St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-17
a STRANGE CAREER.
tie Man Uh0 Conquered Emperor
M6GiaiIinH.

M0GiHiiTinH.
From the New York Tribune
John Wilson. who recently died on the
banks of the Green river in sight Of his birth
place near Austeritz, was born of Scotch
parents on the evening Of the first day of the
present century. At the age Of 1G he was
the leader of gang of horse thieves and the
terror OF the region in which be lived. Two
years later he married the daughter Of a
Hillsdale farmer, and when she presented
him with q pair OF twins some eighteen
months aftcrward, he deserted her and be-
came soldier. He was shipwrecked on the
coast Of Africa, when be married the dangh-
ter of an inland chief. With her he lived
several years and became quite wealthy In
the ivory trade In 1880 nc Joined the Brit
ish uaYy, murdered the captain Of his ship
when a week out from port, and urged the
crew into open piracy. Six weeks afe . the
hoistIng Of the black flag the British gtEcrn-
mcnt surprised Wilson, crew Que night and
captured every one on board Of Che ship
but him. In 1888 be went 10
Mexico and married woman Of
great wealth and rare attainments.
Some years later, finding out what
Wilson'S early life had been, she accused him
OF his crimes. He denied every accusation
and was believed, aud that night he packed
up bundle Of money and iewelry, and I'm th,
morning be was gone.
In l840 he entered the gold fields Of Cali
fOrnia aud was GOOu one of the most success
tul miners. His murders and thieying COM
PEELED him 20 leave the state in 1915. lie
then returned 10 his seacrait and wandered
wherever tic ocean happened 20 take hiin
The breaking out Of the gold fever ia Colo
RADIO found bin there, whore ne made an
other fortune aud was also elected for crime.
IN The winter Of 1864 he was the leader OF
band Of guerrillas against MaXlmilian, en-
peror Of Mexico Gen. EscobedO, the en-
pcrOr's enemy. incurred Wilson's aisDicasure,
aud 50 he arranged 10 Kill kscobedo on the
night Of May Il, 1867. That same night
Gen. Lopez betrayed Macmillan, which
interferld with wilson plans and alsC saved
EscobedDs life On July ~, two hours after
Maximilian was shot, Wilson again started
for the United States, cursing himself at
every step for not having destroyed ESQ
bedO.
After another turn at the sea be ventured
for a second time Into the gold mines " COi-
orado making fortune at Leadville, only
~ gamble Il aw9yin Cuba. Returning 10
Eew York from a trip through South America
in March 1884 fate for the first time ~ his
life frowned on him sayagely. tie was robbed
Of every possession in Water street den,
and his supposed dead BODY was flung into
the haroor. The cold water revived him. but
his spirit was broken. lie managed ~ get
back among the Berkshire hills, bat died BE-
fore reaching the stone chimney and fire.
place which alone mark the spot where be
was born. HE Mexican kiusmen were on
bis track and stole him away under E<ecOver
Of night after stranger hands had q U bin
burial. His log-boOk, the sole remnant u
all his possessions. contains the record OF
his life for fifty years. H. was three times
married, and seventeen children are said 10
survive him.
IS farmer, sailor, miner, murderer pirate
and bigamist, his equal would be hard ~
find. lie made and wasted a score Of fOT-
tunes, starved u death In sight Of his birth
place, and was denied grave In his native
land.
4 number Of Boston society ladies recently
gave performance OF Patience" Twenty
lOTesick maidens all wearing eyeglasses must
have been q thrilling slput.-(4FaChie.