Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-12
NOBILITY ON A TRAMP.
Sir Edward Haresurt's Daughter
Halking Across tho Continent.
WONDERFUL AND ROMANTIC CAREER


PoRr JARVIS, n. Y, July ia romance
in real life has just come to light in this
town. A woman, apparently about IS
years Of age, shabbily dressed and feeble,
has been seen on the streets for several
days. She slept every night in the police
station, where she gave the name OF Eliza.
beth Benjamin, and said she was born In
Staifordshire, England. Yesterday she
disappeared and turned up in Middletown,
IS miles from here. Inquiry develops the
fact that she Is on her way to New Yor
and that she has walked nearly oil the way
from San Francisco. Mrs Benjamin has
had most wonderful and
Romantic career.
She was born near Msrthyr Tydvil In
Wales, and was the daughter OF Sir Edward
Harcourt, at one time one Of tue most bril-.
liant young English orators. Her mother
was . variety actress, who lived In Wales 10
escape the prosecutions Of Sir Edwards
family, who opposed his mesallianos.
When the babe was born she was christsn.
ed Pauline Elizabeth Hsrcourt She was
given all the advantages Of superior educa.
ton, and early in lie evinced great poeu-
cal genius, some Of her poems, composed
when she was fourteen, having appeared in
the leading magazines Of Great Britain.
Her mother was q direct descendant Of Sir
Philip Francis, who is believed to have
been the author OF the celebrated political
essays which startled all England from l,60
TO li..7, and which were signed Junius.
She Meets Her Aninity.
When she was but seventeen years OF ago
Miss Pauline met at Swansea, where she
was visiting some young friends and writ
ing poety descriptive Of the coast OF Wales,
Mr.. Walter /. BENJAMIN, . nephew of
Judah =. enjamin, at one time treasurer
Of the onfederate States OF America. Tho
young man, who was q South Carolinisn
by birth, Was handsome and clever, but.
unfortunately, poor Pauline felt that she
loved him SD deeply she could marry no
one but him. Her father died while sho
WAS nj swansea, and she was summoned by
telegraph TO Merthyr Tyiyil. Young len.
jamin, who was but twenty-five, followed
Lcr there, and contrivcd TO see her occa-
siopally. Finally the young lAdys mother
learned Of these stolen interviews and .
terrible scene ensued. Pauline begged To
be allowed TO marry her American sweet.
heart but her mother remained him, and
fnslly sent her to II. Andrews, In Scot.
and 10 school.
BY means Of pre- arranged signals tho
young lady,
Previous 20 Leaving Home,
managed 10 inform her lover whittier she
was going Young Benjamin found IL con.
venient to visit 81 Andrews frequently,
and In ls60 they were married Oh Iauline's
20th birthday. When Lady Harcourt heard
the news Of her daughters secret marriage
and learned that she had fled from the
school mt st. Andrews, she was stricken
v it'll paralysis aud died shortly afterward.
Young Benz jamin came 10 the United States
at once upon hearing Of the rebellion, aud
enlisted in the Confederate navy, where he
remained until the close OF the war. Hs
then spsculated In cotton and made con.
siderable money, and started by water for
California, accompanied by his vile, In
1870. They had one child, who died on
the voyage to the lsthmus They were de.
layed in leaving Aspinwall, and Pauline
and her husband were both stricken with
terrible fever, which resulted In the death
Of Mr.. benjamin and left Mrs. Benjamin
very weak.
Lett = widow ~ Sea.
Her husband was buried nj sea. Mrs.
Benjamin's weak nerves gave way. and for
days she raved, and when the ship reached
San Francisco she was placed in the hands
Of the authorities there. Her reason WAS
partly destroyed, and for six years she re.
mained In California. She then made her
escape and walked the entire distance 10
Virginia City, Nevada. where she remained
several months. She was lost sight 0f there
in 1877, and was next heard Of at Corinns,
Utah, q small place on the Union Pacific
Railroad. In the foil OF 1878 she commenced
tramping through Wyoming. When nsar
the site OF the Custer massacre, along Wind
River, she was captured by band OF In.
dians, OF what tribe she does not rsmsmbsr,
although her description Of their life and
habits Is very accurate and proves that hsr
story Is a true one.
The Isdisss.
finding that she wns returning TO the homs
Of her pale. .fhce friends. gave her some
dried meat, aud started her On hcr way 70.
lOlCing.
From Fort Reno. Wyoming Territory. 10
Fort Pierre, In Dakota, she WAS IN company
vi b some soldiers coming East, and In
1919 she csmr from Fort Pierre 70 lanktoD,
anG thence by rail To Omaha. From there
he followed the track OF the Chicago, Bur
ingtOn and Quincy railroad IN bee lins
scIoss the Slate VI Iowa 70 Burlington.
from where shc made her way 10 Peoria,
~. She remained there few months In
the care Of the poor authorities, and then,
having become rested. she again began her
tramp eastward. bringing up at the great
railway centre Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Journey 20 the Ease.
FROM mere tUf WAS IbTtuHeiG euOukh "
get ride TO Toledo, where the city ~.
thoritiss treated her 10 badly that she
irsmped on TO Cleveland, where she found
comfortable quarters and remained until
last New Years bay. She began the New
Yesr with the resolution 70 push o. 70
New York without stopping; Following
the turnpike road she found herself at
length I'm Olean, n. y, from where she
rode in an empty freight car 70 Hornsll:-
Vile. When she tried 10 steal another ride
from Hornellsville 10 Painted Post she vas
unfortunate; the car In which she bsd -.
ereted herself wss locked and run upon .
aide track and she remained In u Without
food or water. three days, uEtil her pound
ing upon the side Of the car attrseted The
attention Of one Of the yard nsn and
She W. Rsiesssa AsO0ss OsoA
After reaching Elmira sSe got ride on the
bumper Of the express car, bat one OF the
sparks from the engine fell upon her drsN
and the rspid motion Of the train fannsd
the spark into blaze and she hsd another
narrow escape from death. Her Injuries
necessitsted her remaining soms weeks st
Binghs pton, from where she walked 70
Port Jeryis. arriving here via the Delaware
and Hudson canal towpsth.
She has hut sixty miles 70 tramp from
Middletown. and she hoped 70 Ieech Neg
York in time TO catch . steamer Tor Eng
land on Saturday, Juiy7. Ebs has The key
Of safe deposit ya1lt 10 New York city.
where she ssys her husband hsd snug
sum OF money slowed sWay, enough 70 take
her to her home in Wales snd Keep her In
comfort among the friends Of her youth.
SERIOUS COLLISION