The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-15
LIFE OF STANLEY.
. Sturdy WELSHMAN CAN TELL
ALL ABOUT HIM.

,on explorer. was in Pittsburg last winter,
IA little dreamed that a man claiming to be
bis stepfather was living in Homestead,
either did the father know that his ia
IONS stepohild intended to deliver lecture
n this city until after he had gone. Each
vss ignorant of the others presence, though
the old man has longed for years to see
Nr Stanley to tell him about the death of
his mother. 1t is an interesting story
and full of pathos. After listening to the
GOD stepfather's recital and carefully 90
mo over the records in the little, worn
Welsh Bible, which were translated for him.
the reporter had no doubt that the tale is
correct.
It is generally understood by the public
that Henry M. Stanley is not the real name
If the explorers. This is the name Of the
New Orleans merchant who reared him. es
che published accounts of his early life go.
The mystery of his origin has never been
cleared up to the public KEN though all the
facts of his birth are probably known to
Mr.. Stanley. For certain reasons be has
never cared to dilate upon them, and in
consequence ali sorts of stories about his
boyhC 'od days have been published.
It remains for Watkin James, the STEP
father, to give q clear and authentic history
Of young Stanley up to when he was years
old.
A MATTER or INTEREST
ANYTHING written about the rescuer of
Livingstone, which bears the stamp of
truth, will certainly be much appreciated
BY the world. Mr. James relates Incidents
which will be news to Stanley. and will no
doubt be relished by him. It is strange the
two have never met, but when the story is
told people will readily understand how
innate modesty and inability to express
self we'll in the English language have pre-
vented Mr.. James from making himself
known to the American and Welsh idol
Wstlgin James is Welshman, 63 years
DID, living in Homestead. He has resided
in that town for the last five years, and is
employed as the keeper of furnace in Car
negies Homestead mill. He is a man of
rugged build, and has good, honest face,
as his picture shows. He is typical Welsh
man. and can speak English fairly well.
His accent is hard for a native to catch at
first, but one becomes accustomed to it in a
short time. 1t is difficult to make him I'M
derstand questions asked in English, but
through an interpreter it was made easy.
Nm James remained home from work
yesterday afternoon to have his picture
taken and to keep an engagement with
DtSpGtch reporter. He was found in a neat
little home on HeIsel street, opposite
Maloney's hotel. His Welsh brother-in-law.
Mr.. Davis, whose wife speaks English
nuouIys was Oh LU6 IlbJl6 porch.
APPEARED IN THE DOORWAY.
When asked if Mr.. James lived there, he
didn't understand the question, and replied
in the negative. Just then a rugged-look-
ing man appeared in the doorway. His
beard was coarse and white, and covered
his neck like Horace Greeley's. The hair
was removed from the cheeks. He was
minus coat and wore a rough shirt which
the mallnen have adopted as their own
peculiar style. The face was kindly and
full of strength. He looked at the stranger
before him for moment and then said
abruptly: Are you the newspaper man"
When positive assurance was given, he
said in broken English:
Come in. l am Stanley's stepfather,
and want to talk to you. Do you know
Henrys | often read about him in the
papers, but / never saw him. l didn't
know ne was in Pittsbug last winter, or l
would have called to see him. When he was
married last fall my family and celebrated
the event among ourselves here in Home
stead"
"Yes, and we had great Time" broke in
Mrs. Mary Davis, his sister-in-law, who
after ward acted as interpreter.
With the ice broken and mutual conf
dence restored by this introduction, it was
plain sailing, and Watkin James COM
Inenced his story. Mrs. Davis had written
a short account of Stanley's father and
mother at the dictation of Mr.. James, and
this abstract so to speak, was submitted to
the reporter for his guidance. The names
of the Welsh places were like SO much
Sanscrit, but after much questioning all
the facts were elected.
HE HAD GOOD MOTHER.
"Stanley's correct name" said Mr..
James. 'is Henry Rowlauds. His mother
was Ellenor Jones, and his father Jacob
Rowlands. Both were born in Pont Rees,
near New Castle Emleyn, Camerthenshire,
South Wales. Henry was born in the same
town, add is now from 40 20 so years old. He
has sister, Elizabeth, who is now married
to David Rees, and they are living some
where in Colorado. l remember paid their
passage to America. Stanley's father was
bookbinder by trade, and a very claver
one, but good-for-nothing man. He kept
store in the village could talk good En-
glish aud was reckoned among his neighbors
as a smart fellow He didn't have much prin-
cple, and | think the reason why Stan
ley never thinks about his father is that
when he came to know all about him he had
little respect for him. Stanley's mother,
whom l afterward married, was an in
tensely religious woman. She was a great
worker in the church. She could also
speak English, and read books a great deal |
She was very fond of young Henry, but the
carelessness of his father caused her many
heartache. Jacob Rowlands wasn't a
good husband, and when Henry was about
years old his parents separated. The |
father took the boy and the mother the girl
TO rear. Shortly after this Rowlands sold
Henry to sea captain. Preacher Davis OF
Cardigan was witness TO the papers bind
ing the future explorer TO the skipper I
think Stanley was about 5 years old at the
time. / never knew how the captain
treated Henry.
CRIED FOR HER Buy.
Il have often seen his mother sitting by
wlndowswhen there was storm, crying
ior her little boy at sea. She didn't hear
from him for four years, and had given
nlm up for lost. She was fully persuaded
he had been drowned.
"Ellenor Jones, Stanley's mother, was
my third wife. have mislaid the certifi-
cate OF our marriage, and / can't say in
"nat year we were married. I think il
was about 1860. We had no children. She
dled July 81, 1870. and was buried August
In Cevangolia cemetery. Treadgar. l
cont think that Stanley knows that his
mother is dead. One day about 1868,
az least as nearly as | can remember,
was two years before his mother
uleo, STANLEY came to Phinney, where
We lived. He had come from
france in search of bis baptismal
papers, which were recorded ia Cenearth
cnurcn. l had gone TO work in the after
,noon' and when I got home Stanley had
Ieie never saw him. My wife often told
me now tine-looking, well-dressed young
man walked into the cottage that Afternoon.
ne inquired OF different people in the vii.
Iage II they knew Ellenor Jones, and where