Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-22
AN ENocH ARDEN ROMANCE.

Return of a Forty Miner Who Had Been
Given mp as Dead-He Finds His In
FAINT Son y AIiddIe-Aged Man, and His
Wife a WIDOW After Having Been
Twice Married During His Long Alb
sence.
This town, says a Muncie, Ind, special
to the New York Sun, is agitated by the
return yesterday morning of Thompson
Walling from Weatherby, Oregon, to a
wife whom he left thirty-iye years ago,
and whom he finds widow after having
been twice married during his absence.
Fifty years ago George Shafer, who came
from Pennsylvania, was a well-tO-do far
mer in Muncie, Joseph Walling, a pros
porous tanner, lived just outside of the
then village of Munceytown. a cluster of
log cabins and little houses. with
a log court house. Susannah Shafer. a
daughter Of the farmer, was Just growing
into womanhood, and young Thompson
Walling, the tanners son, became enam-
ored of her, and, before the parents knew
the truth, they were pledged to each
other. On April /, 1871, they were mar
ried, and among the guests were youth
and maiden, friends Of the bride and
groom, now Mr.. VOlney Wilson and wife.
The union was happy. Three children
whom died, leaving boy and girl.
When the gold fever of 1S49 broke out
young Waling became a victim, and with
5000 loaned to him by his friend. VoInev
Wilson, he left for California with Arch.
Hamilton. Theo. Burt. Stephen Hamilton
and son, Henry Wysor, Jas. Russy, DR..
Hathaway, Chas. mclaughlin the rail-
road king, lately shot by his employe in
san Francisco, Sam1 Martin and Others
now prominent citizens of Muncie. The
mines of California and Idaho were sue
cessiVely tried, and one by one the party
returned, save Walling. mclaughlin and
Russy, the latter Of whom with a man
named Wood from this county, met
his death at the hands of the Indians
Time passed, and letters from WaIIing
came less and less frequent. In 1852 a
ceived by Mrs. Walling. She never heard
from him after that, and his silence was
accepted as proof that he was dead. In
fact, his fathers estate at his death was
administered as though young Walling
was dead. His wife obtained a divorce |
and in 1852 married Horatio f. Wileoxon,
who was killed in saw mill in 1865. A
year later she married jeremiah Veach,
who. died two years ago. Then she lived |
with her son near Mancie.
Yolney Wilson alone never shared the |
belief that Thompson Walling was dead. |
FoT years ne spent all his leisure time |
writing letters of inquiry to out-of-the- |
way places on the Pacific coast. One |
day in February last the Deputy Post !
master at Weatherby, Ore, saw letter /
postmarked Muncie. Ind, addressed to !
the Postmaster. Opening it, he found !
that it was from his old friend Wilson, in
quiring for him. He, answering, gave the /
story of his life and misfortunes. Then /
he wrote to his wife, detailing his sorrows,
his efforts to get home, his failures, his /
i'll health, and his final conclusion |
that fate was against him, followed by /
relapse into Indifference. Yesterday /
morning this city was electrified to see |
him osf the street. Before noon his son,
now almost a middle-aged man, came for |
him and took him to the home of his |
former wife, where to many friends he |
detailed his romantic experience, which |
is almost beyond belief.
Mrs. Neach. his wife, expresses herself |
as glad of his return, and the meeting is |
said to have been most affecting. 1t is
thought a second wedding will fully re- |
unite them. Should it occur, Volney |
Wilson and his wife viii again hold the |
place of honor they held almost half
century ago.