The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-20
ROMANTIC CAREER.
History OF the Lie Of Pardoned Con,

History of the Life of PardOned Convict.
CHICAGO, JAN 12-Silas McCloone, one of
the four Deer Island convicts who were par
dODed at Boston this week for heroism in
rescuing the remnant of the crew of the
wrecked schooner juliet, off Winthrop
Point, has had a romantic career according to
history of his life, which is published here
to-day. McCloone's father was a wealthy
merchant and ship builder of Rockland, Me-,
and was worth ct least 81 100000 at the time
of his death. The estate was divided between
the mother, two daughters and the son, he re-
ceiving in accordance with the provisions in
the will one-third of the whole fortune. The
residue was equally divided among the other
heirs. One Of the daughters soon after the
disposition OF the estate married an ex-Lieu-
tenant Governor OF Massachusetts,, now one
of the most prominent members of the bar
in that State. Silas became the husband of
q young lady distinguished in the society of
Haverhill. Mass, for her great beauty and
accomplishments. $4,000 residence
at -RockIand was his first invest
ment His next was the fatal
purchase of a half interest in the incom-
pleted invention of Yankee to utilize steam
without allowing an exhaust Thousands
after thousands of dollars melted away in
the scheme. The financial hacker, mex
perienced and perfectly insane with en-
1husiasm, fastened off to Europe with i'm
perfect models and illustrations to intro
duce to the old world an unpatented patent
that was destined TO revolutiOnize the power
supplying methods of the universe. Sharp
ers at London and Paris saw the weakness Of
both the man and machine, and while attest
ing TO the marvellous worth of one showed
no hesitation in patrOnlzing the apparently
inexharstible wealth of the other Young
McClOone, it is said. had wined and dined
himself out of nearly 500, 900, when mis- mar
ried sister then in Paris, with her husband,
had him spirited off to America one night.
He stuck to the invention sharper until
his available resources were dissipated.
Nothing was left but the ROckland House
and a Limestone quarry that yielded an in
come OF 5000 year. These he one day
gave to his wife convinced that he was ire
claimahle- His mother gave to him with
lavish hand. but when she saw that he was
falling lower with each gift she withheld
her favOrs. For his own sake thinking 10
nerve him to better deeds, his sisters closed
the doors Of their rich homes against him.
At last his mother gave him a purse with
which 10 start anew in the West, exacting a
pledge that he would never return to her
until he had overcome his unfortunate APP
petite. In February, 1877, young McClOone
passed through Chicago on his way to the
Black Hills then the scene of gold excite
ment. He had not allowed an intoxicant to
touch his lips for month. At
Omsha while the overland train was
waiting Tor a lunch, he bought a
bottle of ale. The next night while the train
was shedding past Gibbob, a small station
in Nebraska, the keeper was shocked to see a
body fail and apparently roll under the
wheels He took the unconscious man into
the station and restored him 1t was the
young New Englander. He had miraculously
escaped with only a few bruises on the head.
The following train took him to Cheyenne.
Then for two days he surprised the border
men by his mUnifcence and princely ways.
On the fourth day he awakened with
meager 500 rement of the $1,000 which his
mother had given for the first in
stalimcut on the purchase of a cattle
ranch. His next effort at reformation was
made IN exile on the Medicine Bow Noun
tain range, where for four months he re-
manned searching for gold, where humar
beings are seldom seen, and where intoxi-
Cants could not be had. At the expiration
of that period, having suffered the adverse
fate OF most gold hunters Mr.. McCloone re-
turned home 70 his wife and two children in
Maine. sure that circumstances had redeemed
him, and resolved to recover by hard labor
the fortune he had so recklessly squandered.
His release from the cOnvict's cell for bravery
is the first that has been heard of him since
then