The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-27
WHO AND WHAT is HEP
Sir Aubrey's Peculiar csions Excite
Curiosity.

Curiosity.
From the Columbus (Gd.) Enqttirer-Sun.
The mystery which environed the gentle-
man who calls himself Sir Aubrey Castle
main is getting more impenetrable every
day.
The actions Of Sir Aubrey, or the count,
as he Is called, have furnished a very fruit
full source Of gossip during the past week,
and men, women and children have passed
much of their time listening TO the startling
stories Of his peculiar conduct and surmIsing
who he is. what he is, and what object he
has in view.
Certainly no visitor to Columbus has
ever created so much excitement and
crowded so many picturesque scenes into so
short time before. Only a week ago the
existence of Sir Aubrey was not even sus-
pected, and now every man In the city has
either heard of him or knows- him person.
ally. A good many of those who have met
him personally are now looking sad and de-
jected. and when they speak OF him they
use other titles than the lofty ones which
he claims as the hereditary right OF his all
most royal descent.
The opinions as TO the now celebrated
visitors financial standing are as varied az
those respecting the wonderful adventur es
which he tells of. Some gentlemen whose
word cannot be doubted claim that they
have seen the mysterious stranger with i'm
mense rolls Of money. and his reluctance to
settle the little accounts he has casually run
up lis a mere fantasy Of his lordly brain, which
he adopts to make pc 7ple talk about him and
advertise the show which he says be will
give at the opera house this week. Many
others, however, believe that the much
yaunted roll of bills existed merely in the
imagination of the beholders, and that
titles, princely revenues and exalted rela-
tives in England were all q sort Of Claude
Melnot dream evolved from a diseased
brain.
Some actual facts tend to confirm the
opinion Of the ma ority. On Monday morn
ing as soon as the titled visitor had re-
covered from his alleged illness on the train
which prevented his talking, and made 1t
necessary to expose the Masonic symbols
tattoed on his manly chest, he rushed out
and made arrangements 20 insure his valuA
able life for $4,000. After the papers had
been made out Sir Aubrey, when the time
came to make a payment, handed over a
draft on the First National Bank of New
York for 81, 40. At the same time he in
sisted that telegram be sent at his ex-
pense to find out IL the draft was
good. During the day the titled iudi-
vidual gained much advertisement for his
Drincely liberality, and when the next
morning he heard that the New York bank
had wired that they knew nothing of him,
that an egregrious blunder had been made,
which would be rectified by 2 o'clock that
day. Under his directions numerous other
kilograms we're sent to bankers and WELL
| known people in New York and st. Louis,
| and in every instance the people queried re-
piled that they knew no Sir Aubrey Castle
main and would pay no drafts drawn by
| him.
While waiting for the thousands Of dol
lars which his friends In different parts Of
the country would surely send him, Sir
Aubrey did not fail to amuse himself. He
visited every part of the city, and at one
| time he became so infatuated with Colum-
| bus that he apparently made up his mind
| to settle down and perpetuate the noble
house of Casblemain in the south. He, how
| ever, changed his mind the next day, and
announced that he would probably spend
the summer months in Canada.
TheNdrive which Sir Aubrey took through
| the city onThursdny has become celebrated.
| His carriage was drawn by four horses,
with variegated feathers at their heads
| On his box besides the driver was a foot
man in white coat and high hat, and before
| him rode an advance courier, who cleared
the way for the distinguished visitor. After
driving around the city for O time Sir
Aubrey decided that he was not creating
| sufficient sensation, and he armed his courier
| with an immense horn. He also enlisted
the services Of dozen or more street arabs
and armed them also with horns, and
amidst the fearful din he again commenced
his drive.
The beautiful part OF the show vas the
expression of lofty disdain with which Sir
Aubrey gazed upon the plebeians who gath
cred on the sidewalks to see him pass.
Every half an hour or so he ordered his
coachman to stop. and then the footman,
hat in hand, approached the carriage door,
and after brief consultation the equipage
would be driven TO barroom, where Sir
Aubrey refreshed himself, and then the
drive would be continued.
On Thursday evening Sir Aubrey found SC
many people waiting for him who wanted
to handle some Of his money, that he crossed
over the river and has since then been en-.
joving the hospitalities of Phenix City. II
is claimed positively, however. that he will
be back to give his show Monday night.