Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-08-31
HORRIBLE MYSTERY.
An Abduction md "a Strange
Ekevcf stiOn.

From the Chieago Tribune, Aug. lGth.
A very mysterious cas-, ami enc suggest
iye Of oil manner Of horrible things, is NOW
in the hands Of the police Of this ely
VIA. IS known u the affair i a. fel.ons:
On last Sunday evening, while q I'D
about twelve years Of az, Ogr the ssAe Of
". parents The name ID suppressed was
rcturniu, from church with his PIE, " ho
reside en- llalsied street, rsar the South
Branch bridge, be ran aheld Ct tie rest
considerable distance. When cat Or sigh,
OF his garents, a nsn in a light wagon call
ed him into the toad, ard when the boy
had come within lfml's length Of the We
hicle, he was grasped by the collar Q! his
Jacket by the man and placed Ia the We
h;clc, which ten rapidly proceeded OF it's
way. They drove until daylight, when
the wagon came to o halt before Il double
louse with a stone basem,nt. The boy
vas then taken into the house, aud subss
qnently transferred 70 the basement, where,
to his astonishment. lie found fifteen or
sixteen boys, Of nearly bis own age, already
congregated.
There were, besides colored woman
aud child, the former apparently serving
\ in tho capacity OF a servant. The moment
the boy was taken into the basement n
| plaster was placed over his mouth, which
was only removed al meal times, and by
the means Of tho application of warm
water.
The boy remained there in the condition
described until Thursday morning, when,
at all early hour, before dayligh.. he effect
ed his escape by breaking through the
window A. soon as lie reached the out
side be climbed the nearest tree. The
poiso he made by the breaking Of tho wiz
dow awoke those in tho house, and the
most determined search was instantly in
stituted. Meanwhile the lad kep. perfectly
quiet. and whilc search was made afar he
remained near tho house. While the
search was yet going on, freight train
came in sight fthe track passing nesr the
house, and tho moment it was observed BY
the boy he left his perch, succeed in reach
ing tho train, was taken on board, and by
this means again reached the city When
The boy reached the train the plaster was
still on his mouth and he was relieved from
his uncomfortable situation by his res
euerg.
Yesterday morning Sergeant Briscoc. 81
the Twelfth street police station, was IN
formed oi the affair, and the police arc TOW
engaged in iesseting cut the NY stefy Two
officers, aeaompar led by tie boy, left BY
tho railroad by which Tire bov returned 70
The CITY. yestei dag afternoon and it meb
ahic that ere' .thIs tito parties guilt o. th'
Outrage are in tho hands Of The Law u i,
feared however, the escape of tho boy has
proved warning to them, and tina; the pre-
misses will be found deserted.
The 10 |, whose statement has Just been
recorded isex remedy bright and intelligent
ard the police place great reliance on hi:
story. AS early ss Monday morning th,
police were notified Of the lads disappear
amer, AMI IT," case was receiving their a.
ten'ion when the l,st one returned
In The opinion OF the police, the fifteen OF
sixteen lads congregatcd in the house wcr,
there rs subjects for doctors. This is a.
most too horrible to be true, and vet no 9th
er reasonable version can be readily d scov
cred
Ia London, Eng. at one time grea
number Of boys were sacrificed in the in
teTest Of science, and in Cine nnati, mum
Der of wears aso. great excitement was oc
casloned fCem similar cau=e. Ii is dcvcr,y
TO be hoped that this ystery, then brough
10 light, ". u not realize the worst fears noe
en,crts ned.