The Topeka state journal., 1902-08-18
A STRANGE STORY.
An EnOch Arden Case Comes
From LeavenwOrth.

Leavenworth, Kan, Aug. 1s.-The
Times says:
A story has Just been brought to light
in Leavenworth which in several es-
sential facts is very similar to the story
told in .'Enoch Arden" But Lord Ten
nyson's famous poem was not invested
with such a strangely curious chain OF
circumstances as those which were wo-
ven into the lives of Mr.. and Mrs. JOS
eph Stalcup. The former has brother
living a half mile south of the Soldiers
home Mrs. Stalcup was sister of L.
Z. Critchlow, foreman of the TlmeS
composing room.
Joseph Stalcup and Miss Lucy Critch-
low were married in Edna, Mo-, in 1868.
They moved to Kirksville, Mo-, soon af-
ter the marriage and remained until
1872. In that year that went to the
Black Hills.
1t was just after the discovery of gold
in the Black Hills. Stalcup and two
companions began prospecting. About
year after Mr.. and Mrs. Stalcup went
to Dakota came the Indian outbreak.
About IL o'clock one night the band
of marauding Indians burst on the camp
of the three men. One of them was
killed One escaped and ran to the town
miles away where Mrs. Stalcup was
Joseph Stalcup was captured and car
ried off by the Indians.
A searching party found the body OF
the murdered man. No trace was found
of Stalcup. The whole country was
searched, but his fate remained a mys-
terry. He was given up as dead.
About three weeks after the outbreak
Mrs. Stalcup received a telegram say
ing her mother was dying. She hur-
ried to the bedside in Sedalia, Mo. Mrs.
Critchlow died soon after the arrival of
her daughter.
After the funeral Mrs Stalcup went
! to Pennsylvania on a visit. Remain
ing there short time she returned to
the Black Hills. Nothing had been heard
| of her husband and the Indians were
still on the warpath. Mrs Stalcup sold
| what property they owned and went to
| Denver where she went into the mff1i-
| merry business.
| About a year later she married Jacob
! Ohlwiler wealthy mine owner. He
! staked out the town of Ouray, Col, and
made a fortune by a lucky strike.
| But to return to Stalcup. He remain
| ed a captive in the hands of the In
dams about five months. Finally the
United States troops rounded the. red
skins up and released the 118 prisoners
they had gathered in.
| Stalcup returned to the town where
! he had left his wife. She had gone to
her old home in Missouri, he was told
| Stalcup wrote to her But the wife had
| left Sedalia and the letters were return
| ed to him unopened The husband was
| unable to find any trace of his wife.
| Stalcup went off on another prospect
! ing tour About a year later he saw in
| a Denver paper an account of Mrs.
| Stalcup's marriage to Jacob Ohlwiler
AS soon as convenient he went to Den
yer. He made inquiries and soon learn
| ed he had been given up as dead. AS
did Esnoch Arden, Stalcup silently fold
ed his tent and stole away. He didn't
| want to wreck his wife's happiness. He
chose to allow her to remain in blissful
| ignorance.
Two children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Ohlwiler. She had none by her
first husband. Ohlwiler and the child
rem are still living. The mother died
| six years ago. Since that time her
| brother in this city has not cores
ponded with the Ohlwilers. He does not
know their present whereabouts. Since
discovering his wife's marriage to an
other man, Stalcup has led an adven-
| turous life Though now an old man
/ he.has made two trips to the Klondike
in the past three years. At present he
| is in Hot Springs, S. D. He has set
| tied down with enough of this worlds
| goods on hand to keep the wolf from
| the door.
The discovery that Joseph Stalcup
still lived was the result of a strange
/ succession of circumstances. As has
| been stated, Andrew Stalcup who lives
| a half mile south of the Soldiers home
is brother of Joseph Stalcup. Last
May the latter came from South Da-
had no idea that his wife's brother liv-
ed in Leavenworth. In fact L. D.
| Critchlow was so small when Stalcup
married his sister that the old man
probably didn't even know his wife
ever had brother by that name He
only knew an older brother named
Charles.
On Decoration Day. Joseph stalcup
| went to Fort Leavenworth to witness
the re-interment of the General Henry
his heavy gold Masonic watch charm.
| The next day Stalcup went to Rosen-
fields jewelry store to have the charm
so he gave Mr.. Rosenfield his address in
order that the charm might be sent to
him. :
After the charm had been fixed Mr.
missent and came back to the Leaven-
worth jeweler- Mr.. Rosenfield left the
envelope lying on shelf behind the
counter.
About this time Fred Hampel. The
Times pressnian. was married. l.. D.
Gritchlow went into Rosenfield's to buy
Hampel a wedding present. While stand
ing In the store, his glance fell on the
letters addressed to Joseph Stalcup. 1t
| immediately occurred to him this might
some inquiries of Mr.. Rosenfield as to the
mans description. he became satisfied it
was the man who had married his sister
| "a years beforS.
Critchlow wrote to the address the
received letter from Joseph Stalcup.
| saying he was the man who had married
Lucy Critchlow in Edna, Mo-. in 1865
The aged man also gave the particulars
this article.
Stalcup announces that he will come to
| Leavenworth in few weeks to visit
Critchlow.
Letter From Miss Deacon.