Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-13
IT'S A STRANGE STORY.
TWICE INSANE AND FINAL REcOv.
ERY WITH LOSS OF MEMORY.

Californian Who Iost His Reason For
gets Recovery That He Was Mar
ried. and Fails TO Recognize the Girl
He Lovcd-Beginni,s Life Over Again.
Maurice Long was popular young rancher
III Kern county in 1873. He was then about
2S years of age, and possessed herd of cat
tie and about five thou sand acres of land A
young lady, the daughter of wealthy mer
chant in Bakersfield, was ono day led to the
altar by the young gentleman and returned
with him to his ranch Mrs. Long
The young couple were as happy as mar
ried people III the book are alleged to be, and
everything looked brig hit for the future of
their coay 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 A SECOND MARRIAGE
Life lost all its hope to Mr. Long when bis
beautiful wife was taken He could not en-
dure the loneliness of bis ranch life, and, find
ing purchaser, sold everything, determined
to leave California aud cut himself loose from
hood. Remaining for brief period at the
house of his father-n-llw, 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. BIZ persistent efforts and the care
OF n judicious physician, the young man was
partially restored, but the condition of his
mind was still uncertain. AT times the un-
steadiness Of his reason manifested itself in
foolish imhecility. Apparently he recovered,
however, and went t. 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 hy the parents
Finally one came announcing his marriage
TO young lady of that city. Scarcely a
year had passed since the death of his wife on
the Kern county ranch, and, although his
friends were surprised at the announcement,
remembering his fononess for her and his
grief at her decease, hey strangely enough
regarded the second marriage as a further
evidence of restored reason Six months
more passed, during which all reports and q
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, for his son
was Il rnviug maniac
With heavy heart the father conveyed
Maurice Long to Stockton and placed him In
the insane hospital Theexamining physician
pronounced him hopelessly insane. The
| young wife returned to her parents. A few
months later she gave birth to a child. When
she had grown strong sue visited her husband
at the asylum i'll the vain hope of q sign OF
| recognition or 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.
tient, bat they always returned more sad
dened than ever at his condition.