Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-02
AFTER THIRTY YEARS.
A Thrilling EnOch Arden Case With
Joyous and Happy Ending.

Joyous and Happy Ending.
A correspondent of the Atlanta ConStit,-
ton has recently had the pleasure of inter-
viewing Mr.. James II. Whiten, who has
just returned from thirty-years' stay in
the wild West His experience in frontier
life, which is full of Indian sllirmishes, bear
hunts, ETC., IS quite interesting; but the
separation from his wife for period Of
thirty years, and what led to their meeting,
is the most interesting feature of the story.
In January, 1851, Mr.. Written was mar
RED to Miss Nancy Fowler, beautiful
young lady who resided near Westminster,
S. G. Young Whiten was very ambitious
to prepare his wife commodious home,
both being very poor at the time OF their
marriage. He made up his mind to try his
fortune in the West. The gold fever was
spreading through the West at that time
like contagion, and Pixies Peak was the
objective point. So in the following spring,
when winters winds had given place to the
breezes of spring, and before the honey
moon had fairly waned, vows of everlasting
devotion and fidelity were exchanged and
Mr.. Whiten turned his face westward.
After rougL-ng it five years among des-
peradoes and Indians, and having gathered
considerable money, he decided to return
civil war was then In full blast, and while
passing through the State Of Texas Mr.
Whiten was called on for his services and
had to respond During his term many let
tiers were written to the precious one, but
no answer ever came. Through an acquaint-
ance he was informed that his wife had re-
fuged to parts unknown. In the soldiers
camp, in the State Of Kansas, the news Of
Lees surrender reached him. Being desti-
tute of means on which TO travel, and having
learned through an effort 10 establish COM
uunication that the one was dead for
whom it was his pleasure TO live, he returned
to Colorado there 10 spend the remainder
Of his DAYS in the solitude OF the West.
"For twenty-five years." said Mr.. Wniten,
" | wandered over the plains and prairles,
my thoughts ever carrying ne back 20 the
place where I kissed her goodbye" II
seems that his grief, instead Of relaxing,
grew more poignant. In the fall Of 1857 he
met an old friend, joe Steel, in Montana.
Mr.. Steel tod him that it was very likely
that his wife was s.3ll living; that he had
faint recollection Of q marriage In 81 aeloin-
ing county of Mr. Southern 10 Mrs
Whifen, who had long since given up her
former husband for dead, and that South
ern was dead, so be was informed. and that
the widows post-oflce was Fort Madison, s.
C. Elased by these glad things, Mr.
Whiten directed three letters 70 Fort Msdi-
son. che 70 Mrs. Southern, che 70 Mrs
Whisen. and one % Mr.. -Whi.en. sup
posed son Of his Eagerly c id he wal. for
reply. but none came.
TIE letters remained in the Office tn che
gay the postmaster a. that place was fixing
TO make legal disposition of them, when
countryu.zn. Mr. John Latham, Glanced 10
step In The postmaster casually asked
Latham IL be knew any one by the name cs
Nancy Southern CT Sa1cy Whitea- Latham
happened 70 be well acquainted with the
widow, and. b. the rer1est cftEe pos.Ezs-
ter, carried the ictters 20 Mrs Southern
She answered bin G. once. explaining her
second ns2rrssre: that she Lad heard be was
dead and ex pressed great anxiety % see hEn
Mr. Whiteu ~ c1ce TOOK the tram for West
minister. & C, hs-ing been. By her letter. IL
formed that she hre5 az tie sara sd plzre
Arriving AZ Westminster. be proceeded 70
the old country ho-aessezd- .<tasrs Tia r.r.- !