The Case Of The Missing Bride - Robert F. Clifton (red novels .txt) 📗

ironworks produced pots, kettles and cannon balls for the Continental Army.

Sometime after the war White settled on one of the barrier islands off of what is now Atlantic County, New Jersey.

He made a living by farming and selling firewood to passing ships and cedar logs that were bought and transported to the Carolina's by lumber dealers. There, the logs were used in ship building and furniture production.

At the age of forty six and in the winter of eighteen hundred, White traveled back to Batsto Village. There he courted and married Priscilla Walls. When Spring arrived the newly weds returned to what was then called White's Island. There Hiram continued to farm and sell timber. Priscilla gave him four sons and a daughter. All the children were born at Batsto Village, except Rachel, the daughter who was said to have been born early.

William, the first born son graduated from The College Of New Jersey (Later Princeton University) where he studied divinity. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister and preached at the first church built in Burlington County. While attending college William became an amateur conchologist and when visiting his family on the island would spend hours examining the piles of shells that were on the beach. His brothers, Nathan, Benjamin and Solomon continued to farm and cut timber.

Hiram died in 1836. upon his death Priscilla took over both the farm and the timber business. At the same time along with her son Benjamin she saw that the once large cedar forest was almost depleted so she saw to it that a hotel was constructed and in 1840 White's Inn opened for business.

By 1845 Philadelphia and some New Jersey doctors were prescribing the taking of the salt air as a means of treatment for tuberculosis. Soon patients with the disease began renting rooms at the Inn during the summer months. Priscilla fed her guest with catches from the ocean and bay and with vegetables from the farm.

With the timber practically depleted Benjamin read for the law while Nathan and Solomon with the blessing of their mother began selling property lots and soon homes were built on the island. William returned, built a Presbyterian Church and began preaching.

Still absorbed in conchology, he read a paper produced by John Lightfoot, also a member of the clergy and a concologist. Lightfoot's paper was about the Chambered Nautilus, a member of the marine mollusk's family.

At a family meeting Benjamin announced that he was attempting to get the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to run a line to the island. However, the railroad was reluctant to lay track to a place called, White's Island. Saying, that in order to publicize the use of the railroad to a new destination, the railroad demanded that the island be re-named. William suggested calling the land, Nautilus Island, saying that the name could be associated with the sea and exotic places where the mollusk thrived. After a short conversation the family decided on the name, Nautilus Beach.

Benjamin then planned that if the railroad connected the island to its mainline in Camden the island could be incorporated as a city. Once that occurred the price of real estate would increase. He also planned to be the first mayor of the new municipality. He considered himself to be well qualified. He was a lawyer, knowledgeable of the law. He was a family man, having married Sally McFarland from Tuckerton. Most importantly he had made a large contribution to the war chest of the newly elected governor of New Jersey who as a physician saw the merit in Nautilus Beach becoming a health resort. At the same time the new governor had ties and influence with the railroads.

In1854 there were seven dwellings on the island. Six belonged to the White family including the church. With rail service from Camden to Nautilus Beach established tourists traveled to the island some to take in the salt air and water others to invest in property. In1855 the city of Nautilus Beach was incorporated. In the year 1846 Partheana White had been born to Benjamin and Sally White. Benjamin White served three terms as mayor of the city and under his leadership investments and businesses grew and prospered. One hundred years later Nautilus Beach is a thriving, seaside resort.

Wallace closed the book then out of curiosity looked for the publishing date, finding the year 1955. He got up from the table and walked to where Elsie Tillman sat at her desk behind a small stack of returned books. “Thank you Elsie”, he said.

“Was the book of any help?”, she asked.

“Somewhat, but not too much”, Wallace answered as he handed her the volume.

Wallace walked into his living room. He stopped and placed his briefcase on the floor next to his favorite chair, a leather covered, recliner. He looked towards the room that served as an office for both Mary and himself.

Mary looked up from her work. “How did you make out?”, she asked.

“Not too well and nothing that I didn't already know. I did find out the year Partheana was born, but nothing else”, Robert answered.

“Keep in mind that the Nautilus Press didn't come into existence until 1895. If you are going to find anything such as weddings or deaths in or near Nautilus Beach it would be in the Philadelphia newspapers. You're lucky you found her birth date, usually in those days that information was recorded in family bibles.”

“How much help and information do you think I'd get from the editors of the Philadelphia newspapers when I tell them that I'm investigating a one hundred year old mystery?”, asked Robert.

“Probably with your reputation with the news media, none. However, a former reporter, freelance writer and a member of several journalistic organizations such as, The National Writers Union, American Society of Journalists and Authors could

possibly look at anything they have in their archives”, Mary replied.

“You think that you're pretty cute, don't you?”, he asked with a smile.

“No, but you do. Besides, when we're in Philly, I want to go to Wanamaker’s. So, hotshot, it's going to cost you”, Mary replied.

“No problem my dear. Both the paper and the department store are on Market Street. And, if you're a nice little girl I'll even buy you lunch, said Robert.

“I'm so lucky that Horn and Hardarts are going out of business. Knowing you that's where you would want to take me for lunch”.

“Hey at the time you could get a nice meal for twenty five or fifty cents. All you needed to do was get plenty of nickles from the cashier.”

“Well, big spender, I've got news for you. Auto-mats went out just like the typewriter. So, if you're buying lunch I want to go to Bookbinders on Walnut Street”, said Mary.

“Speaking of typewriters how do you like your new word processor?”, he asked.

“It's like you. I had to get use to it”, she responded.

“Smart ass”.

“Yeah, but you love me”, said Mary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Three

Philadelphia

 

Robert Wallace stood looking out of the window on the fourth floor of the Philadelphia Inquirer Building. He watched the traffic in the street below as well as the pedestrians on the sidewalks. As he did Mary Wallace scanned the thousands of articles preserved by the newspaper over the years. What she was looking for, using the microfiche was anything related to Nautilus Beach, New Jersey and in particular to the Benjamin White family and their daughter Partheana. Unfortunately, the years she was interested in were the 1860's, the years of the Civil War and most of the news articles dealt with the battles, and casualty lists of Union troops. Most mentioned were the Philadelphia Regiments. Still, Mary scanned the cards containing the society pages looking for anything related to the White's of Nautilus Beach, New Jersey. “What's this?”, she said aloud.

Robert turned from the window. “Find something?”, he asked.

“It's a short article, saying, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin White announce the betrothal of their daughter Partheana to William Thomas Baker son of Doctor and Mrs. Phineas Albert Baker of Philadelphia. Miss White is the daughter of the Mayor of Nautilus Beach, New Jersey. William Baker is a Captain in the Infantry Regiment of Philadelphia. An April wedding is planned to be held at the seaside resort”, Mary said, reading the preserved article.

“Anything else?”, he asked.

“I'm still looking”.

“There has to be something else”, he said.

“Hey, listen Big Help. Just keep staring out the window and let me do the research. When I find something of interest I'll let you know”, Mary responded.

“Just keep in mind that the fate of your lunch depends on your ability”, said Wallace with a smile.

“Bingo! I've got it. Listen to this,

The Inquirer is reporting that on Saturday, April 12, 1862, Partheana White Baker, the bride of Captain William T. Baker of Philadelphia disappeared at her wedding reception held at the White Estate in Nautilus Beach New Jersey. Partheana was last seen according to witnesses leaving the reception area. Volunteers from the guest list searched the White's mansion, grounds and bay front to no avail.

Partheana White Baker is described as being approximately five feet tall, with brown hair and eyes and weighs about one hundred and fifteen pounds and is sixteen years old. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of this young woman is asked to contact Benjamin White, Mayor, Nautilus Beach, New Jersey a one thousand dollar reward is offered.

Well, what do you think of that?”, asked Mary.

“It matches the old wives tale to some degree. However, the article does give us a date. April is still cool or even cold. It could mean that if she had somehow fallen into the bay waters and drowned, her body would take sometime to float to the surface because the water temperature would probably have been in the fifties slowing down decomposition”.

“So, you think she drowned”, said Mary.

“No, I'm just stating a fact. Many people then and since believe that Partheana left the reception to go to the outhouse. Somehow in the dark she made a wrong turn, slipped and fell into the bay. If she cried for help no one heard her over the music being played by the orchestra.”

“Well that's possible. There was no indoor plumbing in those days in Nautilus Beach”, Mary replied.

“There are other theories Mary. Others say that the marriage between Partheana and William Baker was an arranged union and Partheana rather than face the wedding night ran away”.

“Where could she have gone?”, asked Mary.

“Exactly. She was a sixteen year old girl, brought up in what luxury Benjamin White could give his daughter. In all probability all she knew of life was what she had on the island and what she could expect from her marriage. I would imagine that a young bride coming from wealth and influence would look forward to living in Philadelphia along with all that city's social set could offer. No, I don't see her running away”.

“Well then handsome, what do you see?”, asked Mary.

“I see you writing down all that information on the microfiche using shorthand and when you're finished we can go to lunch”.

“Oh, you're so good to me. Just remember that after lunch we go to Wanamaker’s”.

*******************

On a cool, bright sunny, Saturday morning, Captain Robert Wallace stood watching a man driving a bulldozer clearing away weeds, brush, and other wild vegetation from the grounds of the White Estate. As he did he sipped hot coffee from a Styrofoam cup and wished that he had a lemon doughnut. He turned to see Sidney Kaplan, also known as Boo Kaplan approaching. “Good morning Boo”, said Wallace.

“Good morning Bob. I hope you don't mind me being here. You

know that as head of the Historical Society and local museum I need to assure our members as well as myself that the estate and particularly the mansion is not damaged”.

“No problem Boo. What I want at this time is the ability to bring in Ground Penetrating Radar. I intend to use it to either prove that the body of the missing bride or what remains of her is or