The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-01-28
MYSTERIOUS Disappearance

other, recording the mysterious disappearance
in widely separated localities of two well-known
citizens from the communities in which they
respectively resided. They had, according to
account. been absent from their homes for more
than a month, their whereabouts entirely I'M
known to any of their acquaintance; and the
most careful and extended Investigations has
thus far failed to show any cause for their
strange absence or by what means it was pro-
cured. These disappearances-the sudden and
complete blotting out from the social and bust
ness worlds of some one or more of the individu-
ais who move therein-are more frequent than
the people at large are generally aware OF
Doubtless many instances are kept concealed
from the public for fear that an investigation
might possibly develop some scandal that 1T
were better to keep secret; and therefore, in
spite of the well-known enterprise and pertlnac-
ity of the press when searching for news, only
the cases which, by reason of the prominence OF
the persons involved, cannot be hidden, are dis
covered Be this as it may, the subject is one
fate of those whose occultations are noted, and
also one of wonderment when the facility with
which individuals occasionally pass from mortal
view, is considered
While writing we recall an instance of a mys-
terious disappearance that occurred many years
ago-some considerable time before the war
which illustrates how completely human being
may drop out of existence, leaving no track Or
trace behind According to the published &C
count prominent business man of New York
CITY. whose name is forgotten, but whom we will
call B was at the Astor House about eleven
o'clock in the day where he met and conyersed
with several of his friends. At a quarter to
twelve he was met by an acquaintance on the
southwest corner of Broadway and Canal, and
Just as the bells were striking the hour of noon
he babe his friend good day." and turned down
the latter street.
The gentleman he had left remained upon the
corner for perhaps five minutes, when an ae-
quaintance came up Canal and incidentally
mentioned that he was going to BIS Office.
" Why, he left me just now," said the other.
" You should have met him" Both gentlemen
then turned and walked in the direction B
had taken, but saw nothing of him. They met
several mutual acquaintance who had been on
the street for at least half or three-quarters of
an hour, and who knew the missing man init
mately, but neither of them had seen him.
The next day, B not having returned home,
his family, alarmed at his prolonged absence for
he was exceedingly domestic in his habits, in
stituted search to ascertain what had become
of him. Detectives, the best on the force, were
called in; but every effort proved unavailing
They found probably fifty or more persons who
had either spoken with or seen him between the
hours of eleven and twelve, but from the moment
light of day. he disappeared, and forever from
sight and knowledge of all who had known him.
He has never been heard of from that day to
this His fate is altogether unknown.
Those who did see him testified that he was
in excellent spirits; that his bodily health was
to all appearances perfect-he was in the very
prime Of lfe-and that his mental condition
was, so far as they could judge, unimpaired He
was in easy financial circumstances out Of debt,
his business affairs were found to be all straight
and prosperous, he was correct in all his habits,
and his family and social relations were of the
best. There was absolutely no conceivable reason
why he should voluntarily leave his home; nor
could the view that he had been foully dealt
with seemingly be sustained on any reasonable
hypothesis Canal street, especially at the hour
when he disappeared, was busy thoroughfare,
continually thronged by vast multitude Of
people, many of whom knew him WELL at least
by sight, as his business frequently took him
along that route He was plainly dressed, and,
rs it was shown, never carried much money with
him, and wore little jewelry and that Of small
value. He never drank, except rarely and spar
ngly when with a party of friends, and in view
Of all these facts it was hard to conceive that
ne had been inveigled into some vile resort and
made away with for the valuables he might have
IN his person.
1t was equally difficult to suppose that he had
oeen murdered from motives of revenge or in
he heat of passion by some person who had
succeeded in subsequently concealing his body |
He was a peaceable man, of kindly heart, and