Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-02
FICTION oUTDoNe.
The story of the Romantic Life of a Cali
fofnia Politician.


CHICAGO, July 2-0n the day that the
Republican Convention in this city com
pleted its work an episode occurred thai
brought tears to the eyes of many q wit
ness. Frank r. Goodwin, of San Fran
cisco, came here with the California dele
CATION. While en- route numerous storie.
OF personal experience had been told, and
finally Goodwin related his own. The
last time he had been in Chicago
was when he was twelve years old
He and his mother had left Baraboo, Wis.
where his father had died, and they were
going to New York to live. At the Lake
street Union Railway Station they became
separated. ard he got ON a train that was
just starting out, thinking his mother would
be found in one of the coaches. He did moi
see her, but learned that he was on an ex.
cursion train bound for Niagara Falls.
The cars were crowded, and he crawled in
between two seats, the backs of which were
turned together. and soon fell asleep. When
he awoke the lamps were burning, and be
knew that it was night He was hungry,
but he lay still, and again went to sleep. !
Finally the train reached Buffalo and he
got out with the crowd Some one told
him that he could go direct to New York
from there. and he went boldly up to buy
a ticket. He had 81 in his little pocket
uOoh. anu Tic PAlcS Woo $7-fc hc
could not get il for less he began to cry,
and kind hearted gentleman gave him
enough to buy the ticket and have little
change left. He reached New York safely,
but no one at the depot had seen his moth
er. He knew no one in the great city, but
he bravely started out to fiud some thing to
do. Before night he was running errands
about big store. and had been promised
81 week If he was satisfactory.
For six years he worked for that firm,
and then he grew dissatisfied, and dieter.
mined to see something Of the world. He
had heard nothing .: his mother, but be
was in hopes Of yet finding her. He got q
chance to work his way to New Orleans on
a sailing vessel, and from there went up the
river TO St. Louis. Then he went to San
Francisco and worked in a store for year
One day an old miner asked him to go out
and help him work his claim, and within a
week he was in a mining camp. For ten
months they met with encouragement
and then they struck pay dirt" Good
win had secured half interest in the
mine. and he sold his share for $50, 600
Then he began specializing in mining prop
erty and made money rapidly.
Several of his friends were coming to the
Chicago convention, and he determined to
join them. He had written to people here
time and again IN the hopes OF gettlng TRACK
of his mother, but without success; and be
never expected 10 hear of her again. On
Monday afternoon last as Goodwin and 9
party Of friends were leaving the Audi
torium Building patrol wagon drove
down Wabash avenue. Goodwin saw it
looked earnestly moment, and then hao
policeman stop it. 1t contained an aged
woman, who was being taken TO the Home
of the Friendless. She was Goodwin's
mother.
An affecting scene followed, and the
feeble old woman could hardly realize hel
good fortune. The few thousand dollar
She had when her boy was loss were speu,
in trying to find him, and finally, under
the great mental strain, her health had
given way, and she was no longer able &c
support herself. The poor-house was the
last resort, but she did not reach there. A
9 carriage was called, and the patrol wagon
returned TO its station, while mother and
son were driven 10 a hotel. During the
week, a suitable wardrobe was prepared Col
her and the rich Californian and his feeble
mother started for home ON the Pacific
coast