The morning call., 1893-03-05
DIED IN POVERTY.
The Hard Fate of Charles
Longhurst.
DOWNFALL OF A MINISTER.
A WeII-Bred and Highly Connected
English Gentleman Dies in the
County Hospital.

81 wonder what has become of the Eng
lish minister? There have been four Brit
ish ships in, but he has not turned up. You
know he never missed an English vessel
before" said The discharging Custom-house
inspector on a London ship yesterday to
the bond inspector
II guess he's gone home to his dear old
England'-wJrked his way somehow or
other" responded the bond inspector care
lessly.
The latter was partially right. The min
lister had gone home, but to the bourne
whence no traveller returns"
Every frequenter of the water front knew
by sight the tall, slender man, clad in cler-
ical garb. A look would suffice to satisfy
one that he was or had been bona fide
clergyman and person of culture and re-
finement. Although of late his broadcloth
was taking on shabby aspect, nevertheless
he assumed all the dignity Characteristic OF
the English gentleman. His trousers were
always turned up. He carried his glovesi in
one hand and his wa lking-stick in the
other.
The longshoremen retraned from their
boisterous squabbles as he passed, and even
the foremen of the steyednreS ceased their
vehement orders to their subordlnates while
he was present.
The man was Charles Longhurst, and the
son of a Bishop of the same religious per-
suasion. Although his being in this city for
so long a time will always be ii mystery. vet
the fact that he was here against his will Is
undisputabe.
He had been in this city over a year and a
half, and had not failed to visit every Eng
lish ship which came into port until several
weeks ago. He had bnt one mission in GO
ing to these craft, and that was to solicit
the officers to take him back to his British
home His elastic ha n
preached the vessels, but very often his
return trip 10 town was labored and weary.
He eXpostulated with begged and cOaXed
every captain to take him home when the
ship sailed, assuring him that everything
would be well.
Sometimes he would receive a blank re-
fusal, often the master would take pity on
him and promise to consider the matter.
Then the mate, when his superior was not
present, would glimmer out a ray of hope,
and the minister would go forth In the best
of spirits. But the result was always bitter
disappointment
DR.. Longhurst at first faced this heroi-
cally. but finally gave way to the cup that
cheers and kills, and each time lie received
news that England was no nearer TO him
than for long time past his potations were
deep and frequent
Without a single friend near him he
died at the City and County Hospital a few
days ago public charge absolutely dest-
tute. Grief. lack Of proper nourishment
aud too much stimulants to drive away dull
care had produced abscess of the stomach.
An operation did the rest.
Had it not been for q trusting Sacra-
mento-street undertaken, a bishop's son
would have filed a pauper's grave. The
man OF the coffin and hearse, however,
trusted TO the deceased's high relatives to
compensate him and doubtless will not be
the loser.
When Charles Longhurst first came to
aI " ha oil Eva1 in, to-
way. He selected a fashionable boarding
house in the Western Addition as his resi-
dence, and was sought after by select
crowd on account of his aristOcratic bearing
and thorough educational polish. A stu
dent in Latin, Greek and literature in all
Its elements he was at home with The most
learned.
1t was known fact, however, that he
avoided the society of the English colony
and not even in his adversely would he call
on his cOuntrymen, although he solicited
aid from strangers of foreign climes.
Ihe ready money soon diminished in
quantity and the allowances from home
became smaller and smaller. The minister
was compelled to lease his fashionable
apartments and next dnmiciled himself in
the American Exchange. But the allowances
still diminished in size and it was not until
the minister was nearly a hundred dollars
IN debt that the management refused him
further credit.
whom Charles Longhurst applied to and
the only one. in fact he had was wine
dealer on SansOme street. The latter OBJ
tanned for him room in the Coso House.
and the principal meals he ate were over
the counter of the wine-dealer. He had
spent his money there when he was prosper
Gus and the dispenser Of vintage did not
forget the fact.
Often in his cups the clergyman would
tell why lie should be home. He said that
L.. l.H,A
to deprive him of ii. Then he would become
furious when he realized that lie could not
go back to England.
Finally he became weaker and weaker.
and the proprietor of the CosO House took
him TO the County Hospital, where he died
alter lingering three weeks.
His brother William LonghurSt, is rector
OF the Episcopal church at Worcester, Eng
land, and has telegraphed that everything
will be attended to and the benefaciors of
his dead brother rewarded