as we'll tell you my story as not. It
is strange and interesting one; so strange,
so marvellous that doubt if any scarcely
will believe it. I shall only give you a
brief outline, for 1 have got all my adyen-
lures, perfect diary of every event of my
life for the past twenty years nearly, since
the frat of October, 1860, written out,
and will publish them as soon as reach
New York, where my friends and family
live,. who, while they cannot vouch of their
own knowledge for the history Of my life
since saw them, can vouoh for enough to
make my story believed" Here he be.
came silent for few moments, and seem
iingly lost in thought, but arousing himsolf,
he said: ''It is meet and proper I think
that should make ae least partial state
ment of who and what L am and whence I
came here in Dallas, as Dallas county is
the first point on outer crust of tho earth
that have seen or visited since theI fall Of
1861, over twenty years ago."
This was starter, and our reporter
opened his eyes little and looked around
to see if there was good way Of retreat in
case the lunatio should become violent.
But summoning up courage he ventured
to the questions: "What do you mean2 I
don't understand you. Do you mean to say
that you have been off the earth for twenty
years7'
II see you arc incredulous," the stranger
replied, "but you need not be wonder
stricken. 1t is not an impossible or un.
reasonable story that will tell you, when I
tell it all, but the people, in their ignorance
Of the real facts, will think I am crazy
enthusiast, luny scientist, but they ore
mistaken and they will know it ere long.
I mean to say that T have not been on the
surface Of the earth for little over twenty
years. / have not been out in space, in
the spirit world, up among the stars, or
anything of the kind, but simply in the
bowels of the earth, and what say to YOU
now, and for publication in the Herald in
the morning, is a voice from mid. earth, is
the solemn truth, and the enlightened
masses Of the world will know it inside of
ayear. But let mo tell you my story.
My name is William B. AmsdelI, and I
am q native of New York city. When q
boy [ had great fancy to go to sea, and
secured position os cabin boy on Liver.
pool vessel I worked my way up from
position to position, until 1850, at tho ago
OF forty was as good o seaman as ever
walked the quarter deck of any ship.
had served in several subordinate positions
in the merchant marine up to the place of
first mate Of Liverpool mail steamer. In
1850, you know Capt. Charles Francis Hall
started on an expedition in search of the
remains of Sir John franklin. He OBJ
tanned passage on whaler commanded by
Capt. Buddington, and went with him.
The whaler, after we reached the arctic re.
gion became blocked up In the ice, and
Capt, Hall and wont off to live with the
Esquimaux. Capt. Hall remeined with
these kindly people two years, and we went
on many exploring expeditions. On one of
these was lost, and after long soaroh in
vain, Hall and his Esquimaux guido gave
me up for lost for good, and returned to
his headquarters. From the day 1 last saw
Capt. Hall and his Esquimaux friends in
October, 1850, until Wednesday last, the
30th of March, 1881, did not lay eyes on
the face of any inhabitant Of the outer sur
face of the earth. The day Z was lost I
pursued a white bear far out on foe of
ice, and section Of which suddenly be-
came detached, aoated out on it in
strong current directly to the Northward.
On AID on my foo went, at an increasing
rate Of speed, until, after what I supposed
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