Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-25
MODERN ENOCH ARDEN.
Gaskin Went For q Sail and
Staid Forty-one Years.
MET HIS OWN SON IN CALIFORNIA.
He Left q Wife and Baby and Came Back
to Find His Wife Married AgAin-Greet-
ed by His Observation-Disclosures Has

to Find His Wife Married AgAIn-Greet-
ed by His Great-GrandchiIdren- Has
Property That Alters His Reception.
NEW YORK, Oct. 25.-Forty-one years
ago George G. Gaskin, sailmaker, then
living in Brooklyn, left his young wife and
little daughter and went off for a days
fishing. Nothing was heard from him un-
til few days ago, when he returned to
find himself a great-grandfather and his
wife married again and the mother Of 10
children by another man.
He was mourned as dead, and after wait
ing seven years his wife married William
Bridge, who was at one time leader in
Republican politics in Queens county and
who served several terms as postmaster of
Long Island City. They had 10 children,
several of whom are now married and have
families of their own.
1t was through an accidental meeting
with an unknown son that the wandering
husband and father had his thoughts
turned homeward. Three months after
Gaskin left on that memorable fishing trip
his wife gave birth to n son, who was named
George G. Gaskin for his missing father.
Young Gaskin married unhappily, and
after being separated from his wife lived,
life of a wanderer.
Pound by His Son.
His rovings took him to San Francisco
In a saloon in that city not long ago he
fell in with tall, wiry, gray haired old
man. They took kindly to each other, and
soon discovered that they bore the same
names. Explanations followed, and the
two men recognized in themselves father
and son.
This meeting recalled to the elder Gaskin
recollections of his old home in the east
He left San Francisco, and after making a
trip to Europe brought up in Brooklyn.
From there he succeeded in tracing his
family to Long Island City, and day or so
ago when Mrs. Arthur Finney of 1873 Jack
son avenue, in that place, answered a knock
at her door, she was confronted by a tall,
wiry man about Is years old. The little
girl Gaskin left i'll the cradle when he went
away was Mrs Finney's mother. And as
Mrs. Finney has a child Mr.. Gaskin is a
great-grandfather
Without waiting to introduce himself
the stranger began asking Mrs Finney
pointed questions about her family until
she finally demanded:
Who are your"
My name is George G. Gaskin," quietly
answered the stranger.
'Oh, yes" returned Mrs. Finney, Il had
an uncle of that name"
But l am not your uncle, childr' and
LAS stranger NOlSS ALI your
grandfather"
my grandfather's dead! Ny GRANDPA
theirs deadr' Mrs. Finney almost shrieked
Taking a seat, the stranger was not long
in convincing her that he was in truth her
long lost grandfather, but the recognition
brought with it more pain than joy. Mrs.
Finney thought of her grandmother.
The Wife Learns the News.
Mr.. Bridge is now living in Locust Val
ley, where he is running canning factory
To keep the news of Gaskin's return from
Mrs. Bridge was Mrs. Finney's only
thought Every move Gaskin made for
the next day or was closely watched by
Mrs. Finney and her husband. Several
times Gaskin started for the station to go
to Locust Valley.
Mr.. Finney went with him each time
and finally induced Gaskin to postpone his
visit to his former wife
Mrs. Finney thought his stay would only
be temporary, when Tuesday she learned
that he owned considerable property in
California. This knowledge gave a new
phase to the situation, and Mrs. Finney
went to Locust Valley to notify her grand
mother of Gaslin's return.
GaSkin gave no explanation to his grand
daughter concerning his long absence OF
why he went away. He asserted, however
that his wife knew he was alive for some
time after his disappearance.
1t was late Tuesday afternoon when Mrs
Finney reached the home of her grand.
| mother, Mrs. Bridge, in Locust Valley
Mr. Bridge was not at home. Mrs Fin
| ney broke the news of Gaskin's return tC
| Mrs. Bridge, who was for a time over
whelmed by grief.
Mrs. Bridge asserted again and again
that Gaskin died years ago. She also sale
Gaskin had married in California, wher,
he had a large family.
Gaskin has obtained place in New orE
city and proposes making his home with
| Mr.. Finney.