The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-24
A REMARKABLE STORY.
The Singular Experience Of a Port
land Lady's Photograph.

FOUND IN A GLOOMY CAVE IN THE
WILDS OF MEXICO.
The Man. in Whose Possession 1t was
Found, shot-The Lady Has NO laea
How He Obtained the Picture-Ihe
Person Who Fired tho Fatal Shot Re
stores the Photograph to the Owner.
Society circles are talking Of one OF the
most mysterious and interesting sensa-
tions known to Portland for many years.
The events have all transpired Within the
past month. but have only come to the
surface within few days. This is the
story.
In the middle of July Mr.. ]. II. Lam
son, the we'll known photographer was
quite surprised at receiving the following
letter:
New Rochelle, N. Y. July H. 1885,
Mr. Lamson, Temple ST.,
Portland, Me.
Dear Sir-You may say with some de-
gree of assurance that this is an odd bit
of business, but | am always on the alert
for the peculiarities Of this life nave a
photograph of lady which is mounted
on one of your cards. / am very anxious
to know who she is, as the circumstances t1
by which became the possessor OF the
said photograph would be OF penent TO
l obtained the photo. while in Mexico
this mast winter. I do not know when it
was taken, or any more than have told
you, namely, it bears your name. Not
knowing whether you will receive this
or not do not send you the photo. by
same mail If have the pleasure of
hearing from you I shall forward the pic
ture. What I would like to know is, who
the lady is I will and must find out
some way or another.
1 shot and killed the one from whom
obtained the picture. so am Obliged to go
to you for any information.
Trusting l have not taken too much OF
your valuable time have the honor to
remain,
Yours truly,
Mr.. Lamson Immediately replied to the
author of the letter, whose business card
was printed in the upper corner of the
letter sheet, saying that if the photograph
had been taken by him he could OF course
identify it. In response to Mr.. Lamson's
reply that gentleman received this letter
enclosing the photograph:
New Rochelle, N. Y, July Is, 1896.
Mr. j. H. Lamson, Portland Me.
Dear Sir. Yours of the 18th duly re-
ceived. Many, thanks. for. your offered
photo I spoke of. If you will kindly
oblige me with the name and address of
the lady I shall endeavor to compensate
you for your efforts.
Sincerely Yours,
The photograph proved to be that of
one of Portland's most attractive and
popular society women, resident
I'D town. Of course. MIR. Lamson noti-
fed her Of the correspondence, and she
was extremely puzzled to know what it
all meant. She knew perfeetly well that
she had never given her photograph to
any gentleman, except one, and that he
still held that one in his possession, and
she had given few to lady friends. How
ever she was not left long in suspense.
A few days thereafter the lady received
from the gentleman long letter. 1t is
not possible to present this document in
the original, but the story told by it
would prove admirable material for the
magazines. The author stated that he
was graduate of Harvard College,
resident of the town from whence the
letter was sent, and a civil engineer by
profession. His health not permitting
him to remain in the severe climate of
%ho Month in winter he went ont to
Pasadena, Cal, about two years ago,
and while there entered the service of
company engaged in developing landed
property in Mexico. The speciality OF The
writer is road and sewer building, and it
was as the head of the expedition that he
went to the land of the Aztecs. The
usual experiences of all explorers in wild
lands attended the party. In the winter
of 1894 the expedition was engaged in
building large, strong bridge across one
of the small streams that are OCCASION
ally to be found in that country. 1t was
necessary that the bridge should be of
the strongest character, and its
foundations of the firmest, since there
are times when these little streams are
swollen tremendously in the mountains
from whence they take their rise, by the
melting SHOWS. 1t was during the con-
struction of this bridge that the Me1lcans
engaged in the work were ordered to go
under the water so as to make the foun-
dations secure. Working under water
was something the "Greasers' would not