The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-09

New York Herald; One Of the solid
German-Amerlcan citizens OF Balti-
more, Nd, is William Baumgarten'
When his parents brought him TO Amer
lea from Hanover, Germany, he was
only nine years old, and they left behind
numerous cousins and uncles and aunts
who, probably, in a few years, We're
scattered all over the face OF the hab-
liable globe. His parents were poor,
but they gave their son q good educa-
ton, and In time William Baumgarten
became an apprentice to his father In
the business OF engraving and the max
ing of seals. In the hurry OF making a
living many OF the relatives who Were
left behind We're lost sight OF, and this
is important 10 this story Mr. Baum
garten cast his lot with the confeder-
acy during the civil war but soon ran
the blockade and got north again, and
devoted his attention to business more
closely than ever.
Mr.. Baumgarten entered his store one
morning late in January and proceeded
10 open his mail. There was one square
envelope with the lot which mad tor-
eign postage stamp and bore me posi-
mark OF Valencia, Spain BENG a
maker of stamps Mr.. Baumgarten is
also a collector OF stamps, and he tore
off the corner OF the envelope to which
the stamp adhered and dropped 1t into
a corner OF his drawer for safe keeping.
Mr.. Baumgarten then unfoided the let
Ter and began TO read 1t. 1t was a
strange story which the letter told, In
English which had u Spanish twist to
IL. that made 1t read singularly quaint.
IL was dated Castle Fort OF Valen-
ella, February II, 1897" and was adj
dressed to Mr.. william Baumgarten,
My dear sir" and the writer proceeded
10 tell his story.
He didn't have the honor to know the
person he was addressing, but his dead
wife, Caroline, In mentioning the indi-
viduaIs of her family, had praised the
honesty and good qualities of him he
was writing to. lie was writing, there
fore, for the first and possibly for the
last time to one whose aid he was ABOUT
TO solicit and whose protection he was
about to solicit for his only daughter
who was also Mr.. Baumgartens niece
This daughter was for the present SAFE
in the College Angio-Spanish OF La
Estrella.
Then came an injunction to secrecy
The writer was watched by his enemies.
The most significant portion OF the let
ter must not be diyulsed.
The letter writer in the castle fort
of Valencia proceeded to relate how he
had been secretary and treasurer Tor
Martinez Campos in Cuba and had en-
joyed the confidence of that Industrious
man. He had invested his capltal III
public land transactions in the nope
that he could make brilliant position
for his daughter, whom he tohuly
loved. All went well until Campos was
succeeded by Weyler. The writer was
unable to return with his patron 10
Spain. and, not being willing to see
Cuba ruled by an adversary in politics,
he Joined the rebellion. He was betray-
ed and compelled 10 fly to England,
taking with him e3S,OOO in money.
while living in London he received
news OF the death Of his wife. Knowing
his daughter was alone and In despair,
he decided to visit Spain and get his
daughter to move to New York 10 live.
The writer then proceeded to detaiI
how he had deposited mis- ESS,OW IN the
London bank. taking against 1t GER
tiacate OF deposit, payable to bearer
Anyone who held this document couId
draw the money. Even the owner Oh
the money could not draw II without H.
This document was concealed IN Sc
cret recess Of the writer's portmanteau'
which the keenest eyes cannon ma oul.
Then the writer started for Spain. de
was recognized and arrested. lie was
tried Mt Cartagena and convicted his
sentence was eighteen years penal ser
vitude in the Castle OF Valencia. When
he was arrested his baggage was seized.
Thus his portmanteau, containing the
sirbt draft for G3S,OC0 in Its secret COM
partment, was in the hands OF the au-
thorlties, The baggage was held 10 De
sold at a given time to pay the COSTS OIL
prosecution. II the costs OF the prose
rution we're paid the embargo wouli De
raised. and the baggage could be claitil-
ed by the prisoners family or irlehas.
n not the portmanteau with It's secret
would pass into the hands oil strangers;
'rhe letter was long and rambling ana
its allusion to the dire straits oil the
daughter we're almost incohefeht. HeF
name was given as Emily. II Ba sI,.,
garten would consent 10 receive Emmy
al his house he would see TO II that
when the money was taken RON IN. nc
bank part Of IL would go 10 the uGu l,L.
ter's kind protector. mus the Ie''e'
concluded: A., ,...,t,,a
any direct public correspondence, ! IN, w
pect you viii send your letter uhuer Two
an,,sinnns. the one inside Ia my name
and Inc one outside TO the name of the
ss ,,. Of my protector, the chaplain OF
1bis cnstle. who is our confidential man.
I trust to your discretion the future OF
INV darling daughter. meanwhile re-
,,,at, ,yourg faithfully,
nam '''' "MATEo SANTOS"
The address given Tor letters to be
addressed To on the outside envelope
was MIR. Ramon S0rlano CULLEN So
rollo, Valencia, Spain.