New-York tribune., 1885-02-09
HUNTING FOR THE MISSING NAN.
TRACED AWAY FROM GRAvESEND.

STRANGE CONDUCT AMONG 1HE SHOPS on TnF
BEACH-A WATCH IDENIITiED.
Visitors to Coney Island at this time of tho year
are few and far between, so that party OF three
Young men who stepped oil the early tram yeSter-
dav morning attracted the attention of the loiter
ing natives When the purpose OF their visit De-
came known that attention was redoubcd. The
visitors were Thomas Conant, son OF the
missing editor of Harpr's Woclly, and
two of his friends who had como down
to follow up the clew afforded by Mr.. Dixon, the
facts about which were printed in yesterdays
TRIBUNE. Mr.. Dixon is the proprietor OF the
restaurant which stands but few yards west OF
the Hotel Brighton and on Wednesday, January
81 his barkeeper advanced a mar answering TO
Mr.. Conant's description So on the security of his
watch and chain. AS soon as he heard that hr
Conant was missing Mr Dixon says he went to the
BROOKLYN police at the Washington Street station,
and told them that he thought he had harbored the
missing man for several hours. According to his
account the utmost apathy was shown by the
officials, who at first said that no such man
was missing, that if he was they knew nothing
about it. Mr.. Dixon gave no further thought to
the matter until his attention called on SatuI
day to d portrait of Mr.. Conant published in All IL
lustrated paper. Then he knew he was right and
mt himself at once into communication with the
missing mans family, who recognized the hand
writing on the receipt for the watch copy OF
which had been left with the barkeeper.
The first act Of the searching party was to visit
Mr.. DxOn's restaurant and question the barkeeper.
The watch and chain were at once identified by
veupp Conant for the watch his own lent to his
father while the latters watch was beng repair
ed. The bartenders story was that Mr.. Conant, Tor
there was now doubt as to his identity, had come
into the restaurant on Tuesday afternoon and
a,tfr and dr htnn
a glass of beer. The next morning the boy saw him
in one of the shelter hus at the foot OF the Boule
ward, where he had apparently passed the night
He came into the restaurant later asking for drink
of water and afterw ard nquring if he could sleep
there that night This he was told would not be
possible for the lad thought the mans actions
peculiar. He was advised to 60 to Baeders, on
the Boulevard. Then II was that he requested the
money TO be lent to him on the security OF his
watch and chain, and nothing moro was seen of him
by the people at Dixon's. At Baeder's he had not
The the Hotel wa,
certain that he has been in there and cbatted for
hour or two, his actions being natural and uncon-
strained.
As this was the last definite information to be OBJ
tanned at that time the party, reinforced by
western portion OF the Island. Every bathing
pavilion was carefully searched for 1t was thought
tlat nc Dlgut uSNc iHto oic VI tucn
shelter Every house aud every hshermans hut
was visited and the occupants closely Questioned
sand dunes were thoroughly examined but no
trace was como upon. 1t had been determined to
have the meadows between the beach and Sleeps
na,na when two of the party hap
pened to stray into the liquor-store kept by
BENJAMIN Cohen situated close TO the station OF
Gnnther;s Railroad. The proprietOrs brother, who
lives there during the winter months supplied at
last the missing link. On Wednesday, January .in
2I. he said, man came into his place ana sat tners
deciding that it was too chilly to walk on the beach
as he had intended. Tho day after ne came e.m 1n
again and after talking at length Win sarn;lv
supper snp er' He said his name was Conant and
that he was connected with Hdrpers
RrootIvn. and Mr. Cohen thought no more of 1t un-
ri he read the accounts of Mr. Conants disappear.