Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-06-08
A Forgotten story.

In diary kept by an early colonist dur
ing the years 1897 to 1746, and preserved
by his descendants, occur the outlines of a
remarkable story which may be of interest
to our readers.
The passions and temptations of men are
the same in all ages, but the half -barbarous
condition of the country in those early
days, and the remOteness of nations from
each other, gave TO human tragedies more
sombre aud dramatic background.
Stripped Of wordy description, the Incl
dents are briefly as follows:
Two young men, members of wealthy
mercantile families in London, immigrated
TO Pennsylvania about the year 100, and
went into business, one as physician, the
other as merchant.
In year or two the former, Doctor
Whiting (as we shall call him, though that
was not his real name), was betro;hed to a
beautiful young girl IN Delaware. The
marriage was set for June in the coming
year.
In the meantime ne resolved to return to
London and look after the little patrimOny
which had fallen to his share, and after
some difficulty he persuaded his friend
Truefelt, the merchant, to accompany him.
A voyage across the Atlantic was then
matter of months, not to be undertaken
save for important cause, and we find it
sci down as proof of the frivolity of the
two young men that, without any real ne
cessity, Truefelt consented thus to endan-
ger, as il was tholght, his life.
While in London, DIR. Whiting was led
into dissipation. He drank heavily, and
gsmbled away much of the money which
he had received. OF this, Truefelt was
cognizant.
The men sailed for home together on the
barkentine Judith. Vessels never ventured
alone at that time across the mighty deep.
There were storms and hurricanes to face,
and worse than all, the pirates, who were
said, truly or not, to infest the southern
coast q coast peopled, according to popu-
lar belief, by cannIbals. The barkentIne,
was one of fleet of ships which left port
at one time, and kept together for mutual
protection.
DIR. Whiting and his friend quarrelled
during the greater part of the voyage.
Truefelt used the knowledge he had ac-
quired Of the doctors misdeeds IN London
IS rod to control him. Finally, in fit of
passion, he declared his intention of making
known the whole matter to Writings be-
trothed.
From that moment, as the physician
afterwards declared, he held Truefelt in
dire hate and dread.
81 felt that by some means must be rid
of him, else was undone.'
Chance put the means in his way. The
fleet anchored to take in water at an un-
known island. The passengers landed, and
the two companions strolled up into the
tropical forest in company. Truefelt, over
powered by the heat, lay down and fell
asleep, charging Whiting to summon him
when it was time to return to the vessel.
''Then thought within myself, can
now be clear of TINS man, and o left him
sleeping there, and returned to the vessel,
saving that he had fallen into the sea from
the rocks to the southwark, and was
drowned. They would have made search
for his body, hut the other vessels had set
sail, and the captain was forced in great
distress of mind, unwillingly to weigh
anchor"
We can imagine the flash of guilty JOY
and relief that, at first, filled Writings
breast at thus beng nd Of his enemy.
Then. as the ship sailed out into the ocean,
he remembered that this man was his friend,
and that he was left there forever. There
was no possibility that he could ever es-
cape. The island was savage wilderness,