Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-13
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcH.1

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
ATLANTA, December 12.-The legal en-
tanglements of Cumberland Island have
developed story, the plot of which is rare
lY equaled in fiction. Several days ago a
New York paper announced a sensational
suit brought in the State by the Engels
| children to recover Cumberland Island, the
gem Of the Atlantic and magnificent do,
main Of 100000 acres of the Georgia coast.
Their claim is that the island belonged to
their grandfather, Robert Stafford, of
Georgia.
This was an attack on the title Of the
present holders, among whom is Mrs.
Carnegie, who has recently been negoti-
ating for the whole island, with a
view to making there a sub-tropical pre-
serve that would rival the charms Of Eden.
The announcement of the suit by the Engels
has aroused Mrs. Briggs, of Brunswick, Ga,
who tells remarkable story which, if true,
would take away the claim of the Engels
and vest it in Others Mrs. Briggs story is
as follows:
MRS. BRIGGS STORY.
Years and years ago my greatgrandfather,
Thomas Spaulding. came to this country as
general in the war with Spain. He settled on
Cumberland Island, where his wife died soon
after, leaving one child, Isom Spaulding, who
also distinguished himself as military COM
mander of great bravery and extraordinary
sagacity For number Of years Thomas
Spaulding mourned the loss of his companion,
and seemed to find no pleasure in life. He
eVaded contact with the public, and was con-
tent to live in seclusion with his little son.
Finally, however a change came over him. He
met a beautiful and accomplished young
widow, Mrs. Stafford who had recently come
over from England. She had one child. Rob-
ert Their conditions in life were similar-each
had been married and death had carried away
the cherished objects of their hearts: each had
been left IN possession of little boy. These
facts were commented on, and feeling of
mutual sympathy grew up between them,
finally developing into love. A short time after
ward Mrs. Stafford became Mrs. Spaulding.
The newly married people, happy in their
second o love lived together S1 abSSt out two years
been blessed with one child, 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, disinherit-
after Mrs. Spaulding died, leaving her sor,
Robert Stafford, sole heir of Thomas Spauld-
ing's vast estate.
BOTH BOYS SETTLE DOWN.
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. Spauld-
ing was engaged to a Miss Clubb and Stafford
to a Miss Nightingale. The former marriage
soon took place. The latter never was because
of the death of Miss Nightingale. Not long
after Miss Nightingale's death Robert Stafford
became enamored of mulatto named Jane
Bernardo. He lived with her for IL or IA years,
and they had six children. The people
of Cumberland then ordered Stafford to send
the woman away. He complied with their re-
quest by purchasing the woman from her
owner, Mrs. Bernardo, French woman who
owned large interests on the island. Robert
Stafford then sent his mulatro 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 year. Before his death
he sold his entire interest to a man named
johnson. All of Staford's children were girls
and the public is familiar with their history
after they went North. They were duly edu-
Gated and entered the first circles of society,"
where they were often alluded to as the daugh-
ters of Georgia millionaire. One of the girls
married man named Engels, OF New York.
She atterward died, leaving several children.
These children are the ones now laying claim
to Cumberland Island.