The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-06-08

back. The three Crusoes were then
taken into the boat and rowed out to
the ship. whose captain at once prom
ised TO take them back to Sydney
Us56). He was as good as his word,
aud s.aythe and his companions IN
misfortune were landed in tina. I ort.
It was well for Smythe that he had
taken the precaution OF having his
money sent to England by the bank
officials, otherwise it is only right TO
believe he would have lost it with the
sinking Of the Western Star, and been
thrown on his own resources for
bare living again. As it was, though,
he still had his snug little fortune IN
the bank, and was able to draw npon
it. He purchased n complete outfit,
which he wanted very badly, for he
had come away from among the savages
without even q shirt to his back, and
once more lie booked his passage to
England. this time in the steamship
Great Britain. She was bound for
Liverpool-Smythe's native place
with cargo, passengers, and specie.
After pleasant voyage Of nearly two
months she came in sight Of Old Eng
land (1S57l, and now the most extra
ordinary misfortune Of all befcll our
luckless hero.
Smythe's reason actually became
unhinged at the sight OF the shores Of
his native land, the thoughts of all he
had gone through. aud the bitter re-
Election that he had never once writ
ten to his wife since he sent her that
$1,000 some years previously. The
unfortunate man went raving mad,
aud the captain Of the Great Britain
had to place him i'll confinement. On
the ships arrival in Liverpool he was
handed over to the care of the police,
who, after making futile inquiries for
any of his relatives, eventually sent
him to Rainhill Lunatic Asylum, out
side Liverpool.
We will now, with the readers per-
mission, leave Smythe i'll the asylum.
and go back to his wife. She had
long since given mp the brokers' estab-
lislment and left the old locality, hav-
ing removed to Aigburth. Here she
made the acquaintance of Captain Jose
Diaz, who was the master of the
| Spanish steamship Porto Rico. In the
iull belief that her husband was dead,
Mrs. Smytlle married Captain Diaz,
and child was born, a son, who was
christened Charles. Meanwhile, Mag
gle Smythe, her daughter by her first
husband, had grown to be q woman,
and received several offers of mar
riage, which, however, she declin ed.
In 1862, Mrs. Smythe's second hus-
hand, Diaz, lost his life by drowning
in the Coburg Dock, and, curious to
relate, it was III 1852 that the long
lost husband and father, Smythe, was
discharged, perfectly cured, from the
asylum.
The unfortunate man paid an early
visit to his bankers, and, having easily
proved his identity. learned he was
entitled to the very tidy fortune OF
sos, 900. During the several years he
had been immured in the asylum his
original account had been steadily &C
cumulating by means of compound in
terest. He now sought his wife ani
daughter, but could find no trace O.
them. The old home knew no more
and no one in the neighborhood could
be expected to be cognizant OF theil
whereabouts, seeing the long time
that had elapsed since their residence
there.
Smythe, however, spared neither
efforts nor money to find his loyet
ones, but without success. He wa
at length obliged to abandon the quest
and settled down quietly into private
lite, taking house. which, rs it hap
pened, was situated within less thai
, half mile from the door of those h.
,, never expected to see again on thi
side of the grave. But most strang
and incomprehensible are the work
, , ings and ways of the Almighty. Il
! such extraor binary condolences, a
, the one we are now about to relate
we easily trace His guiding hand.
John Smythe, one Sunday morning
i'll 1868, attended early Divine servic,
at st. Nicholas Church, and, amony
the several wedding parties present
: he was particularly struck with tn
! face of one of the brides. Somehow
he thought it strangely familiar, AM
) this idea grew so strongly upon him
I; that he determined to wait and ascer
: tain her name. Lingering until afte
! the service, lie was gratiied by hear
> ing the names of the respective par
ties called out by the officiating min
: lister, and presently heard the names
;. Margaret Merrydew Smythe and job
y Baxter, pronounced. Simultaneous
. wild cry rang through the church
" and the fall of a heavy body was heard
J The sudden revelation was too muc
), for the poor old man, and he ha
" tainted away.
He was carried into the vestry b
those around him. and restored t
J consciousness, when he quickly mad
; his identity known. His daughter
=" smazement and delight can be be
ter imagined than described, W
I, think, at this unlocked fl
u reunion with father she had so lon
y mourned as dead; and we venture 1
le say that a more dramatic incide1
. than their meeting would not. be foun
- in the pages of the most sensations
y romancist.
:. Maggie Smythe took back with h.
. from her wedding not only HUSBAND
J" but q long-lost father as we'll. We wi
pass over the meeting between tn
70 husband and wife, who had not locke
- upon one another's faces for so man
n years.
\ ! John Smythe and his helpmat
u, Hannah, both lived to good old ag
70 and their daughter, Mrs. Baxter, is
VI happy wife and mother in Liverpo
&c at this moment-or perhaps, I hi
y better say she was, for it is son
{. years since first learned the story
" have recorded above.
y Charles Diaz, the alf.Spanish ste
son of the old sailor Crusoe, is now
of officer in the Mercantile Marine; al
u James Roche, the one time aoprenti