Strangely romantic story.
John N. Fenwick, bart., now of Fenwick Hall,
England, is the subject of a strangely romantic story in the
Chicago Democrat, from which we condense an account of the fortunes and misfortunes connected with his wanderings throughout the world.
The account says:
He is the child of
Sir John N. Fenwick, who, in 1837, married
Clara Seymour, a poor clergyman's daughter, against the wishes of his two sisters.
The latter revenged themselves by falsely accusing
Lady Fenwick of infidelity with a certain French Count, whom Sir John had introduced to her at
Venice during the honeymoon.
Lady Clara swooned at the charge, and her husband, completely carried away by passion, and convinced that the story told him by his sisters was true, ordered her and the boy to be expelled from the hall, and immediately hurried to the seaboard and embarked for the continent.
The unfortunate wife became insane, passed some time in an asylum, ultimately recovering under the careful kindness of
a Captain O'Neil, who had long loved her, and now besought her to leave her cruel husband and share his fortunes.
For a long time she resisted his appeals, but finally, ascertaining that her husband had taken steps to obtain a divorce from her, and that
Captain O'Neil was her only friend, she consented.
They went to
Galway, Ireland, where they were married privately, and took up their residence.
Her son, in the meantime, manifested a desire to travel, and his mother furnished him with one thousand pounds, which she obtained by the sale of her jewels, and placed him on board the steamer
Adriatic, with instructions to sail to New York, and from thence to
Texas, to visit a cousin of hers named
Somerville, who resided there as a wealthy planter.
Without any misfortune, our youth arrived at his cousin's ranch, situated on the frontier of
Texas, where he received a cordial welcome.
His cousin had a daughter, named
Estelle, of about his own age, and very handsome, with whom he fell in love, and in whose society he passed six months. But on one fatal night the ranch was attacked by a party of
Camanche Indians, his cousin and
Estelle were murdered, and he carried off into captivity.
He remained a captive three months, when, seizing a favorable opportunity and a tomahawk, he killed the
Indian with whom he was, and made his escape to
Brownsville, Texas.
After many subsequent adventures, he determined to return to Fenwick Hall, and claim his rights as son and heir of its lordly occupant.
By the aid of the
British Consul at
Chicago he became introduced to the
Prince of
Wales, during the latter's stay in that city.
The Prince took an interest in young
Benwick, allowed him to accompany him through the States, and to return with him to
England.
The wanderer returned home at a most opportune time, just as one of his aunts, seized with remorse, had made a death-bed acknowledgment of his mother's innocence, thus establishing his legitimacy.
Sir John folded his long lost son to his heart; shedding tears of joy over him. The health of
Lady Clara greatly failed after the departure of her son to
America; and
Capt. O'Neil took her to the
South of
France, in the hope of restoring it But she soon died, and not long afterwards the
Captain was killed in a duel.
By a will he bequeathed his property, which was of great value, to his wife's son,
John N. Fenwick.
The young man is now in Fenwick Hall, whence he has written to his American friends, thanking them for their many kindnesses, and sending remembrances to his former companions and sweetheart.
With such a varied experience of life, aristocratic and democratic,
Sir Sir John Fenwick, Bart., may yet be a man of mark among his compeers.
