Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-17
CASTLES IN THE AIR
Constructed Especially for
Use in America.
A EUROPEAN VOCATION.
The Most Recent Design Intended for
the SprOull Heirs.
1T is WORTH THIRTEEN MILLIONS.
Prominent Members of the Family Living
in Allegheny City.
A EUROPEAN VOCATION.
1T is WORTH THIRTEEN MILLIONS.
THEY WILL NOT PURSUE THE MIRAGE

Reports OF fabulous fortunes in Europe
for American heirs are frequent, but the
realizations of such tales are exceedingly
rare. 1t is probable that among the un-
founded tales of that sort may be classed a
story which pertains TO large and we'll
known family of Western Pennsylvania,
some of the most eminent members OF which
are residents OF Pittsburg.
The following letter was yesterday re-
ceiyed by The DISPATCH from a citizen of
Freeport:
The Sproull heirs, of whom there are quite a
number scattered through the United states,
have lately received the refreshing news that a
large fortune awaits them in Scotland. the
former home of their ancestors. This fortune
is SAID to be in hard cash, and foots up the
enormous sum of Sl3O00.000, which is a sum
surely not to be despised. Among the lucky
heirs are ID. SproUl, of Allegheny City, the
oldest living heir; y. W. Watt and sisters, OF
Allegheny township. Westmoreland county;
the Sprouts of Butler county, OF whom the
Syrian missionary, W. j. SDroull, is one; Miss
MaTgaretta Sproul, of Leechburg, and her
broJners: II. s. SprcuIl, of Washington, Ia; ;
W. J. Sproull. of Parnassus, and half dozen
other families scattered through Pennsylvania
and the " estern States. 1t is said the thing is
genuine and steps are being taken to have the
f''-' R. A W.
DIR. SPRoULL SMILED.
A reporter for THE DISPATCH last evening
visited Rev. Thomas Sproull, LID, of Allie
gheny and showed the letter to him. That
gentleman read it through, but began to laugh
before he had finished the second sentence
When he had ended his perusal he drew him
himself up TO his height, which is considerable,
and said:
There is absolutely no foundation for this
story, none whatever. The same thing came to
my ears about year ago. 1t seems that there
are men or firms in London, and 1 presume in
other European CITIES which make ii their
business TO watch such things as this. When
they learn of a fortune left by a man without
known heir tney look up every person of that
name in this country, and have 1t reported TO
them that a fortune aNaitS them IL they VIII
take legal measures to secure it. Their design
is TO secure money from the supposed heirs Tor
the purpose OF paying the expenses OF lnvestl-
cation and legal procedure.
II suppose that the business is paying one.
1 am satisfied that this report was started for
such swindling purposes. When 1t first came
TO US. a year ago, my son William, who IL an
instructor in the university IN Cincinnati, took
some pains to inquire into the thing. After
considerable correspondence, he concluded
that the story was fraud.
This letter saws that the former home of our
ancestors was Scotland. My father came from
the north Of Ireland iii the last century, and
the family lived there for many generations.
originally from Scotland, hut that was, as the
story books say. once upon a time,
HE WAS ANOTHER SPRoULL.
81 have heard my father speak of Sproull
in Ireland who made a large fortune at the
bleachery business, but he not related to
our family at all. do not know all of the peo-
pie mentioned in this letter, but the most of
them are relatives. Rev. W. J. Sproull is not
in SYRIA now He has charge of a Reformed
Presbyterian church in Franklin county"
Rev. John W. SproulI the pastor OF the Cen
tr2l Reformed Presbyterian Church, son of
Rev. DR.. Sproull, was visited also Just as his
father had done, he smiled broadly before he
was half way through the letter He said: Il
am quite sure there is nothing in this Our an
cestOTs are from Ireland. ! would not spend
cent to look up such matter unless were
very sure IL had a good foundation. We have
received no refreshing news such as the letter
speaks Of 1t may be that other members of
the connection have been making inquiries
about il and have learned something. but
take no stock in it. know of all the persons
mentioned in the letter. Some are second
cousins and some forty-second. The connection
is a very large one scattered all over the coun-
try"