The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-03

Il
document was concealed in secret re
cess OF the writer's portmanteau. which
the keenest eyes cannot find out.
/. Then the writer started for Spain. HI
was recognized and arrested. He wa:
, tried at Cartagena and convicted. HI.
sentence was eighteen years penal ser
vitude in the Castle Of Valencia. Wher
he was arrested his baggage was seized
Thus his portmanteu, containing the
sight draft for f3s, 900 in its secret com
, partment, was in the hands Of the auth
critics. The baggage was held to be sold
at given time to pay the costs OF pros
ecution. II the costs Of the prosecution
were paid, the embargo would be raised
and the baggage could be claimed by the
prisoners family or friends. If not, the
portmanteau with It's secret would pass
into the hands Of strangers.
The unfortunate prisoner then proceed
ed to depict his lot. He was in sore dis
tress. He did not expect to live long.
= Indeed, he could never recover. He was
being badly treated. His daughter was
heart broken, and men had designs on
her. In this extremity to whom should
|
garten, the relative of his wife and of
his beloved daughter. He asked Mr..
Baumgarten to be sport TO his daugh-
ter and to take her to his home, and
away from her enemies in Spain. If Mr..
Baumgarten was willing to interest him.
self, he would write later, if he was still
alive. II not he will leave a will, and
the carrying out of the matter to his
friend, the chaplain OF the castle, who
was his confessor, and 10 whom he owed
the privilege Of being able to write this
letter.
This letter was long and rambling and
Its illusions to the dire straits Of the
daughter were almost incoherent Her
name was given as Emily. II Baum
garten would consent to receive Emily
at his house he would see to it that when
the money was taken from the bank a
| part OF it would go to the daughters
kind protector. Thus the letter con-
| cluded:
las 1t Is prohibited to me to receive
any direct public correspondence, ex-
pect you will send your letter under two
envelopes, the one inside to my name
| and the one outside to the nameof the
servant Of my protector, the chaplain Of
this castle, who Is our confidential man.
1 trust to your discretion the future Of
my darling daughter, meantime / re-
main, yours faithfully,
MATED SANTOS"
The address given for letters to be ad-
dressed to on the outside envelope was
Valencia, SPAIN
PRISONER IN VALENCIA CASTLE.
The remainder Of the January day was
filled with perplexity for William Baum
garten. He read the letter telling the
strange and romantic staory OF the pris-
oner in Valencia Castle many times.
Each time he read he deeply pondered
1t seemed impossible that he should have
a neice anywhere whom he did not know.
II this maiden distress was his neice,
then he must have a sister who had mar
ried Mateo Santos. There was no miss
ing sister. When the. family came to
America none Of the children were left
behind. Half dozen times Mr. Baum
garten was inclined to toss the letter
aside. But there was something In it
which appealed to him. Here was one
unfortunate man dying in prison. leav-
ing a daughter Of tender years alone in
the world and likely TO suffer great dis
tress. Possibly there was some relation |
ship, and Santos, sick unto death and |
evidently compelled to dictate, had made |
slip Of the tongue in stating the degree |
Possibly the mistake had arisen from an |
imperfect knowledge of the English Ian
guage. The phrasing Of the letter lent
color to the last theory
Mr.. Baumgarten took the letter home |
and consulted with his family. It arous-
ed much interest there and much indig-
nation against Spain. Mr.. Baumgarten
called attention to the fact that the let
ter spoke Of the unfortunate neice, when
1t was impossible that he should have a
niece OF whom he had never heard
Possibly it is one of the cousins of
whom We long since lost track" MEM
bers Of his family argued. Possibly
one Of them married this Spaniard. and
made inquiries about you. from time 70
time, while wou have been so busy max
ing stamps and seals
Anyway, to answer the letter would do
no harm, and it would be better to err
On the side Of humanity, il an error It
were.
Accordingly, Mr.. Baumgarten sent the
letter. which is characteristic
If the man:
Baltimore, Feb. 2. 1ss-.
Mr.. Mateo Santos. Fort Valencia:
noor Wv |
July received and agreeably to your re-
quest, hasten TO reply. 1 have noted
carefully all your letter contained and
,erused the same with a great deal OF
interest, and, as an American citizen Gr-
espective OF the relationsh which may
xist between us). you have my heart
cit sympathy in your distress. Being
ather myself I fully appreciate the anx-
ETY. you have abuot your daughter, and
o allay the same I will willingly and :
heerfully do all within my power %
'rotect your daughter when she arrives
ere. I Will take her 10 my house I. as
yell as my wife and children. will make
comfortable for her and extend to her
hearty welcome, and will AXE the plice
Z parents as far as Il lies within our
over. Now, as TO my relationship 20
our deceased wife, I would state that I
'as not aware that she was my cousin.
having enigratei Hanover when but
inc years OF age. I have lost sight o.
ne locations of my relatives. but in or
er to leave no doubt as TO my identity.
nd 70 whom wou have addressed your
1 herein enclose a clip
ing from monthly paper, giving my