The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-02
xxxI.-.NUNBER 1s9. =.
A gEANNErrE SURVIVOR,
Who is an old wheeling Boy-Bis Inter.
estinE Story,


One Of the surviving members OF the Jean
nette crew now at Washington, is named
James Lauterback, and has been reported to
be an old Wheeling boy, his father having
In former years lived In this city and been
master OF al Ohio river steamboat. There
are several men in the city who went 10
school with James LauterbAck. and who, see.
ing the name among the list Of survivors Of
the famous Jeanette explorers concluded
that he was the some person. F
On Saturday representative OF the 1NrErr
LIGEScER called on him at the Ebbitt House,
and asked him about this st.r H..
Mr.. Lauterback took letter from his
pocket aud handed It TO the reporter, saying,
You are all wrong; l Rm not the man." The
letter read as follows: j4 ' sLi"s"
WHxEtNe, WA, March 20, 1888.
Mr. James LGuter6dee:
DEAR BROTHER You will recognize In the
undersigned son.in.lAw OF Captain James
Hennet Lauterback. formerly Of Chapline
street, Wheeling, W. Va. / suppose you
(the returning explorer) TO be the Captains
old father Is still living and wishes 10 see
"Jim" once more II convenient please come
and see us all. Father still lives at Rea's
ran Landing, Washington county. o., which
you may remember Is on the Ohio river,
aud live at No. 120s Water street, Wheel.
ing. w. Va. l hope you are our own jim,
and will come, or at least write to father.
- ,..., Yours sincerely, .... .
.. EVAN u. HuGHs
Areporter called at the address given in.
the letter last evening, and met Mrs. EEin
Hughes, sister OF the James L4uterhACk
who formerly lived here. She Is confident,
his denlal, that the seamaft
now at Washington is her brother, and sayt
the denial Is .just like JIM She says her
brother left Ills home In this city at the
breaking out OF the war, 10 enlist In the
United States Navy. He went 10 one OF the
navy yards for this purpose, but the recruit
ing officer there refused TO receive him when
he learned that he was from Virginia. He
then went TO another recruiting station, and
enlisted az Charles Adams, OF Ohio. ..
He served several years under this name,
corresponding with bis family regularly, aud
when the term for which he enlisted was out
came home to visit his parents. After brief
visit, he said be could not stay m land any
longer, and again joined the Navy. Upon
leaving home, he gave his father SOME papers,
among them certificates OF prizs money to the
amount OF $500 or $500 due him, saying that
when these became payable he would send
for them. This be did, and Mrs. Hughe4
says her father msiled them. They never
reached Lauterback, aud he became yery
angry, refusing TO believe the papers had
been mailed, andvowing that be never would
come home again. .Y. !3Ia- u,
He has kept his word, and the family have
not heard OF him since, except by accident
His brother.in.law, Mr.. Hughes, met him
once In ST. Louis lew years ago, and tried
he positively declined. He was then en-.
ployed in some capacity on New Orleans
and 81. Louis steamer. The next the family
heard Of him was that he had shipped on tbt
Jeanette. al iiaTu
Mrs. Hughe2 says her father is over so
years old, and very anxious 10 See his SOL
before he dies. She herself Is very anxious
that he should come home. She was alwayt
very much attached 70 him, and be called
her bis favorite sister. She thinks he will
be home as soon ls relieved from attendance
on the Jeanette Baara at Washington.