Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1893 — Two Hopeless Cases. [ARTICLE]

Two Hopeless Cases.

The Pall Mall Budget recently recalled the fact that August had brought about the one hundred and eleventh anniversary of the loss of the Royal George, and tells again an absurd anecdote connected with the tragedy. When it was announced that the ship had gone down, with some four hundred men, women and children, the first feeling was one of incredulity, which speedily gave way to horror and grief. But even such a period of consternation had its grimly humorous side. The father of Lieutenant Durham, who was on board the ship, received a letter, and on reading it, burst Intc tears. To the inquiries of his family as to the cause of his grief, he replied in a broken voice: “The ltoyal George has foundered, and our dear Peter is drowned!" A general outburst of tears greeted this announcement, but presently it occurred to some one to ask: “Who has written to tell you, papa?” “Why, Peter, to be sure!” “Peter? Why, then he is saved 1" “No!” answered the old gentleman, groaning again. “He is such a liar that no one can believe a word he says!” It proved that Lieutenant Durham had swum to the rigging, after the ship sank, and was saved. This was the officer to whom his father had said, when he was leaving home for the navy, “Remember one thing, Peter. Never tell a lie!” Peter seemed somewhat surprised at the admonition, and his father added: “Always remember that you never heard your father tell a liel” “Zooks, father!” replied Peter, promptly. “What a liar you are!”