Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-02-14
A SINGULAR STORY.
Marriage, Murder, Desertion and
Miraculous Detection.
Girl in Male Attire Crosses the Ocean
to Find Her Father-Success of Her
NIission-A Romance in
Real Life

to Find Her Father-Success of Her
NIission-A Romance in
Real Life.
Perhaps the most romantic and start
ling story of facts that has ever come to
light in Iowa was related to your cor
respondent to-day, and which is GER
rainly unknown to the citizens of
Dubuque. My informant is one of the
oldest and most influential citizens of
this city. In answer to the well-known
reporters query, What's new?" he
said: 81 have long and interesting
story to tell you, and you will be the
first newspaper man to whom it has
ever been told by me-" Leaning back
in his cushioned chair and placing his
heels on an old-fashioned looking desk,
he told the following story: Away back
in the early days of Dubuque family,
consisting of man and wife and one
daughter, came here from st. Louis
Their names will be withheld for the
present, but may be given later. The
husband and father engaged in the busi-
ness of a miner, and for time was
quite successful. He was rather shabbily
dressed, but showed signs of refinement
and education in youth. He was a
Frenchiman. After a while he lost what
little money he had in the mining bust
ness, and became almost destitute. DUl-
buque in those days was dreary will
derness. built mainly of frame shantfes,
and populated for the most part by In
dians. He, without any prospects
of making a living for himself and
family. became wreck, bordering upon
insanity. the sequel of which was his
being found dangling from rope in his
own room, cold in death, having COM
mitted suicide. His poor widow and
orphan girl were Frustrated with grief;
the former tainted at the ghastly sight
and remained in comatose condition
for more. than two days, at the end of
which time preparations were COM
pleted for the interment of the supposed
dead body. 1t was even inclosed in a
casket, when the startling discovery
was made that the person was only in a
swoon. 1t is needless to say that the
supposed Hfeless form was Immediately
removed, and such restoratives as were
proeurable were quickly administered
by willing hands. She rapidly recov-
cred, and was soon in her former state
of health, but, as have made known,
in very destitute condition. and how
to exc out living for herself and child
added much to her distress. Eventually
she obtained a situation as e.maid of all
work In addition TO this she taught
her child how to read, write, etc. Years
rolled by and the child grew to be a
young lady, earning her own living.
Dubuque was at this time rapidly grow
ing. Immigrants poured in from all
directions, enlarging Dubuque to quite
village.
Among the new arrivals was a boy
| who emigrated from Europe at the age
of eighteen to seek a livelihood in the
great West. He possessed remarka-
| BILE ambition to rise in the world. He
was afterward employed in little gro
cerv store, where he soon became q
partner in the business. About this
time he met and fell in love with the
young lady | have just referred to.
Though poorly clad she was exceptions
ally pretty and quite intelligent. This
brief acquaintance was only an intro
duetion to long and clandestlne court
ship which followed, description OF
which is unnecessary. Suffice it to say
it did not deyiate much from the '.rules
in use at the present time. 1t was of a
| fourteen months duration and ended
as the average play does, in happy
marriage, though this happiness, it must
be said, was short-lived. Five years
swiftly passed-the mother-in-law dur
ing this time died-and three brigh
little children were the fruits of tha
period of conjugal life. Two were boy:
and one a girl. When the younges
was only three months o.d the fasael
became engaged in quarrel with hi,
partner in business, during which he
unintentionally, it is said, dealt him ,
/ blow on the forehead, wounding him II
| such manner as to cause his death ;
| few weeks after. He was held for tria
for murder the trial lasting fourteen
/ days-4and convicted of manslaughter
and was accordingly sentenced to lif'
imprisonment at hard labor. This wa
terrible blow to the young wife ant
| mother, and for time fears of her be
coming insane were entertained, bu
she brayed the billowy sea of grief AM
soon landed safe on the shores of goo'
health. The imprisoned life was sool
changed to free one, for after a lif
and death struggle he succeeded in re
leasing himself from the prison walls
His escape was not detected for severa
il DAYS, and his whereabouts was nn
known. A diligent search was kept U
for some time, but no trace of hin
could be found We will follow him
however. Immediately after his escap
he proceeded to New York. where h
| took passage for Dublin. and arrive
there five weeks later, this being n
| time it took in those days to sail acros