The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-15
Extraordinary Abduction Story.


AN OTTAWA MERCHANT TAKES A SOCIAL DRINK
WITH A 4CARNAN IN MONTREAL AND WAKES
UP AT CAPE TOWN TEN MONTHS AFTERwARD.
/ A telegram from Ottawa to the Toronto
papers gives the following ASA statement
made by Mr.. A. D. Fraser, long "miss-
ing" hardware merchant OF that city, de-
failing his adventures during an enforced
absence of over year:
uAs near as can remember, left. here
in Nav, tST6-my clerk says the 1st OF
June-for Montreal, to transact some busi,
ness. had with me about $500 IN cash and
a small valise with a change OF Slothing.
On arriving at Montreal / was asked by
man at what hotel was going to stop. l
renlied, sThe Montreal House, ana ne LOOK
INV baggage. subsequently saw Mr.. East
wood, who said he was going to the OttaWa
Hotel parted company with the last
named gentleman and walked toward the
Montreal Hotel 'bus, when Isaw the man
who had taken my baggage driving away
with ii. Having some doubt rs to his being
connected with the Montreal House, went
after him, and after following him through
couple OF streets caught up to MIN,
and asked him where he was gong. he
said. ITO the Montreal Hot1se,' and in an
other minute stopped before house which
on entering / found to be hotel. said,
Il suppose you think you have played
sbarp this time,' and at once told him to
take my baggage to the Montreal House.
He said this was the Montreal House. re-
peated my observation about playing sharp,
and asked him to have a. drink and then
take nv yalise to the hotel at which wished
to stop. He had drink, and l also took
one. which must have been drugged, as l
| remember nothing further than that sat
down on chair until I found myself laid
mn in a ward in the hospital at Cape Town.
I then discovered that / bad no money,
and that my watch and chain were gone.
How l got to Cape Town Is perfect
mystery to me. was told by those
who were taking care OF me that the
captain Of the vessel which brollght
me as far as Madeira wished: to land me
there, but that the authorities would not
allow him to do so, rs was wild ana had
no means OF support. Another captain
then offered to take charge OF me, and
brought me to Cape Town. 1t appears that
arrived there in December, 1876. but dld
not become conscious until Feoruafy ~,
1877, when [ felt as though / had 'lust
awakened out of a long sleep, and asked
where I was. l could not believe them
when they told me was in Cape Town, ,and
they thought for some time that l had not
recovered my senses. They told me that l
had spoken quite nationally before that; but
I il had had then no recollection OF it. l
had no idea of time until saw paper dated
1877, and when I asked the people what it
meant they again thought did not know
what was talking about. OF course had no
t,money, and the people who took care OF me
lJwere very kind and would not hear G. my
paying them. AS soon as was able to get
about l procured employment as book
keeper in the Government stores, and by
this means obtained funds to carry me to
London. Strange to say, on coming to my
senses at Cape Town / found that my vaise
was with me, and that my clothes had not
been disturbed, the clothes wore eyl-
IDENTIFY having been provided for me by
| some kind strangers. do not know any
thing about the. vessel which carried me
to Cape Town; the whole journey seems
like long sleep to me. L had earned
sufficient money to pay my passage
TO England, and sailed on the 9th OF
July last. bidding goodbye to those: who
had treuted me 80 kindly. or course there
were many who thought me an iDpostor,
and IL / had been left to their tender mer-
cies it is a question IL should be here now.
I arrived in England, after voyage OF al
most constant illness, ON the Oath Of Au.
gust, and receiving funds there which had
been forwarded by my friends to meet me,
sailed again from Liverpool on the 3Oth OF
August, reaching Quebec on Saturday. AL
though, as u matter OF course, I have seen
much since I left here over year ago,
have not profted by my travels, as the out
ward trip was dark blank to me, and the
homeward trip one Of almost continued
sickness. I do not know yet II any steps
will.be taken to discover who drugged me
at Montreal.N ~ = ------t-.'' - -. .--..,-