Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-18
An Eysxrrut rryx:
s'ss Career " slss VIA sssrsss
Oss 70 BE = sssdser or Fsrssse.
saa Prnn.f.~> A.

| more eventfui career or Of more romantic
| adventures than the subject OF this mar
| rsuye. whose story IL known by only
| svefy Few. AZ one time Charles Ingnlis
kept drugstore in Jackson. Amador
| county. where his popularity served TO
eject INN several tines A. one OF the SUPER
fisors oil thst county. He married IN esti-
nlsble Young lady from one of the Eastern
states. VINO was visiting California, aud
became the father OF three children. Sub
seouenly ne went to the Whitc-Pine
mining district IN Nevada. and returned
20 his happy fsmily with $4,000 As the re-
sun OF us fortunate spcculations in that
IeRios. Az tbat Time all the relatives OF
Mrs. ingalls, l'ed IN the East, and she had
long desired to visit the scenes OF her
childhood; consequently, this sudden tan
sition from only comparative comfort
10 that Of opulence rendered IL po.-
siblCf0r her 81 carry ont the desire OF her
heat, and she was permitted 10 revisit her
parents home. snd exhibit her children a.
The GROWING Joy of her welded life. Du-
ring the absence OF his wife and children,
ingalls,. who had gold bis drugstore and
otner property in Amadsr county. came to
San francisco, where, Investing bis money
IN stocks, lie boldly plunged Into the vor-
Tex OF speculation which at that time was
fascinating thousands Of cooler calculasors
than himself His every move was SUGGEST
ful snd in very few weeks the modest
Jackson druggist could count his wealth
almost by millions; but, like many another
~ those days. be was too intoxicated with
success 10 withdraw any portion OF his
capital from the financial whirlpool into
which thousands OF spectators were sink
ing.
1t was not long before he was in
weighed into = deal IN which. by shame
less betrayal Of confidence and brszen dis
regard OF promise. the wolves OF finance
tore from the quondam millionaire every
VeSuge OF his immense fortune. and lelt
him stranded, ruined wreck on the streets
Of san Francisco. He fell in an hour from
= dazzling height. whch-had it been at
tanned 10y one less sanguinc than himself
might have permitted him 10 rank to-day
ns q mighty factor IN the financial world.
The iylriciOus schcmerS who bad wrought
bis ruin presented the fallen maniruit0r
with p,i!ry sum with which TO dabbe
ag2in At the bottom; but the gambling
game bad LOST it, charm. and the hitherto
sober man sought in dissipation 10 drown
The memory Of his calamity. In the mean
time MrS. ingalls, returned only 10 find her
husband inadly reyelling with yiciou, and
dcprayed men. Their meeting resulted in
= separation which was supposed 10 De
forever. overwhelmed with sorrow, the
heaitbrokcn wife returned with hen chit
dren i0 her home in JlrksOn, while In
gall, continued steadily on his downward
course. After the first shock OF his
collapse he was able 10 get few hun
dred dollars 80 any time for the asking,
but ~ his Status became more generally
known his credit decreased accordingly.
Drifting aimessiy about the city. he one
day Stepped aboard q vessel about startng
for Honolulu. He had Just enough money
10 pay his passage, and when the vessel
sailed she carried Charles ingalls, sway
from the corrupt influences OF san Fran
cisco 10 seek his fortune in foreign landS.
Thot was seventeen yesrs ago, and until
recently his friend. had ceased 10 hope OF
ever hearing from him again.
Last spring the schooner II. l.. Tiernsn.
Captain Melander. arrived in this port from
the islands 81 the South Pacific. On board
va, planter who had come ~ this city to
purchase supplies. The schooner lay in
poit several weeks. and the planter wa,
seen daily on the wharf at which she lay
experimenting the receipt Of freight, OF
which he was shipping large quantity.
Al first sight Mr.. Phelps. the custom-house
officer in charge. thought that he had met
the planter before. Continual meetings tn
creased the impression. until he finally To-
cstcd the man from the South Seas as
The whilom druggist Of Jackson. Phelps
inquired of Captain Melandcr. who at
once introduced the planter a. Or"
ingalls,. IL never knew DT. Ingalls,"
said Phelps, but once knew Charlie In
gals, a druggist, in Jackson. and You re-
mind me Of him very much.' well, |
am rot The man; | never was there" re-
spOnded The gentleman and, turning away.
he left the officer more fully convinced that
his snrmise was correct. An opportunity,
however, occurring shortly after TO speak
10 the mysterious Doctor alone, Phelps
wcat up.and said: Look here. Charlie
ingalls,. know ron; now. why don't YOU
acknowledge yOurself?" IL do admit
that you are right" replied the other;
"but | did not like TO have the Captain
know. Can YOU tell me anything OF my
wife and children;"
MIR. Phelps. who had for a long time
been engaged in active official duty, had
lost lrrce Of lngallS's family. but was under
the impression that Mrs. Ingalls, was dead,
all OF which be communicated 10 the iugi.
tive husband and father. ingalls, then re-
lated the story OF his adventures in foreign
lsnds. He had sailed from here direct 10
Honolulu, where he had obtained employ
ment. and getting some money ahead he
had operated IN 4 small way by trading
among the islands OF the South Pacific. He
had made and lost quite a number Of small
fortunes, and. having acquired q rowing
habit. he had visited nearly every Euro
pean port: had fought his way into the
interior Of Africa. and had conducted
speculative enterprises in China, Japan,
Australia. and the East Indies.
Returning again to the South Pacific. he
formed partnership with two Others. aud
.hc trio had purchased the Island OF Lack
isccllO from the native King OF the Mar
shall Group. lie gave glowing descrip-
ton VI Lackisceilo stating that il was Gov
cred with excellent soil and had IN abund-
ant supply Of fresh water. ON the island
they had planted 1000 cOcoSnut trees, be-
sides many other trOpical-iruit trees; al
OF which. combined with a most delightful
climate, ma e the place perfect Para
disc in which tn live. while q good
hsrbcr indentng its eastern shore
renders the island OF such com
nercial importance that he conSid-
cred lis ownership bOuanza. All these
facts ingalls, related 10 his friend Phelps in
the daily interviews which they had pre-
yious to the sailing OF the schooner on her
return voyage. The day before the ves-
sells departure Phelps met Mr.. Lavinski, 4
reschant from Jackson. who was IN the
city OF business. After the greeting
Phelps remarked: "Whst de Won Think
Charlie ingalls, Is here"
"He isf" replied Lavinssl. well. his
wife has long mouincd him a. dead"
"Wby. supposed she was dead an
swered Phelps.
No" responded the merchant. "she l.
not dead. and think she i now enjoying
good health. She 10 living in this city. Her
son Is living with his grandparents in San
Joaquin county, while her daughter ha, for
a long time lived here, whcrc she works ia
q fur.stofe. and by her earnings supports
her invalid mother. The other child died
several yeais ago. causing 10 additional
sorrow 10 MIS-. ingalls,. which was more
than her already oyerburdeued mind could
bear. and for a long tune her reason was
dctLroned but the tender care and con
slant nursing of her daughter, combined
with The best Of medical treatment. hnall'
restored her, aud | understand that she u
now IS happy as can BE- expected nnder tue
circumstances.
Mr.. I.avinski did not know in what itir'
,for. aIis. In nas enoapesi MI.