The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-14
BEATS FICTION.
The Story by a Brunswick Lady of
the Engels Children.

The Story by Brunswick Lady of
the Engels Children.
Several days ago the New York Herald
published a statement to the effect that
suit bad just begun in that state in behalf
of the Engels children TO recover possession
of Cum berlaDd Island, their claim being
that the island formed part of the estate Of
their grandfather, the late Robert Stafford
OF Georgia. Speaking of the matter, Mrs.
Briggs of Brunswick said Tuesday: Years
and years ago my great-grandfather,
Thomas Spaulding, came to this country as
general in the war with Spain. He set
tied on Cumberland, where his wife died
soon after, leaving one child, Isom
Spaulding, who also distinguished himself
as military commander of great bravery
and extraordinary sagacity. For a num-
Der OF years Thomas Spaulding mourned
the loss OF his companion, and seemed to
ind no pleasure in life. He avoided
contact with the public, and was content
to live in seciusion with his little son.
Finally. however, a change came over
him. He met beautiful and accomplished
young widow, Mrs Stafford, who had re-
Gently come over from England. She had
one child, Robert. Their conditions in life
were similar. Each had been married and
death had carried away the cherished object
of their hearts. Each had been left in pos
session of little boy. These facts were
commented on and a feeling of mutual
sympathy grew up between them, finally
developing into love. A short time after
wards tbs marriage troths were plighted
for the second time, and Mrs. Stafford be-
came Mrs. Spaulding.
The newly married people, happy in
their second love, lived together about two
years, when Thomas Spaulding died. God
blessed the union with one child, a little girl
named Jane. Thomas Spaulding left no
will, and hence his widow had things her
own way. She assumed charge of all the
property, disinheriting her stepson, Isom
SpauldIng Not long after Mrs. Spaulding
died, leaving her son, Robert Stafford, sole
heir of Thomas Spauding's vast estate. In
the course of time Isom Spaulding and
Robert Stafford began to look around for
wives. Spaulding moved away from the
old homestead, leaving Stafford in charge.
Spaulding was engaged to a Miss Club,
and Stafford to a Miss Nightingale. The
former marriage was shortly after consum-
mated. The latter never was because of the
death of Miss Nightingale. Not long after
Miss Nightingales death Robert Stafford be-
came enamoured with mulatto woman,
named Jane Bernardo. He lived with
this woman for twelve or fourteen wears
and became the father of six half-breeds.
Then it was that the people of Cumberland
grow IlIeu VI SUCH q ul5RTaCeIul proceeding
and ordered Stafford to send the woman
away. Stafford complied with their request
by purchasing his paramount from her
owner, Mrs. Bernardo, a French woman
who owned large interests on the island.
Robert Stafford then sent his mulatto
wife and her six children north, stating to
his northern friends that his wife was
dead and this woman was sent along as
nurse. Stafford remained on the island,
visiting his children about twice a year.
Before his death he sold his entire interest
to man named johnson.
'All of Stafford's children were girls and
the public is familiar with their history
after they went north. They were duly
educated and entered the first circles of
society, where they were often alluded to
as the daughters of the Georgia millionaire
| One of the girls married a man named
| Engals of New York. She afterward died,
| leaving several children. These children
are the ones now laying claim to Cumber-
land Island under pretenses presumptuous
| as they are fallacious."