The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-21
Michael Fitzgibbons, Long
Mourned for Dead, Located
Through Interest Of a Trav.
cling Man.
WAS ENROUTE HOME
WHEN WAS STRICKEN
After Communication With
Him Was Established, Was
Told He Was a Grandfather
"A Peculiar Case.

While onr0ute to this city TO Visit
relatives and particularly his son 81
las. whom he had not seen since he
was six weeks old. but now = young
man OF -. Michael J. Ftxsibbons. Jr..
formerly Of this city. was taken III
ct Houston. Texas and b attendants
at the hospital revealed . very inter-
esting, story. Mr.. Fltzgibbons has
since recovered and is expecting to
pay visit to friends and relatives in
this city. soon.
His story is much like those often
read In fiction. Leading . life Of .
soldier of fortune. for the past twen-
ty-two years. he never correspooded
with his relatives and they did not
know whether he was alive or dead.
During this time he has been in IL
most every country Of the world and
was . soldier in the Spanish-American
war.
Went 20 kansas.
Mr.. Fitxgibbons about q or -
years ago settled in Kansas City and
was employed at his trade ~ electro
typer. He was married but shortly If
ter the birth Of his son Silas his wife
died. He brought the child to this
city on a pillow. when but q week old.
After remaining in this city for q few
weeks he returned to Kansas City.
The death Of Mrs. F1tzxibbons was
. blow which required . long time for
him to recover from. He became Q
wanderer and finally. with . party Of
eight, settled In South America. hav-
ing purchased an orange grove there.
A fever. contagion, caused the death
Of all his companions and ~. F1t1-
gibbons returned to this country. 10
eating in the South. Since his return
to this country. he has been engaged
In the preparation Of city directories
and this work took him to nearly ev-
cry country In the world.
Taken 10 Hospital.
About q month or six weeks ago
while enroute to this city. he made
the acquaintance Of Otto ]. Keim. Q
travelling salesman who noticed that
he was In i'll health. He secured him
some medicine and when the train
reached Houston, Texas. had him re-
moved to hospital. He learned from
Mr.. Fftzgibbons that he was expect
ing to visit relatives in this city and
Mr.. Keim notified John s. Fitxgibbons
Of this city of his brothers serious
Illness. Mr.. Fitxgibbons doubted the
assertion, but on communication
learned that such was the case. How
ever. owing to . mistake on the part
OF Mr.. Ketm. the letter was addressed
to ]. b. F1txgibbons and before the
person for whom It was intended 70
|ceived the letter. the long lost mem
Der Of the family was convalescent.
The letter had laid In the office for
20 days. postal authorities believing
tAat II was for Q travelling salesman
Who freQue0tly Visits this city.
]. 8. F1txglbbo0s when he finally
received The lstter eomnun3ca&sd WITH
his brother. Attendants Ct The hosp1t,
q had became mueh interested IN IL
mans case and VIXEN ho was inform
| "a that his son Sflas was . father and
he himself. Q gTandfafher. the wand
cred was Overcome VIII emotidA.
Instead of coming direct b this city
[he 10 expecting to % 70 Sioux City.
Iowa to visit his - an1 family. lGH.
md Mrs. 0flas T1txeibbcos and eAiI1
removed 10 Sioux City about tuo
=. 49,