The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-19
The Augusta Mystery.
The Case Of Miss Clapp-suicide, Abduc-
tiOn or Murder, Whichs

The Augusta journal says: "The strange
and painful mystery connected with the sudden
disappearance of Miss Ella Louisa Clapp, on
Thursday evening last, remains unsolved. The
sympathies of the public have gone out in
large and generous measure to the distressed
parents and the immediate family, who are
visited with this terrible calamity, more pain
full in its uncertainty than death itself. Peace.
full death, in the quiet of home, surrounded by
loving friends, how much to be preferred than
this narrowing suspense!
All day Saturday large crews of men were
engaged in looking for the missing girl On
Saturday afternoon at least one hundred men
were engaged in examining the gully leading
from North street, and the adjacent ravines,
also divers ledge and the ridge of oaks Yes
terday the hunt assumed formidable proper
tions indeed, from 300 to 500 men volunteering
their service and securing the woods in every
direction even to the Manchester line, and
above Cushnoc heights, and examining care
fully the rivers banks and the vicinity of the
Mill Brook. But the search has been uare-
warded by the discovery of the girl any scraps
of clothing belonging to her, or any informa-
ton leading to her whereabouts So that the
theory must be abandoned that she strayed
away or died from exhaustion, anywhere in
the vicinity, as every rod of ground seems to
nave Deon carefully gone over.
The theories are now forced upon us that the
girl must have committed suicide or been alb
Quoted; and there seems so be about equal
foundation for either theory. 1t hardly seems
possible that weak girl as she was, could
have sum moned courage sufficient to trace her
way to the river on that clear moonlight night,
when go many people were abroad, and throw
herself into the swift running stream. Some
circumstances have occurred that may have
some connection with the mystery.
Certain strange and mysterious cries were
heard on North street, about midnight on
Thursday. Mrs. Charles Hayes heard a child
like female voice as of one in distress. A
neighbor on the opposite side of the street had
a child very sick; Mrs. Hayes supposed that
the child bad died, and that the mother was
bewailing her loss. But such an event had not
occurred, and the womaE who was watching
by her sick child had heard the same noises
that had startled Mrs. Hayes, and thought they
came from some one in the street. Mrs. Jason
Moore. who lives further up on the street, says
she heard the same noises and they seemed to
become faint and die away as the person or
persons making them went further up the
street. About that hour of the night Mrs. Ed.
Getchell saw close carriage enter the street
slowly and drive by.
Mr. Alfred M. Reed, who lives nearly oppo-
site Mr.. Clapp's, was coming out of his house
about twenty minutes past six Thursday night,
and went up the street, going to his stable.
Near the lamp-post at the junction of Oak and
State streets he saw young lady, about the
size and appearance of Miss Clapp, turn slowly
and walk in the direction of the Unitarian
church She attracted his attention on account
of hestating, halting manner. having appar-
emily no definite object in view. Mr.. Reed was
followed by his brother-n-law, Mr. Brown, who
noticed the same strange appearance of the
lady. Mr.. Browns wife followed him in min
ute or two, and she saw the lady in question
halt near the steps of 4he Unitarian church; a
top carriage came along, halted, the lady step
ped in, and the carriage drove rapidly off to-
wards Hallowell.
The above mentioned transactions may be of
the same piece. and the carriage seen on North
street be the same one that Mrs. Brown saw on
State street; and it may be case of bold alb
duction the lady being seized and placed by
main force into the carriage. That there could
have been any assignment or appointment in
the case, no one knowing the circumstances for
moment supposes. The young lady has sent
no letters by mail or otherwise, nor has she re-.
ceived any, and she has seen no one but her
family and physician. Nothing can be found
to show any prior arrangements or calculations
on her part Not trace can be obtained OF
her after she passed her fathers threshold On
that bright moonlight night The family are
greatful for the expressions of sympathy which
our people have shown by their acts. We trust
that this almost insupportable suspense may
soon he broken, even if the worst is to be re
vealed.'