The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-04
The Lost Cadet,-James G. sbofper a

West Point cadet, who had leave of alb
sence from June 18th, and was returning
from his home in Tennessee, stepped off of
one of the express trains on Thursday
night while the cars were ascending Iron
Hill grade. passenger, it is said, saw
him step off, but did not report the circum-
stance till the train reached Wilmington.
The men in charge of the freight train,
which was then passing south from Will
mington, were ordered to look for the miss
ing man, but they failed to discover any
trace of him. The railroad officials, who
felt considerable uneasiness on account of
the accident, ordered their employees along
the line to use every effort to find him.
Nothing, however, was heard of him till
Saturday, when young man in military
dress, wandered into Little Elk, and was
taken in by Mrs. Woodrow, who saw that he
was seriously unwell, and who fortunately
among the sick. This good Samaritan had
his wet clothes taken off, put the sick man
to bed and sent for physician. The young
man it appears is subject to fits of somnam-
bullsm, and the only account he can give
of himself after leaving Washington was
recollecting that the train stopped a short
time in Baltimore. When the accident of
his stepping off the cars occurred, he says
he left his seat and went out Of the car
door, thinking he was at home and was
stepping out of the house. After that he
had no recollection of any thing till he
wandered into Little Elk and feeling wet
and cold, wished to find fire to warm him
self by. In this condition the children of
Mrs. Woodrow found him, and reported to
their mother that man with "soldier
clothes" was lying in a cart near the
house. He appears to have remained in a
kind of comatose state after stepping from
the platform of the cars, and wandered
about he knew not where till he was taken
in by Mrs. Woodrow. AS soon as it was
known to the railroad Company that the
lost passenger had been found, Superin-
tendent Kenney telegraphed to DR.. Tuft,
who had the sick cadet under his care, to
render medical assistance till he was able
to be removed to West Point. Communi-
cation was also had with the Government
officers in charge at West Point, and an
order was issued by the Post Commander
to DR.. Tuft, placing cadet Shofner under
his care till he was fit to send to West
Point. The DR.. found the sick man labor
ing under an attack of malarial fever and,
considerably shattered and Frustrated in
mind and body. He gives his fathers
address, who was written to at Mulberry,
Lincoln county, Tennessee. By Wednes-
day last young Shofner had so far recov-
cred as to be able to leave his sick room,
and at the request Of Hon. Alexander
Evans was moved to his residence in town,
where he will remain till he is in condi-
ton to be sent on to the post, which will
probably be today. The affair created
quite sensation, and reports of 1T were
generally published in the city papers. On
Sunday reporter of the New York Herald
was in town looking up the facts in the
case.
The wag of West Elk started report
that the railroad Company had offered
thousand dollars for the recovery of the
lost cadet, and when the old ladies of the
borough heard that thousand dollars was
involved in the case, they fastened to the
attending physician, DR.. Tuft, and reported
their claims. Several had seen him first,
and others had spoken to him; but the
nurse, Mrs. Woodrow, like 4" Ben Adhem's
name, led all the rest.''