Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06
SCION OF NOBLE FAMILY HAD
MANY ADVENTURES.
NOW FEEBLE AND LONELY
Find Himself Proclaimed lead and
His Inheritance Dissipated-A
Tale From Maryland That Sounds
Like Fiction

u,
| is according to his own story, a scion
of the old English nobility, a man of
| illustrious lineage. He says he is de-
seconded on his fathers side from the
late Lord de Clepert of Somerset
county, England, being this nobleman's
great-grandson, while his wife's line,
he AYERS, can be traced direct to the
CAROLS of Maryland and the Lees of
Virginia.
Frederick de Clepert Adams Selway
is the name of the septuagenarian who,
though of such illustrious birth, can
call little of this worlds goods his
own and who courts neither title nor
notoriety. but is content to be in the
house of his nephew, Horace NJ
James, the son of halfsister What
he does crave, however, is the COM
partnership of people with whom he
can discuss the affairs of the outside
world and who can describe to him the
marvels which inventive genius con-
tinues to create.
A reporter recently found him in an
easily persuaded to tell the story of
his life, being provided at the same
time with an ear trumpet to catch any
comments the listener might make.
ITO begin at the beginning" said
Selway, ''as the story has been told to
me and substantiated by records in
England, my great-grandfather. James
SelWay, when a young man, n what
year | do not remember, eloped with
the eldest daughter of the then Lord
de Clepert, who had no son. AS my
REORGANIZATION was of what the De
Cleperts considered low degree, the
marriage was not countenanced by
Lord de Clepert, who refused to recog-
nize his sOn-in-law. At the death of
the lord, however, my great-grand-
mother inherited large sum Of money
and property, which, in course of time,
descended to my grandfather and then
to my father, James Selway.
My mother was a Miss Anna Ad-
ans, daughter of Benjamin Adams, a
graduate of Oxford and a learned di-
my mother died. There was one son
older than I and three daughters. Ny
brother and father are now both dead
But l am getting beyond my story.
When | was little baby my aunt took
me to rear. When or years old |
was severely burned about the arms
and chest, which was very unfortunate
as will be seen later on. We lived in
London. In 1887, when l was IL years
old, my father one day came to my
aunt's house and claimed me. With
tears my aunt, who was a religious
woman, while my father bore the name
of being wild blade, gave me into his
care.
"a few days later | found myself ap-
prenticed to ship captain on the col
lier Elizabeth. The captain was
brute and used me as he would a dog,
l escaped and ran away. After many
difficulties | reached my fathers home
and again he apprenticed me on board
ship in the West Indian trade. When
the vessel reached her destination on
her first voyage | again escaped and
got to New York. AS had contracted
a taste for the sea despite the brutal
treatment, | shipped On various craft
plying between HAMPTON Roads and
New York.
Later on l went to South America
and there enlisted in the navy on the
old frigate Columbia, then on blockade
duty at Montevideo. We were in many
battles and l was injured by a fall
from the rigging. After recovering |
enlisted on the 74-gun frigate Column
bus, under Commodore J. D. Biddle.
That was in 1854, and the Mexican
War was expected. We left Sandy
Hook on June I, 1915, for the East Iu-
dies and China on a cruise 70 look
after the American shipping interests
Il was in Manila in 1916 While
there the black jack, or cholera, took
away 70 Of our crew and we fed At
HongkOng we came near being de-
stroyed in a typhoon. We went to
Japan, and on July 49, 1916, we entered
the port of Yeddo, and to our com
mander, J. D. Biddle, is due the honor
Of paving the way for the famous
treaty with Japan which is accredited
to Commodore Perry.
I'VE left there July % and were 100
days in getting to Honolulu. While on
the voyage we spoke an English ship
and were informed that war had been
declared with Mexico. We sailed for
Valparaiso, where the Columbus was
| made flagship of the fleet. Gun prac-
tlce followed Every day we discharged
broadside after broadside into the air.
So great was the noise that [ was
i made almost totally deaf We went
into the port of Montare and planted
the first American flag there, and then
continued to San Francisco. That was
before gold had been discovered and
the city was mere collection of huts
| OF the Indians and half-breeds. | was
| interpreter for the ship and secured a
| good idea of the country therea bouts.
Shortly after we left gold was dis
| covered. In 1S47 we were ordered
home. In 1852 l went to England and
hunted up my aunt, Mrs. Anna Jar
man. | was informed that had been
published as dead, and that my father
ard brother had secured possession of
| the estate willed to me by nv grand
mother. Mrs. Mary Selway It was a
| large amount-how much l do not
| know. I could only establish my iden
t'tT by the burns I received when an
infant. Unfortunately I was too late
The estate inherited by me had been