Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-15
A STRANGE STORY.
A Rockland Mans Sad Hist0ry-A For.
tune Svuandered and a Home beso.
lated-"rruth ls Stranger than Fic.
tiOn.n
CHICAGO, Jan. IA.

Island convicts who were pardoned at Bos-
ton this week for heroism in rescuing the
remnant of the wrecked schooner Juliette of
Winthrop Point. has had romantic career,
according TO history of his life published
Thursday.
McCloon's father was wealthy merchant
and ship builder of Rockland, Maine, and
was worth at least 81 800, 90 at the time of
his death. The inheritance was divided be-
tween the mother, second daughter and the
son. he receiving one third of the whole for
tune. The residue was equally divided be-
tween the other heirs. One of the daugh-
ters, soon after the disposition of the estate,
married an exLieutenant Governor of Mas
sachusetts, now one of the most prominent
members of the bar in that State.
Silas became the husband of young lady
distinguished in the society of Hsverill, Mass.
for her great beauty and accomplishments. A
100000 residence in Rocklsnd was his first
investment.
The next was the fatal parchase of a half
interest in an incompleted invention of a
Yankee to utilize steam without allowing an
exhaust. Thousands after thousands of dol
lars melted away in the scheme. The finan-
cial backer, inexperienced and perfectly in
sane with enthusiasm, hastened off to Eu-
rope with the imperfect models and illustra-
tons to introduce to the Old World an un-
patented patent that was destined to revolu-
tionize the power supplying methods of the
universe. Sharpers at London and Paris saw
the weakness of both man and machine and
while attesting to the marvellous worth of one
showed no hesitation in proftlng from the ap-
parently nexhaustible wealth of the other.
Young McCOOn, it is said, had dined and
wined himself out of about 100000 when
his married sister, then in Paris with her hus-
band, had him spirited off to America one
night. He stuck to the invention sharper
until all of his available resources were dis
sipated. Nothing was left but the Rockland
house and q limestone quarry that yielded
an income of $1,000. These he gave to his
wife. convinced that he was irreclaimable.
His mother gave to him with lavish hand,
but when she found that he was falling lower
with each gift she withheld her favors for his
own sake, thinking to nerve him to better
bCCuS. Ills SiotSIo SLOsCu thC vi tneI
rich houses against them. At last his moth
in the west, exacting promise never to re-
turn unless he had overcome his unfortunate
appetite.
In February 1877, young McCoon passed
through Chicago on the way to the Black
Hills, then the scene of the gold excitement.
He had not allowed an intoxicant to pass his
lips for full month. At Omaha, while the
overland train was waiting for lunch, he
bought bottle of ale. The next night, while
the train was speeding past Gibbon, a small
station in Nebraska. the station agent WAS
shocked to see body fall and apparently
roll under the wheels. He took the uncOn-
scious man into the station and restored him.
1t was the young New Englander. He had
miraculously escaped with few bruises, on
the head.
The following train carried the man on to
Cheyenne. There, for some days, he sur
prised the border men by his munificence and
princely ways, On the fourth day he awak-
ened with meagre 5000 remaint of the SlO,-
900 which his mother had given him tor the
first installment on the purchase of cattle
ranch.
His next effort as reformation was made in
exile at Medicine Bow mountain, where for
four months he temained searching for gold.
At the expiration OF that period, having suf-
fered the adverse fate of most gold hunters,
McCoon returned to his wife and two chill
dren in Maine, sure that circumstances had
redeemed him, and determined to recover bv
hard labor the fortune which he had so reck-
lessly squandered.
RoCKLAND, Jan. IA.
Silas w. McCloon, pardoned from Deer
Isle for gslantly rescuine the sailors in the
recent gale, is the son of Hon. VIM. McCloon,
formerly one of the foremost Maine ship
owners who, when he died, some fifteen
years ago, wiled nearly all his immense for
tune to his son. But Silss generously re-
fused to accept it, and consented to the
breaking of tine will and sharing with the
other heirs, thereby receiving 500, 900.
McCoon has been one of the best known
figures in Rocklsnd. where countless tales
are told of his escspades. He is a man of
iron constitution, indomnible courage and
warm heart, and his bravery in Saturdays
gale, is characteristic of the man. Nc
Cloon's family live in Rockland and he has
relatives in Boston. He has scores of firm
friends in Rockland. who believe he will yet
overcome his passion for drink and make use
of the business talent he undoubtedly pos