The Osceola times., 1882-07-22
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.
The Extraordinary Adventures OF Phiis-
deiphia Twin Brother.

An assault aud battery case before
Magistrate Lather in Philadelphia has
been the means of bringing to light one
of the most remarkable dual histories
ever written. Francis and Henry Crop
per are the twin sons OF worthy couple
living in the old district Of southwark
The twins were born III the year 1896,
an! are consequently now 20 years OF
age. As boys the resemblance to each
other was strong enough to frequently
deceive the parents themselves. AT the
age of IL the twins were as much anke
as ever. and to-day as men, in height,
weight, general build, and appearance
they are the counterfeit presentments OF
each other in every particular Each
weighs 1856 pounds. The faces OF both
are ruddy with health and good living.
Their minds seem to be cast In the
same mold. They think alike, seeming
ly. and the gesture OF one is the gesture
of the other. When the twins we're
little past the age of l6 they were seized
with the common boyish craze OF going
to sea. Up to that time they had never
been separated, and it was necessary 10
find place for them together. This
was no easy task, but the indulgent
father induced the captain Of the mary
c. Clement, q three-masted schooner
then at this port, to take them on board
for trip to Ssgua, Cuba. ms was III
summer of 1872. The voyage out was
not marked by anything unusual
When Sagna was reached the lWlils
were the first TO get ashore. Ihey
wandered about the town that day ana
returned to the vesstl in the evening
wofully sick with having sucked 100
large quantity of sugar cane. The next
day they went ashore again, and that
was the last Capt. Grant ever saw OF
them. The twins, with the spirit OF ad-
venture strong within them, agreed 10
desert the vessel and go TO Havana
Their plans were entirely upset ana
their whole future changed, however,
when Matanzas was reached. They put
up over night in that seaport at the
house of a spaniard named Garcia, and
so pleased and amazed was he with then
remarkable resemblance to each other
that he insisted on their spending a
whole week with him free of cost. Soil
glances from the eyes of old GaIclas
daughter, a voluptuosuly beautiful glrl OF
Is, with ali the ripe charms of woman
of %, went long way to persuade the
brothers, besides the prospect OF good
time" and they readily consented. The
week went by, and then another and
another. They we're both madly III
love with the beautiful girl. Every
thing else they could share but love,
and tEey began to dislike and finally to
hate each other for the sake OF Marie
Garcia. The upshot of the matter was
that the old Spaniard awoke one Octobe
morning ard found his daughter miss
ing, and with her Frank Cropper and
400 Spanish dollars. He gave Harry
sufficient money TO go to Havana
whittier the eloping party were sup
posed to have fiown) and promised t.
follow the day after. When the angry
brother reached there he made inquiries
and found that young lady and gentle
man answering the description of those
sought had taken passage on board a
steamer bound for Key West. Inside
of twenty minutes Harry Cropper was
standing on the deck of the Pride OF the
South and deman ded OF the captain
that be should stop his vessel which
was then getting under way, and have
the lovers returned. The captain
laughed heartily and went on giving
his orders to the crew. The exaspera-
ted brother saw the condition of affairs
at once. He went to the afterpart OF
the vessel and descended into the cap
tain's cabin, and seeing door which he
supposed led to an inner apartment,
opened it and entered. 1t closed after
him, the snap lock caught, and he was a
prisoner. In the meantime Frank had
strolled on deck with his promised wife.
The captain gave him sly dig in the
ribs and remarked "You are pretty
fellow aren't you? What did you mean
bv talking Just now about putting some
body ashore? Why you looked as mad
as a hornet" Frank totally unaware of
what prompted the remark, and with
out the slightest idea that he had been
discovered, only laughed in reply. but
did not seek any explanation of the to
him inexplicable query. In a few mo-
men,s he returned with the trembling
girl to his state room.
After the master of the vessel had
seen everything in ship shape, he went
back to his cabin and was startled by a
terrific kicking and smothered voice
CRYING: LET me out Let me out" In
an instant the closet door was thrown
open, aud out walked Harry Cropper in
a towering rage. The captain was ut
terly nonplussed. He felt certain that
he had seen his passenger 90 below.
with girl hanging lovingly on his arm
and now here he was like jack-in-the-
box. Harry seemed to divine his thoughts
and foresaw that an explanation would
make things awkward, so he struck upon
an original plan. "All right, cap" said
the Young rogue, pretending TO get
over his anger 81 won't bother you any
more. It's only little fun of mine"
and before the astonished skipper could
say another word the young man was
on deck. lie had learned from his in
voluntary imprisonment that the en-.
trance to the state rooms was not
through the captains cabin and it did
not take long for him to find the proper
avenue. Then a ripple of girlish laugh
ter guided him to his brothers door,
and standing in the shadow of another
entrance he waited. Fortune favored
him. for in few moments he cav the
living counterfeit of himself emerge
from the room alone. He carried a water
pitcher and was evidently going TO the
stewards room TO have 1t filled. As he
passed from sight, HAIRY quickly en-
tered the stateroom. The beautiful oc-
cupant lay halfawake in the lower bunk.
Harry's first impulse was to smother the
girl with kisses. but, restraining himself
he quietly called her by name. Quick ~
he cried, zone of the water-tanks have
burst and the cabin in few moments
will be filed with water" Marie sui