Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-03-22
IT'S A STRANGE STORY.
TWICE INSANE AND FINAL RECOV.
cry WITH LOSS OF MEMORY.

A Californian Who Lost His Reason For
gets on Recovery That Ee Was Mar
ried, and Fails to Recognize the Girl
He Eoved-Beginning Life Over Again.
Maurice Long was popular young rancher
in Kern county in 1878. He was then about
% years of age, and possessed a herd of cat
tie and about five thousand acres of land. A
| young lady, the daughter of wealthy mer-
chant in Bakersfield, was one day led to the
altar by the young gentleman and returned
with him to his ranch as Mrs Long.
The young couple were as happy as mar
| ried people in the books are alleged to be, and
everything looked bright for the future of
their cozy home in the foothills. Life, always
charming to the young, was particularly
rosy tinted to Mr.. and Mrs. Long. Suddenly
dark pail was spread over the life of Maui
rice, for the young wife sickened and died
The remains now lie in the Bakersfield ceme-
terry by the side of the mother she lost in her
early childhood.
GRIEF AND SECOND MARRIAGE.
Life lost all its hope to Mr. Long when his
beautiful wife was taken. He could not en-
dure the loneliness of his ranch life, and, find
ing purchaser, sold everything, determined
to leave California and cut himself loose from
all the tender memories of his young man
hood Remaining for brief period at the
house of his father-in-law, he shortly went to
the home of his parents, in the Santa Clara
valley, near San Jose. Unable to shake off
his grief, he sank finally into a melancholy
from which his friends feared he would never
recover. By persistent efforts and the care
of judicious physician, the young man was
partially restored, but the condition of his
mind was still uncertain At times the I'M
steadiness of his reason manifested itself in
foolish imbecility. Apparently he recovered,
however, and went to Chico and located in
that little city, opening feed and sale stable.
Business prospered, and encouraging reports
came to the Santa Clara home in the occa-
sional letters received by the parents
Finally one came announcing his marriage
to young lady of that city. Scarcely
year had passed since the death of his wife on
the Kern county ranch, and, although his
friends We're surprised at the announcement,
remembering his fondness for her and his
grief at her decease, they strangely enough
regarded the second marriage as a further
evidence of restored reason Six months
more passed, during which all reports and a
single visit satisfied the anxious friends that
Mr.. Long was in perfect mental and physical
health. One day painful telegram from
his wife announcing the sudden wreck of
their sons reason was received by old Mr.
Long at San Jose. Going in answer to the
message to Chico, the terrible truth Of the
calamity forced itself upon him, Tor his son
was raving maniac
With heavy heart the father conveyed
Maurice Long to Stockton and placed him in
the insane hospital The examining physician
pronounced him hopelessly insane. The
young wife returned to her parents. A few
months later she gave birth to child When
she had grown strong she visited her husband
at the asylum in the vain hope of a sign of
recognition on an evidence of affection. A
brother remained at Chico conducting the
business. Visits were made from time to
time by the friends of the unfortunate pa
tent, but they always returned more sad
dened than ever at his condition.
HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS WIFE.
Two years were passed in Stockton, when
the joyful intelligence was received by old
Mr. Long that his son seemed in a fair way
to recover. The news was almost too good
to believe. Careful nursing for six weeks
followed, and the physician sent word that
the wife and friends might visit him, but
with this statement came the startling intelli-
gence that Maurice Long had absolutely for
gotten all events that had transpired since
the sale of his ranch after the burial of his
wife at Bakersfield. Thinking her presence
would restore her to his memory, the faithful
little mother at Chico went to the hospital,
carrying with her the boy, now nearly two
years of age. The reader can imagine her
terrible grief when she saw before her the
of han h,,c1, lol,o IN IL
evidence of restored intellect, but no recog-
milton of his spouse, Vainly she recalled the
events of their courtship and marriage, and
despairingly she held before him the chubby
faced baby. The poor man hung his head il,
despair, unable to remember ANYTHING that
she sought to bring to his attention
The death Of her husband in his imbecility
would have been easy to bear in comparison
with the terrific fact which here confronted
her. Almost wild with grief she returned to
her home in Chico. Six weeks longer the
poor man stayed at Stockton, gradually gain
ing strength. The little woman came nc
more to see him. The father, the brother
and the physician by degrees convinced hin.
of the truth of the story of his marriage and
the birth of his SON. When he was released
he repaired to Chico and accepted the situa-
ton as truth established in his mind BY
testimony but not experience. He took hi
wife and child, and selling his business re-
moved to Goleta. Association with the woman
who bore his name and the child who called
him papa entwined his affection around them.
These strange events occurred seven year.
ago. The couple have resided on their pretty
little ranch at Goleta nearly that length o.
time. To all appearances the man and wifi,
are one They never refer to their
sorrow, but each strives to forget the awfu
past and live in the present 1t is a strange
story. The ncighbors know nothing of til,
circumstances. The gentleman who give
this information was resident of Chico a
the time referred to and familiar with all thu
narrowing details, having learned then
directly from brother of the hero of the
story.-Los Angeles Tribune