The morning call., 1893-04-01
HE DESERTED HER.
c. Pixler's Disappearance
Explained.
WANTS TO BE THOUGHT DEAD.
Engaged to a Supposed Heiress-He
Discovers She Is Not One and
Runs Away.

EAdolph Stevenson, coast seaman, at one
time employed by the line of steamers run
ming from China to India, tells romantic
story Of young Alamedan named Charles
Pixler, who disappeared from his home at
the west end Of the Encinal about four
years ago
Young Pixler was employed at the time
Of his disappearance at the borax or soap
works in Alameda. Some six months before
he had come to California from Oregon at
the instigation of Mr.. Bert Stats, we'll
known young business man across the bay.
then doing business at 1903 Park street.
The night Of Plxler's disappearance Stats
was TO have met the young man al the Occi-
dental Hotel in this city. but Pixler never
came. From that time TO the time Steven
son told his story the whereabouts of Plxer
was mystery.
Stevenson said: "I met Charles Pixler
about one year ago in Yokohama. We were
working together on a vessel named the
Tycoon, small brig in the West Indian
carrying trade.
Dad as the sailors called Plxler. was
q very queer sort of & fellow, and one day
eonhded IN me and explained that he hailed
from California, saying that he had lived
IN Alameda while in the State.
Zone night during the summer of 1889, he
left Alameda on the 8 o'clock evenings
boat with the intention of meeting Mr.
Stats at the Occidental Hotel, and while
walking along East street from the ferries
encountered an acquaintance named Peel,
who wanted him 10 take a drink. The
twain drifted inIe dice-snaSing for drinks
and before long both were in a state of ln-
toxication.
''Pixler told me he remembered 60
Ing into saloon on Clay street and after
chat all was blank till ne came to and
found himself on the bark Lydia bound for
Port Townsend then to China.
"Pixler demanded that he be sent ashore,
bat was refused permission to leave the
vessel.
You have signed to ship with US and I
am going to keep you,' said the vessels
commander.
Pixler then tried to escape. but was
promptly knocked down by the captain and
ordered below, where he was confined until
the bark sailed
''At Port Townsend or Tacoma, I am
not sure which, Pixler managed TO escape,
and hid until the Lydia sailed. Instead of
returning to California the young man
shipped on Tea ship bound to Japan for a
cargo.
'On the vessel Pixler suffered consider
ably; the captain and first mate were brutes
and maltreated the crew.
"A young man named Dickson, a cabin
boy. and Pixler deserted the ship n Chinese
waters one dark stormy night. The vessel
was anchored few miles from shore, and
the deserters had arranged to row that dis
lance In the ships yawl. which was lowered
over the side, the men on watch deciding
10 Join the runaWays.
THE deserters were blown to sea. and did
not reach land for four days, not until
towed in by Chinese junk. During the
days spent at sea the small-bOaPs crew,
which consisted of six men all told, suffered
agonieS from thirst and hunger.
Two of the party quarreled, and a hand
to-hand fight occurred. One OF the conf
batants was severely wounded, and suDse-
Queutly died"
At Yokohama Pixler Joined the stenm-
ship service, when he met Stevenson. One
day the former stated that his people, who
live in Detroit, had supposed him dead and
that be intended to let them think so for
ever.
This is Pixler's side of the story.
Parties in Alameda have an entirely diff
feEent version of the affair, and declare that
ne invented the whole yarn TO mislead in
terested parties.
1t appears upon investigation that the
strange young fellow was engaged TO a
pretty girl who was supposed to be an
heiress to quite fortune. The young lady
was stopping with friends in Alameda
Sne became attached 10 PiXler, who ap-
parentiy reciprocated Their affection and
promised to marry her.
The wedding was to have taken blaze on
june 91Ss9; four days before that time PIxler
dlappeared. 1t is claimed that he never was
shanghaied as he states, but voluntarily
shipped on board of a ship bound for China.
The story OF his escape from some vessel
In Chinese waters is partially verified by
letters which have been received relative TO
the affair by two different persons in Oak
land.
TIE young lady to whom Pixler was en-
gagged was Miss Morrow and is now a resi-
dent of Detroit. Mich.
She was fully convinced that her lover
had been foully dealt with and did not be-
lleye that he had willfully deserted her.
Unfortunately Mr.. Stats is no longer liv-
Ing, iof he could tell the whole story, but his
ex-partner says that he remembers hearing
something about the case ana says that he
heard Miss Morrow say that she believed
Charles" was dead.
Miss Morrow, it was discovered, was not
to be an inheritor Of wealth as people mad
supposed. Some say this is why Pixler
skipped out and left her and all Alameda to
believe that lie was dead man years ago.
The young man is at present in the Eng
lish naval service on the guuboat Ho pc.
The bark Lydia is in Oakland estuary.
If this Is the vessel Pixler referred to in his
yarn, she is a whaler, and it is not likely
th 1t she ever cleared for Port Townsend,