Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-03
ROMANCE FROM THE SEA.
The Story of "Pers0n0l"-A Mystery
Cleared Up Through an Advertisement.
IN. 7. Herald


Cleared Up Through an Advertisement.
IN. Y. HERALD
The following appeared in the personal
column of the Herald few weeks since:
FIRBANK-Information wanted of Ralph
Firbank, a native of Newport, Monmouth
shire, England; last heard of in Chicago,
June, 1880; age 26, height about 5 feet
inches, square and stout built, complexion
fair, face full and pale, hair light and not
much on face. Reward for information. Ad
dress F, care Of Messrs. G. a. K. & G. A.
Fisher, solicitors, No. "a Essex ST., Strand,
London, England.
81 saw this personal" said Mr.. l. G.
Whitehouse, the narrator of the follow
ing touching story, to the Herald report
er, yesterday, "and had seen that name
before. l had seen that young man in
the flush and pride of vigorous health,
and had also seen his dead body thrown
overheard and the waves close over it as
it sank to its last resting place. Painful
as it was, felt it my duty to send reply
to the advertisement, and l did so at
once. l received reply from Messrs. q.
II. X. s. G. A. Fisher, of No. "a Essex
street, Strand, London, dated Jan. IL,
1882, saying l had enabled them to trace
the poor young man alluded to, to the
person they were in search
Of. They said it was somewhat
singular that, although his name and ad-
dress were IN his luggage, not the slight
est effort was made to communicate the
sad intelligence to his friends, and prob
ably the accident of my seeing their ad-
vertisement led to the discovery of his
death, which otherwise might have re-
manned perpetual mystery. Early in
July, 1880, l crossed the Atlantic on the
steamer Egypt, of the National line. AS
l went on board the day previous to sail
Ing, young man was talking to the
captain and asking that he might be en-
ployed in some capacity so as to work
his passage home His frank decla-
ration of his Strengthened circum-
stances and his manly bearing
impressed me most favorably. He
had an athletic figure, finely chisled feat
ures, and clear, expressive eye, but his
face was pale, and he had certain look
of care aud anxiety which it was i'm
possible to conceal. He was fashionably
dressed, and had an expensive travelling
sachel, but his hands were exceedingly
delicate, and his conversation showed that
he had been we'll educated, while his
general manners were those of polished
young gentleman who had enjoyed the
advantages of refined society I read, Is
l thought, the history of long-concealed
struggling and disappointment in that
handsome face. could not forget that
face, but our ways seem widely diverse,
and did not think he would ever cross
my pathway again. But he did, and In
way was hardly prepared to anticipate.
"On the second day who should see
coming up through the hole leading to
the furnaces Of the engine but this young
man. He came up from that cavernous
region of fiery heat to get breath Of
fresh air. His hands were blackened and
his face begrimed and his luxuriant
brown hair unkempt. He wore only his
pantaloons ana shirt, and they also were
soiled with ashes and dirt. knew that
form and face. ! could hardly believe
my eyes, but yet l admired the young
mans pluck and independence. He went
back to his post of duty. Only once he
faltered. He offered to fellow.f1remsp
his watch to give him respite. 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 l was awakened by the cry, Bring
ice; man is dying!' The next morning
! saw that face again. The face was cold
now-cold with the pallor of death. !
shuddered as gazed upon the inanimate
form and thought Of the strange life his
tory 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 British flag. A few
hours later the body was cast into the
sea, and this was the last of poor Ralph
Firbank. A touching romance may be
at the bottom of this story, and there may
be many sad hearts who are still bewail-
ing his irreparable loss"