Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-06-29
a Long Separation.
Times.siountaineer Of June 2lsts

From Times. 1ountaineer Of June 2lsts
/ Trnth is sometimes stranger than fic-
/ tion, and there are events in everyday
life as startling as those which have
been narrated by celebrated authors.
Disappearances and meetings after long
years Of separations happen daily which
would be interesting reading matter II
woven into the plot Of some novel by
the genius Of writer's. One Of these
happened at The Dalles Tuesday even
ing, which is.both strange and thrilling.
Thirty-eight years ago there lived in the
little town OF Dallas, Illinois, a family
consisting Of mother and father and two
Sons by the name Of Fortna. One Of
the children was aged 20 years, a stall
wart boy, full Of the ideas of youthful
adventures, and the other prating
child Of two summers. Atthat time the
west was the land where fortunes were
thought to be made in day, and the
elder Of the Fortna boys left home for
the Pacific coast. Years rolled by, the
mother and father were laid TO rest in
the city of the dead, and the younger
Fortna, at the age Of % years, left the
now desolate home to try his fortune in
the far west. He wandered to Califor-
mia, where he remained some time, and
about thirteen years ago settled in
Prineville. The elder Fortna in the
meantime had made the tour OF the
coast, living for some time in California,
Nevada, and abont eight years since lo-
Gated at Mayville, Gillian county, fol-
lowing for yoction, teaming from that
town to The Dalles. Until Tuesday
afternoon, these brothers had not seen
each other for thirty-eight years, or had
the least knowledge where the other
lived. Mr.. Lockhead knew the elder
brother, Mr.. John Fortna, very well,
and thought there was a resemblance to
the younger man, r. H. Fortna. John
having fed his horses at his stables that
day and X. j.. putting up his team at
Joles Bros, Collins 4 Co.'S feed yard he
conceived the idea Of bringing them to-
gether and ascertaining the fact whether
they we're related. He introduced one
10 the other in the store OF Joles Bros,
Collins x Co., and after the usual saln-
tation they began TO talk about early
reminiscences. The truth Immediately
flashed upon their minds that they were
sons Of the same father and mother, and
with tears coursing down their bronzed
cheeks they clasped each others hands
in brotherly grasp, and were speech
less several minutes. BY those present
ii is described as the most affecting scene
ever witnessed, and the brothers were so
overjoyed at seeing each other that
they were confused, and as one OF them
ex pressed himsilf, "didn't know what to
do" When John left home the younger
Fortna had no recollection Of him, but
the parents often talked about him and
! wondered where he was, and by this
means he had a constant desire to see
him. Strange to relate, one winter in
California they lived within thirty miles
OF each other and did not know it, and
during the years they have teamed from
this city must have seen each other sew
eral times without being aware OF the
fact. Hereafter life will seem brighter
to each, and, although one is 5S years
old and the other 40, they are boys again
in their newly-found relationship.
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