Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
Ills a Strange Story.
Didn't Recognize His Little Wife.
A Californian Who Lost His Reason
FOrgets on Recovery That He Was
Married and Fails to Recognize
the Girl He Loved.

pathetic interest. The parties are we'll
known in the community where they re-
side. though nearly all the events occurred
elsewhere. The names published herein
are fictitious for obvious reasons, but the
facts are vouched for by responsible
citizen.
Maurice Long was popular young
rancher in Kern county in 1873. He was
then about twenty-three years of age, and
possessed a herd of cattle and about
five thousand acres of land. young
lady, the dsughter of wealthy merchant
in Bakersfield, was one day led to the
altar By the young gentleman, and re-
turned with him to the ranch as Mrs.
Long.
The young couple were as happy as
married people in the books are alleged
TO be, and every thing looked bright for
the future of their coy home in the foot
hills. Life, always charming to the
young, was particularly rosy tinted to Mr..
and Mrs. Long. Suddenly dark pail was
spread over the life of Maurice, for the
young wife sickened and died. The re-
mains now lie in the Bakersfield cemetery
by the side of the mother she lost in her
early childhood.
Life lost all its hope to Mr.. Long when
his beautiful wife was taken. He could
not endure the loneliness of his ranch
life, and, finding a purchaser, sold every
thing, determined to leave California and
cut himself loose from all the tender
memories of his young manhood. Re-
naming 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 a judicious physi-
clan, the young man was partially re-
stored, but the condition of his mind was
still uncertain. At times the unsteadi-
ness of his reason manifested itself IN
foolish imbecility. Apparently be recov-
cred, however, and went to Chico and To-
Gated in that little city, opening a feed
and sale stable. Business prospered, and
encouraging reports came to the Santa
Clara home in the occasional letters re-
oeived by the parents.
Finally one came announcing his mar
riage to a yousg lady of that city.
Scarcely year had passed since the
death of his wife on the Kern county
ranch, and, although his friends were
surprised at the announcement, remem-
bering his fondness for her and his grief
at her decease, they strangely enough re-
garded the second marriage as a further
evidence of restored reason. Six months
more passed, during which all reports and
single visit satisfied the anxious friends
that Mr.. Long was il. perfect mental and
physical health. One day painful tel
egram from his wife announcing the sud
den wreck Of their sons reason was re-
ceiyed by old Mr.. Long at San Jose. Go
ing in answer to the message to Chico,
the terrible truth of the calamity forced
itself upon him, for his son was q raving
maniac.
With a heavy heart the father conveyed
Maurice Long to Stockton and placed
him in the insane hospital. The examin-
ing physician pronounced him hopeless
ly insane. The young wife returned to
her parents, A few months later she
gave birth to a child. When she had
grown strong she visited her husband at
the asylum in the vain hope of sign of
recognition or an evidence of affection.
A brother remained at Chico conducting
the business. Visits were made from
time to time by the friends of the IN
fortunate patient, but they always return
ed more saddened than ever at his con-
dition.
Two years were passed in Stockton,
when the joyful intelligence was received
by old Mr.. Long that his son seemed in
fair way TO recover. The news was
almost too good TO believe. Careful
nursing for six weeks followed, and the
physician sent word that his wife and
friends might visit him, but with this
came the startling intelligence
that Mr.. Maurice Long had absolutely
forgotten all events that had trans PRED
since the sale of his ranch after the
burial of his wife at Bakersfield. Think
ing her presence would restore her to his
memory, the faithful little mother at
Chico went TO the hos pital, carrying with
her the boy, now negrly two years of age.
The reader car imagine her terrible grief
when she saw before her the face of her
husband and beheld in it all the evidence
of restored intellect, but no recognition
of his spouse. Vainly she recalled the
events of their courtship and marriage,
and despairingly she held before him the
baby. The poor man hung
his hsad in des pair, unable TO remember
uything that she brought to his atten-
ton.
The death of her husband in this i'm
becility would have been easy to bear in
com paTison 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 gaining strength.
The little woman came no more to see
him. The father, the brother and the
by degrees convinced him of
the truth of the story of his marriage
and the birth of his son. When he was
released he repaired TO Chico and accept
I'd the situation as truth established in
his mind by testimony but not expert
ence. He took his wife and child, and
selling his business removed to GOleta.
Association with the woman who bore his.
name and the child who called him papa
sntwined mis- affections around them.
These strange events occurred seven
years ago. The couple have resided on
heir pretty little ranch at Goleta nearly
hat length of time. To all appearances
he Han and wife are one. They never
,ofer to their terrible sorrow, but each
strives to forget the awful past and live
n the present. 1t is strange story.
The neighbors know nothing of the cir
The gentleman who gives
his Information was resident of Chico
II the time referred to and familiar with
LII the narrowing details, having learned
hem directly from brother of the hero
If the story.
New Source of Power.
AT Point Labos, near San Francisco,
here is suspended out in the waters of
he Pacific ocean big WOODEN pendulum
10 arranged that a surface six feet by
welve is exposed to the WAYS. The