The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09
WHAT WAS HIS sECRETY
A Strange Romance in the Family Of
Hx-Gov. Bross.
Fronl an Erchnnne.

From an Exchange.
EX-Gov. Bross If Illinois, who died Mon
day night, had brother who died in May,
| 1888. There was a strange story connected
with this brother-a romance that read like
one of Charles Reade's novels. The brother
was Stephen Decatur Dress. In 1854, while
teaching school in New Jersey, he packed
his valise one day and told his wife that he
! was Obliged to go to New York to attend to
some business. She never saw him again.
Efforts were made to find him. hut in vain,
and the family incurred him as dead, be-
| lievlng that ne had been foully dealt with in
| the metropolis.
About seventeen years ago a man called
on Gov. Bross at the Tribune office and
asked him if Lee had a brother living il
| Colorado. The governor said he mad not
and the the caller told about having met a
man somewhere-in the mining districts who
| lore such striking resemblance to the
| governor that he had felt almost certain
| that they were brothers. This incident ha
| escaped the me uorv of Gov. Bross, when
another man from Colorado asked him a
similar question and gave further details
| concerning the myste ious double 1t was
| not till his ma ne was mentioned that Gov.
Bross became interested. When he learned
| tnat the Colora 10 man was known as
| stephen Decatur, he began to wo der
| whether or not he might he his long-lost
brother The more he thought about il the
more curious he became to see and Ia k will
Decatur. Finally he resolved to 60 to Col
Orado. He did 20, and he found that the
man was famous throughout the state
Every one he met called the object of his
| search "Commodore" Decatur. they knew
all about his life in the west, but not one
could give the slightest account of Decatur's
autecedents. When they first he ard of him
ne was running a ferry across the Missouri
river at Omaha. he had come 10 Colora 10
i 1852 aud had fought through all the In
dian wars since. He had he, successful
miner and member of the legislature At
tue time of Gov Bross' visit he was living
on ranch IN the interior of the state
This information whetted the governors
appetite for more, and after d perilous
journey across the mountains he reached
Decaturs ranch. Judge of his astonisn-
ment when ne was met at the door by a
| buxom Indian squaw, who told him that
| she was Mrs. Decatur. Mr.. Decatur was
not at home, but the governor, now sorely
perplexed, resolved to await his arrival. II
was not long before a sturdy mOuntaineer
came strding up the road. One glance con-
| firmed Gov. Bross that it was indeed his
brother, and he ran out with open arms to
meet him.
tDgbDn6Is MY DfOUuBT, my IOlR-lOSD
brother" almost sobe1 the governor.
Decatur stopped and, for few minutes,
stood perfectly still, curiously cycling the
man who had accosted him. Then he gruffiy
said:
who are youl'
"Why, don't you know me, Stepheu9
am William Bross, your Oldest brother."
u never saw you before in my life"
| "Why, Stephen Bross, how"
thl fall p that uFa ts1isfa oh
My name is not Bross l never heard the
name before My name is Decatur"
Yes, brother, l know it is-Stephen De-
catur Bross."
mo, sir; it is Stephen Decatur"
Gov. Bross was Gu nfOunde1. He knew
that 1t was his brother t. whom he was
speaking, aud be finally asked the man if lie
did not have large scar on his left arm,
! few inches above the wrist In response to
| this question, Decatur coolly rolled up his
sleeve and displayed the scar. Dispute this,
however, Decatur stoubiy denied his idea
| titY, and although he treatel Gov. Bross
| with marked kindness and hospitality, he
would not acknowledge him as his brother.
| For several days the governor remained at
tae ranch. pleading with Decatur to un-
bosom himself, but his entreaties were firm
| ly repulsed. Saidened in heart with the
result of his long journey, and realizing
| that nothing could induce stephen Decatur
to confess the secret of his life, Gov. Bross
| returne home.
In 1876 Gov. Bross learned that "Com-
more" Deca' ur had been commissioned to
| represent Colorado at the centennial exposi-
ton, and on his way to this city Decatur
even stopped Off at Chicago and visited the
| governor for several days. There he met
| other relatives. but To them, as to his
brother, ne denied that he ever heard the
name of Bross until the governor came to
his ranch. While he was il the city
| Stephen Bross' children and some of his old
townspeope called upon him. but never
once did he bot ay himself They idenGi-
fed him beyond shadow OF doubt, but
to all he simply replied that they were mis-
taken He finally died in. poverty. and his
secret diei with him, for so far as known he
never told it to living being. Some If
his children are married aud living in Chi.
cago.
MES are like drums-the one with the big
| head makes the most noise YoHsers States