The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-02-16
ARONANCE FROM THE SEA.

The Story of "Personal'-A Mystery
Cleared Up Through an Advertisement
New York Herald, 27th.-The following
appeared in the personal column OF the
Herald few weeks since:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WANTED OF RALPH
FIRBANK a native OF Newport, Monmoutshire,
England; last heard Of in Chicago, June, 1880;
age 20, height about 5 feet 8 inches, square
aud stout built, complexion fair, face full and
and pale, hair light and not much on face. Re-
ward for information. Address F, care OF
Mezsrs g. H. <. & G. A. Fisher, Solicitors, "a
Essex st., Strand, London, England.
II saw this Personal" said Mr.. I. G.
Whitehouse, the narrator of the following
touching story, to the Heraldreporter, yes
terday, "and had seen that name before.
I had seen that young man in the flush and
pride of vigorous health, and I had also
seen his dead body thloWn overheard and
the waves close over it as it sank to its last
resting place. Painful as it was I felt it
my duty to send a reply to the ADVERTISE
ment, and I did so at once. received a
reply from Messrs G.. 81. K. & G. A. Fisher,
of No. "a Essex street, Strand, London,
dated January IL, 1882, saying I had en-
abled them to trace the poor young man I
alluded to to the person they were in
search of. They said it was some hat
singular that although his name and address
were in his luggage, not the slightest effort
was made to communicate the sad lntell:-
gence to his friends, and probably the acct
dent of my seeing the advertisement had
led to the discovery of his death, which
mystery. Early in July, 1880, I crossed
the Atlantic OF the steamer Egypt, OF the
National line. As went on board the day
previor- to sailing young man was talk
ing with the captain and asking that he
might be employed in some capacity SO as
to work his passage home. His frank de-
claration of his Strengthened circumstances
md his manly bearing impressed nae most
favorably. He had an athletic figure, fine
" chisel2d features, and clear, expressive
eve, BIZ. his face was pale, and he had &
c5rtain 7lok OF care and anxiety which it
was imposeible to conceal. He was fash
iocab'y .essed and had an expensive
trave ], ~ satchel, but his hands were ex
ceeal.... delicate, and his conversation
showed that he had been we'll educated
while his general manners we're those ef Il
polishet:: young gentleman who had
enioye "a advantages of refined
socier: =. -eat as I thought q
history t z concealed struggling and
disappoi-.,. It - that handsome face. l
could not forget that face, but our ways
seemed widely .iverse, and did not think
he would ever Gloss my path again. But he
did, and in a way Wis hardly prepared to
anticil>aa.
"On the second day out whom should I
see coming up from the hole leading to the
furnaces Of the engine but this young man.
He came up from that cavernous region of
fiery heat for a breath of fresh air. His
hands were blackened and his face be-
erimed, and his luxuriant brown hair I'M
kcmpt. He wore only his pantaloons and
shirt, and they also were soiled with ashes
an} dirt. I knew that form and face. I
could hardly believe my eyes. but yet | adj
mired the young mans pluck and inaepen-
tence. He went back to his post Of dirty.
Only once he faltered. He offered to a
fellow fireman his ach to give him IT.
spite. The weather was intensely hot; and
it was like going down to the
caverns of death to work before those
hot furnaces. Two nights later
I was awakened BY the cry, Bring ice; a
man is dying!" The neyt morning saw
taut face again. The face was cold, now
cod with the pallor of death. shuddered
as I gazed upon the inanimate form and
thought of the strange life history that
those lips, now closed forever, might have
told The body had been laid on one of
the forward matches and was wrapped up In
d British flag. A few hours later the body
was cast into the sea, and this was the last
Of young Ralph Firbank. A touchiog ro-
nance may be at the bottom of this story
and there may be many sad hearts who are
still bewailing their irreparable loss"