The Portland daily press., 1895-03-23
Old PORTLAND MYSTERY.
Disappearance of.George Sinclair and
Samuel Hoyt,
APPARENTLY THEY WERE NOT
DROWNED AS SUPPOSED.

An Old Acquaintance of Sinclair Meets
Him in Colorado; But Finds Him Reti-
cent-A Story That Reaches Over Thirty
Years. s..
Within a few weeks the veil has been
partially lifted from mystery that has
defed solution for nearly thirty years.
To many Portland men now in middle
life the names land persons OF George
Sinclair and Samuel Hoyt were familiar
il. boyhood days. Sinclair was the son
of Mr.. y ohm Sinclair, the veteran baggage
master at the Grand Trunk station in
this city. While yet boy he enlisted in
one Of the Name regiments bound to the
'front.'. After his, term of service he re-
turned to Portland, wnere he was soon
involved in the adventure which has
been a mystery for nearly thirty years.
He WAS at that time still a young man of
eighteen or nineteen years OF age. Sam
uel Hoyt was a little older than Sinclair
and equally we'll known in Portland.
He went to sea considerably in his boy
hood and iat thet time when this narra-
tive begins he had risen to be mate of a
vessel. Beth were young men of good
habits and respected in the community.
One day, in the year 1866, according to
the recollections Of those who remem-
ber the affair best, Sinclair and Hoyt
took q small sail boat and started on a
fishing trip which was to last day and
night. They were seen sailing down
the harbor: hut when their little sail
disappeared from view it was never to
reappear again to Portland eyes. A
little storm arose soon after, and when
Sinclair and Hoyt failed to return it was
thought that they had met with some
mishap and been wrecked. 1t was
thought that some vestiges of their
boat might be found, and Councilman
Nathaniel Haskell was one of those who
cruised for several days along the shores
and among the islands of the bay in
vain search.
After several weeks the relatives and
friends of.the young men concluded that
the mystery would only be solved when
the.ocean should give up its dead; and
accepted the aff1iction with the accus-
toned resignation OF those who live by
the sea and know its terrors.
0 far as is know nothing occurred for
over quarter of century to disturb
the settled conviction of Portland people
that Sinclair and Hoyt were drowned.
But few months ago strange incl
dent happened, the details of which
have been quietly discussed for some
time by few old companions of the
missing young men. Mr.. Samuel H.
Colesworthy, the well known book seller
on Exchange street, during recent trip
to California, came home by way Of Col
Junction ON the Colorado Midland rail
road. At that place there are two small
stations, one for passengers and the 9TH
er for baggage aid tickets. Mr.. Coles
worthy's two grips with his name on
them we're deposited on the baggage sta
tion platform. A tame cinnamon, bear
was between the two platforms, and Mr..
Colesworthy joined the aruop OF passen-
gers who were amusing themselves with
MIN. In the Sarty were young bridal
couple. The bridegroom got too near
the bear, and his black Prince Albert
coat was stripped off by sweeping
blow of the mischlevous animals paw.
The bridegroom started. towards the plat
form, where Mr.. Colesworthy's grips
were. Mr.. Colesworthy followed, and
then noticed . locomotive, car and bag
gage car on the opposite track. Belong
ing to this train. was brakeman. man
of Eve feet seven inches in height with
iron gray hair and moustache. This
brakeman said: "How do you do, Mr..
| CoIesworthy?" F
"You have the advantage Of me-" re-
piled Mr.. Colesworthy.
"I used to buy school books of your
father when I lived on st. Lawrence
street, Portland" replied the brakeman.
"My name is. George Sinclair, and my
father is John Sinclair, baggage master
of the Grand Trunk at Portland. l. LETT
Portland twenty-seven years ago.
MT. Mf.COleSWOrbnyathen talkeu Will Sln'
clair for about an hour. He said ne lived
in Aspen, Colorado, where he had fam
ly. Mr.. Colesworthy happened to ask
MIN about his brother. John, and he said
"My brother John died two years ago. "
| But as a matter Of fact John Sinclair,
the brother, is still living.
After this, Sinclair became silent, and
although Mr.. Colesworthy rode on his
train half day, he spoke to him only
once, and then only in reference to get
ting a cup of tea.
Mr.. Colesworthy was unable to account
for this sudden change of manner. Al
ter returning home. he wrote to Colora-
DO, and was informed that-no such man
as Charles Sinclair was employed on the
Colorado Midland. 1t had not occurred
to MIR. Colesworthy at the time to ask
about Samuel Hoyt.
These are all the facts known to Mr..
Colesworthy or to anyone else in Port
land. so far as is known. They throw
sop,o Euht unoo fha D,vStarv of q ouar-