A MELANCHOLY HISTORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1090, 2 November 1883, Page 4

A MELANCHOLY HISTORY.

A Montreal despatch, dated July 29, and published in the Toronto Glofo, says:—A singularly strange and sad history of a wasted life is that of William Fox Bickbene. The deceased was a son of one of the oldest and wealthiest Quaker families in Liverpool England, where he received an excellent Commercial education, in order to qualify him for carrying on the business of a leather manufacturer, which his father had previously made a fortune at. After leaving school and going into business he became what was known as a wild youth, indulging in excesses of drinking, which pained his religious fsmily to that extent that they determined to send him to America to He was fitted out and given -ample means to make a start in the : New World. New York was his destination, and after a short stay there he married a Yankee girl who resided in the boarding house where he lived. He soon returned with his wife to Liverpool, where she was not very well received by his family, who did not think she was a suitable partner for him. However, his father set him up in a tannery, which he successfully conducted for ten or twelve years. On account of his wife’s doings, he resumed then intemperate habits and neglected his affairs. In one of his debauches he went off and remained away a considerable time. During his absence the wife sold out the tannery, stock of leather, as well as the household iurpitu re, thereby realising some thousands of dollars, and absconded with a paramour to New York, where thgjr are now, it is said, keeping a hotel ■*oo 'the proceeds of the sale. Before the wife levanted, however, she left her eight children at the door of their grandmother in Liverpool. When Bickbene returned after his lengthy escapade he found his property all gone, and his large family under the care of his mother. - Having. nothing to depend on bpt the .interest of thousand fjllhrs left him and his children by his ther, he set off for Canada, and arrived in Montreal five years ago. He went to live at an eccentric saloonkeeper’s house on Water street, facing the harbor. When the draft for his quarterly payment of interest arrived he made it a practice to give it to his landlord, as if he kept it he would never be sober until all the money was spent. He remained two years with the saloon-keeper, who cared for him like a brother. Sometimes the unfortunate manwhenhe|ccmmenceddrinking would gd off on a tramp, and would return completely broken down by fatigue and hard living. The saloonkeeper, thinking his ward would get along better in the country than in the city, bought a farm three years since at Longue Foint, some distance out, and after stocking it, placed Bickbene on it as manager. This had a decidedly good effect on his conduct, as, with the exception of a few times, he kept steady and managed the farm, with great success, although when he commenced he did not know how to harness a horse. However, he was capable of learning anything, as he was a man of rare . attainments when off liquor. It appears that some months agpihe was informed of a farm to be sold at.Lachute, and without consulting his friend and employer in the city, he wi'ote home to his sister, who is married to a wealthy Quaker merchant in,Liverpool, to send out his famliy, as he was about to go into farming for himself. The saloon-keeper heard what.he bad done too late to cable the family not to come out, as he knew what would be the result; but arrive thiy did, bringing a draft for one hundred pounds sterling, being their share of a quarter’s interest in the investment of their grandfather’s legacy to the family. Their coming had such an effect on the man that he went off on a spree, and his mind became affected: On the morning of his suicide he came in to take his children out to the farm, and ate a very hearty breakfast at bis employer’s restaurant. He took a couple of cigars, lighted one, and went out. Those in the house remarked that he looked as if his mind was unsettled. The family got ready to leave, but as the father did not return soon they became alarmed. In about .an hour word came in that a man* had' deliberately sat down on Allanfs Wharf, taken off his boots and haf, and with a cigar in his mouth jumnejLinto the river, and was drowned in front,, of a boat’s crew which approached, to rescue him. This was the fourth time he attempted suicide in his delirium, one of bis previous unsuccessful efforts being at the same spot where he finally plunged into eternity. He was physically a splendid-looking Englishman, about six feet high, broad shouldered, and full habit. When rational be bad all the characteristics of the; Quaker brotherhood, and exhibited In his conversation and demeanor the intelligence of an educated gentleman. So long: as he had no money in his pocket his behaviour was exemplary, but the-moment he got any he lost all self-control until it all vanished. His father’s fortune, which amounted to 30,0000d015, was bequeathed to the family iu equal shares, deceased’s being dir&t'ed to be invested by trustees, who were to pay him and his family the interest, the other members getting their shares absolutely. Two of his brothers died within ,the past three years, leaving their inheritance to be divided among the surviving members of the family. The deceased’s children will theretore. be independent.