A SHIPWRECK ROMANCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10301, 23 February 1912, Page 6

A SHIPWRECK ROMANCE.

A Coventry mother, who believed that her only boy was shipwrecked and drowned ten years ago, has jnst had the delighi of a surprise visit from her long lost bnfc still living and now prosperous son. A well-dressed man called at the County Keatanrans and asked to see his mother—naming one of the servants. The proprietor, Mr All Turner, said he understood that she had no son, as the ship on which it was stated that lie went to Canada ten years ago had goae down, and 0 not hearing of him since, she had conolnded fehar, he was dead. Bat on the servant being called she quickly Identified her aon, and there was an affecting scene. Before leaving to see other friends the son placed £SO for his mother's use in Mr Turner'a care. The mother of the long lost son. seen by a correspondent some time after the pathetic ma3tiag, expressed her great delight at the jreunioa wish her sou, whom she had givea np for lest. "My aun," "she said, "left home in very poor circaaastanoes to try to earn his IfviEg. We were then residing in a small village in Warwickshire He was my only son, and I often thought about liim after he left homg. "At first I heard from him occasionally, and then got word that he could not get on, and that he intended going So Canada to try and make his fortune He gave me the name of the vessel by which he iufcenCtd to travel, aad aoias tiurn sftor I read an account of the wreck of this ship, all lives on board were lost. "That was tea years ago, and as time west on, hearts nothing from him, there seeded culy the one terrible couclosicn to draw, and that was that he was drowned with the others. "When I was told fchaß my son wanted to sgq eig I snoGguS fcheio must be Gocio mistake. I'sS I seemed to feel it might bo true, bat how I could not understand," She farther said aha knew him directly she saw hixa. When she asked about the ship that had goca down he explained to her that ho had taken another ship, and that having hard WQick (so get on in Canada as first he had no time to write Afterwards he did remarkably well asd he convinced h«r of this by showing her a lot of isoney ia banknotes and gold which ho had in his possession. *■ He said he wanted to surprise her, and had cokjb sSraicht to bar directly lis fonr d where she waa. Ha gave her£so, which seeded a for&nne to as she was only n charwoman nearly 60 vears of age. "lie left here." she concluded, "to ao to the village fn which he was bom, bnt I expect him back in a day or two."