Captain Sydney Gough in 1862
We are in receipt of the following letter, which casts some light on the fate of Captain Sydney Gough, to whom allusion was made in our issue of February 16th, which we publish in the hope that it may induce such others as many know anything concerning the matter to communicate with us:
CAPTAIN ELLERY'S LETTER. DANVILLE, Contra Costa Co., Feb. 21, 1870. EDITOR CHRONICLE:--In the CHRONICLE of the 16th instant, my attention was particularly attracted to the column headed "Mystery." As you wish information, the following is at your disposal:This statement does away with the impression that Captain Gough died in this State. It may be, however, that the person who took possession of his estate came to California afterward, else how did
In the Winter of 1851 I became acquainted, and subsequently very intimate, with one Captain Sidney Gough, in Shanghai, China. He was then chief officer of the steam tug Confucius. On my next voyage to China he was in command of the same steamer, then owned and used as a war vessel by the imperialists. Captain G. stood high in the confidence of the Mandarins, and was Admiral of the fleet. On my arrival in China, in the latter part of 1962, I heard the sad news of
HIS DEATH.
The Chinese were about buying another steamer, and were out on a trial trip, when she blew up, and Captain Gough and several Chinese officials
In our moments of intimacy (although he was very reticent in some particulars), I learned that he was a Southerner, and between the years 1830 and 1840 was with the celebrated Captain Wm. Smilley of the schooner Ohio, in the sealing business, at the Falkland Islands, and on the east coast of South America.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPTAIN GOUGH. Were Captain Gough now living he would be about fifty five years old, I should say. He stood about five feet eight or nine inches; had a dark complexion, wavy black hair and light eyes. I have a large-size photograph of him, which I would cheerfully resign to his relatives, should it prove to be the right one.
Any further information you may desire, if within my power, will be cheerfully given.
Respectfully yours,
CAPT. WILLIAM ELLERY.
THE ADVERTISEMENT
which was copied by the Michigan papers, come to be published here? The narrative of Captain Ellery, while it settles the question as to the manner of Gough's death, and specifies the year in which it occurred, throws no light on the subject of the estate, its value, or what afterward became of it. At present the prospects of recovering the lost fortune to the widow are not flattering; yet it is possible -- barely possible -- that some information may yet be obtained whch may lead to its discovery.