Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-08-11

) own and his wife's eyes, mingled with hi,
officers and crews, while none Of then
ever had a suspicion that he was othel
J than boy, should prove to be girl MOI
was he convinced until Mr.. Eaton pro
cuced letter In Dicks well. known hand
writing, dated at New Orleans, which ex
planned the mystery.
In that letter she begged her fathers
forgiveness for causing him so much pain
and suffering by her sudden departure
from home. and that In few months she
would return to make him happy, IL In her
power to do So
The captain then told him how Dick
had deserted from the ship on the eye OF
her departure from New Orleans, and OF
the efforts he had pat forth to find him.
The receipt of that news caused Mr.. Eaton
great grief and he appeared heart-broken.
lie said that he had been at great expense
and had spent his fortune in hiring detec-
tives to scour England in search of his
daughter, but had gained no ciew to her
Whereabouts until her letter from New Or
leans reached him with the information
that she was sailor boy onboard the
Bdrndbas Webb. and was about to sail in
| her for home
| The captain tried his best TO comfort
| MN, saying that he was about TO return
to New Orleans and would spare no pains
to find his daughter. and would let him
know by letter the result
The ship returned 10 New Orleans In
ballast, had the usual good passage, and
! when she arrived up town. the captains
colored washerwoman. Eliza, came on
board and told Mrs Nelson. the captains
wife, the following account of Dick. He
went to her house when he left the ship
and remained with her two or three weeks
when he shipped onhoard OF bark, where
the captain carried his wife, for VOYAGE
70 Henoa- on the outward voyage the
bark was wrecked upon reef In the
Straits Of Florida. All hands were saved
and Dick made his way back to New Or
leans and to EliZs's house In week or
two thereafter he shipped in another bark
as steward bound up the Mediterranean,
and that was the last she knew about him.
That account Capt. Nelson wrote 10 Dicks
father in tulhllment Of the promise made
TO him.
The Barnqbas Webb loaded cargo OF
cotton al New Orleans for Liverpool,
" hare Oh F,ly
Nelson left her to take command of the
ship Iduciusc. OF Thomaston. then living
at Sunderland He made the VOYAGE In
her to Hong Kong. China. and from ,ha,
port took cargo TO San Francisco At the
latter port ftelghts were dull. and when
the ship had been discharged Of her cargo
she was anchored off Ii the harbor there To
walt for charter. Capt. Nelson was ou,
OF health and by advice Of his physician
went to Harbiu mineral springs where he
remained a few weeks and rcgained his
health.
There he made the acquaintance OF |
gentleman, his wife AMI two Young dauph- |
tiers, from Stockton. Cal to whom he
related the story about little Dick. Ii |
greatly interested them. and when Dicks |
name, alias Alice Eaton, was mentioned. |
the daughters clapped their hands for |
JOY and said She is our school teacher. |
She has Travelled aud seen much OF the |
about And so she proved to be.
Capt. Nelson returned to San Francisco, |
chartered his ship to load wheat to Liver |
pool, placed her in a loading berth, and |
upon Dick, now Miss Alice Eaton. At
Stockton he WAS informed that she had
gone on vacation with one Of her pupils
SO he penned and left note for her. and
with much disappointment returned to his
ship.
on his arrivsl at Liverpool ne one day
met Mr.. Eaton, who informed him that he
had recently received letter from his
daughter Alice. from Stockton, Cal, en-
closing To him draft for nifty pounds and
Informing him that her old captain not
long before called to see her, out that IN
fortunately she was not at home at the
time. She al,o wrote that she was single
and intended to remain so; that she was
well and doing well, and hoped he would
take life easy, as it was her purpose TO de-
vote hers to his comfort and happiness.
Years have passed since the events mar
rated in the Foregoing account tran-pired.
Mr., Eaton, at last adsices, was hale and
hearty at three-score and fifteen. and his
daughter Alice vas alive and WELL loved
and honored school teacher in California.
Such is the story Of Dick, the sailor
boy, alias Alice Eaton, and well illustrates
the old familiar saying, that truth is Of
ten stranger than fiction"
Il. G. F. CANpAGE.
Brookline. Mass, July 4, 1892.