The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-08
THE MISSING EARL
Hon. Henry Boyle Seeking a
Lost Brother.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
a Peer Steps Out Into Ohitvien without
Leaving Trare-Omeers Of the
Premier Wanted.


Hon. Henry Boyle Is at the Rainier boz
tel. hating in his long search for . miss
ing brother. Of whom not word has been
heard for two years. A coronet and CONF
fortsble fortune await him. but he has
completely disappeared since he stepped
aboard the Premier at Vancouver in No
vember. 1857. About 1882 Robert Boyle.
who bore the courtesy title OF Viscount
Boyle, accompanied his brother Henry TO
Canada. attracted by the Involvement held
out of profitable returns for investment in
the lands Of the great Northwest They
we're the sons of the Earl Of shannon,
an Irish peer whose property hsd depre-
ciated through the land troubles. and were
determined to strike out for themselves.
The younger went Immediately to ranch
ing near McCioud, or Mcleod. bat the
elder. having expectations as well as an
immediate income. INDUCED his taste for
hun ting and fishing He had held COM
mission in the Rifle Brigade. which he re-
signed to go with his brother,
and his military associations led
him much into the company
OF the mounted police. for the captain OF
which IN his neighborhood he formed a
strong friendship. He was then a WELL
educated, gentlemanly but lovial young
fellow of g years OF age. and became so
popular that be was elected TO the Council
of the Northwest
After two terms he suddenly resigned.
seeming TO have no taste for the dull pro-
ceedings of the territorial legislature. and
went to Brattleboro. where he roamed
about as his fancy suggested.
The ranch speculation 10. proving so
profitable as had been expected, and Mr..
Henry Boyle finding the rough. wild life
unconeenia. determined to return 20 Eng
land. He wrote to his brother. who was
200 miles further inland, announcing his
intention. but Lord Boyle replied that he
wanted to see more of the country before
returning. His last letter was dated
August. 1857, and since then he has main
tanned absolute silence.
His brother and other friends wrote to
him. bat their letters remained un-
answered, and after being forwarded to
one or two places we're returned. During
the administration of the Marquis OF
Lansdowne an attempt was made to
learn something about him. but beyond a
report that he had been seen near small
mINng camp, all inquiries were unavailing.
As rule he neither gambled nor drank
immoderateiy, but at the camp it is re-
ported that he had been on a prolonged
spree" with some of the wild characters
he met, and into whose life he entered
heartily for the time.
Last year the Earl of shannon died, and
the inquiry for his heir and successor then
became more animated. Not only was 1t
necessary to ascertain to a certainty ii he
were alive in order to determine the sue
cession TO the title, but important deeds
left unsigned by the old earl needed his
sanction Under the Ashbourne act.
large portion Of the estate was divided up
for sale among the tenants, and the title
deeds could not be completed without the
missing mans signature.
Mr.. Boyle concluded to set out on the
search himself. His anxious duty is
rendered more delicate by the fact that If
his brother has lost his life, the Younger
man becomes Earl of shannon and inherits
the estate He has been over all the
ground traversed by Lord Boyle, and tax
ing up faint clews he has sought to follow
in his footsteps since he left the mining
camp.
At Vancouver the thread was again
picked up. 1t was ascertained that the
young viscount, in November, 1887. called
at the branch there of the Bank OF Mon
treal and announced his intention of leav-
ing that day on the Premier for trip to
the Sound. Here, so far. the scent is again
lost. Mr.. Boyle learns that no officer now
on the Premier was then employed upon
her, and he is anxiously seeking the capt
ain, officer purser, steward or any man
aboard the steamer on that trip who re-
members the lost passenger.
Until within the past few months, the
absence of Lord Boyle has been attributed
by his family to eccentricity or q rowing
disposition; but now it bears the aspect of
a mystery. The destruction by the lire of
ali hotel registers prevents any trace of
him by that usual means, and the search
ers are now cropping in the dark. His
habits were not likely to lead him to
low resorts. He had little money with
him and he has since never drawn dollar
from home, and as there is no trouble of
any kind to account for his failure to write
to mis- friends they are utterly at loss for
a motive for voluntary hiding.
The earldom of Shannon, which. If he is
alive, now descends to him was conferred
upon MS ancestor IN 100, ana Tue InItner
English title of Baron Carleton was De-
slowed upon him few years later SO that
he is a member of the House of Lords
The late earl was one OF the few good land
lords who suffered for the sins of the alb
sentees, and for several years past the for
tune OF the family has been reduced. but
there is still enough left to afford ample in
aucement 10 a man who Is probably earn
ing precarious livelihood.
parallel is that of the Earl of Aberdeen,