The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-27
Bn1DeEroRrs MYsrrn1oUs GUEST.
NE Arrived There . Tramp. and TELLS . RE-
narkable story or His Past Lire.

B~RrDoKPoRT, Aug. 26.-Tho congregation Of
the Berean Church In this city ore somewhat
aroused over the stories got ahoat regarding o
young man who last Sunday occupied their pull
pit. The young mans name 10 Oscar Winburn,
and no gave Fayetteville, N. G., as his pl' CO
OF residence. lie came to town a tramp
eight weeks ago, and since that time
has been q guest of the Helping Hand
Mission. 1t was ut an evening service
at the mission some two months ago that the
young man attracted attention by his dovout
manners At the conclusion OF tho services
winburn called the manager, A. F.. Lange, aside
and told him the following story of his past life,
which. II true. 10 q remarkable one, but II false,
the young fellow is q very clever fakir.
winburn said that up to last fall he was a
student at tho Theological College In Wake
forrest n. @. While there no fell In love with
q charming young woman about his own
ago. He became loveslok and neglected his
studies, lost his appetite, and his health be.
one OF the best students In the university. Tho
In young WiHnonEn,s case; he was tho offender;
vain. His sweetheart was obiurate and re-
manned so. and finally, when the young fellow
departed, determined to make bis Way il the
world In other parts. After q time he secured q
RE !. II RalsisA. blu but v WAS not not 'usssS'rSl and Ind
ShNN AAAhNh '~he S seNN '"o
tried various occupations, but with no better
luck than the first one. At length he reached
Boston, and after n brief stay there he crossed
the ocean to Liverpool, but his stop there was
short. lie came back to Boston and then
tramped 1t into New York, and later arrived In
this city.
Since The night Of his unhcralded appearance
at the mission he has slept there and partaSen
Of food where he could procure It. Mr.. Lango's
sympathies were aroused and he determined to
do what he could for tho young fellow. But as
his stay had become heightened Into many
weeks the suspicious Of LANCE rose and he deter
mined to investigate. With this end in view he
wrote to Winburn's father at an address given
by the son. This was two weeks ago, and he did
not receive a reply until . few days ago, and
then under peculiar circumstances. One day the
young fellow approached him and gave him
what purported to DO an answer to his letter
from the elder Winburn. The epistle was writ
ten in lead pencil and was not inclosed. in m
envelope. Lango was surprised. and when he
asked Winburn tho reason for this he said that
his father Enclosed it in q letter to him. In the
letter to Lange the father requested that the
contents Re not made known to his son, and
replied that his father told him not TO read the
letter inclosed for LANCE, and, being an ooedient
son, he followed his fathers Instructions.
Mr.. Lange has since communicated with the
theological college and also q firm in Boston.
where Winburn claimed to have been employed.
but as yet he has received no reply, and will not
determine what action to take until he hears
from hs letters.
Winburn confessed tonight that he was an
atheist when he came TO Bridgeport although
he is an ordained Baptist minister. His further
claim that he was y candidate for Treasurer OF
North Carolina on the Prohibition ticket last
fall was found to DO true tonight.