FICTION OUTDONE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 325, 15 December 1888, Page 3

FICTION OUTDONE.

The " Machias Republication " tells us o£ a Maine mar. who spe*ht V'nigbt in Machias lately. The herb of the series says he was born in Princeton" in 4828. In 1843 he ran away and enlisted in the United States Army, serving in various commands until the close of the War of the Rebellion, being several times a prisoner, and, in fact, escaping from Kirby Smith across the Rio Grande in the last days of hostilities. But "Osgood was no sooner in Mexican territory then he became the captive of a band of marauding greasers. Mr Osgood claims to have passed twentytwo years of his life with these men, during which time he learned to speak their language fluently, which, he says, was the chief cause of his long cap'ivity, he having been retained ior an interpreter. He claims to have made frequent trials for liberty, bub without succe-s, for some of these roving bands were sure to recapture him before he could reach the border. The last trial he made for this purpose was March 7th, 1888, but he was pursued, and when he found escape impossible he threw up his hands to surrender, but was too late to avoid the effects of a volley fired by the pur&iuner party, which caused the loss, of nearly one-half of the right foot, another bullet splitting his scalp. Still another entered his mouth, knocking out three teeth and breaking his jaw, and is now lodged under the ear ; still another, which was copper, struck him in the side, passing around the body, and is now lodged in the breast;, and, being poisonous, causes him much tz'ouble. It is by reason of this that he travels on foot rather than by rail or carriage, as any serious jar will bring on hemonhagc. Shortly after Oogood's, recapture Mexican troops ran dow u the greaser?, and the American's long captivity was at an end. He made his way to the City of Mexico and then noith through the United .states to Maine. Jn addition to the loss of a part oi one hand and one foot, Osgood carries seven bullets in various places in his body, .some of which could doubtless have been taken out had he been in position to have received proper treatment. He has papers from the commanders of the various army posts throughout the country, stating that they have examined him closely,' and believe the account which he ghes of himself to be true, and recommend him to the consideration of comrades farther on. He has also dozens of papers of a like nature from noted men in various places, all of which seem to be genuine. Whether the story which he tells is true or not, he is certainly a remarkable man, and has undoubtedly seen rough times somewhere. He says he has not slept in a bed' for thirty years, and wants nothing better than a blanket upon the hard floor.