The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-06-27

The mysterious disappearance of
Stillman S. Conant has naturally
drawn attention to disappearances of
that kind in this community. They
have been so startlingly frequent here
of late that numberless wives are ner-
vous on the subject, fearing every
morning when their husbands go away
they may not return. This refers, of
course, to such women as are harmoni-
ously married. One instance, if prom
inent and published, appears to produce
others, and such an effect is applicable
by cerebral laws. Mysterious disap-
pearances have been a feature of the
winter. There have been scores of
them since the LIST of December, but
only few have attracted any notice
because they have concerned persons
of some consequence. Men and women
disappear here almost every day, but
being in the lowest walks of life, their
names do not even get into the news
papers. 1t is hard to imagine that
people so poor and forlorn exist, but
there are thousands of them in this
city. Their destiny is little better than
that of beasts. They toll and starve
and perish, and hardly any one knows
or cares when they pass away. Help
less, hopeless, friendless-why were
they ever born?
1t is extraordinary how many per-
sons of position, character and influ-
ence disappear. Their disappearance
creates commotion at first; the news
papers are full of it for day or two.
Then some other, perhaps a greater
sensation, arises, and the disappearance
slips out of the public mind. Stillman
Commits case is very singular. Being
journalist, a club man, and having a
host of friends and acquaintances,
the newspapers have printed much
concerning him. But the dyna-
mite explosion in Grand street and the
attempt to kill O'Donovan Rosa threw
the Conant incident into the shade. If
you should inquire next month, ''What
do you suppose became of Conant?n
the average citizen would remark:
"Conant-who is hep"
twenty-five years ago the husband
of lady, now widely known as an
author and editor, went out to lunch
con from-his Office in lower Broadway,
expecting to return in half an hour,
and was never seen again alive. Not
the least trace of him could be found,
although the police and detectives la
bored for months on the case. The
moment he reached the street he
seemed to be swallowed up, as if the
earth had opened and gulped him
down. A good while after, his body
was discovered in the bay; it would not
have been recognized but for certain
papers on his person. Whether he had
committed suicide or fallen into the
water and been drowned, or robbed
and thrown into the river, nobody
could tell. There were various theories
on the subject, though none of them
were satisfactory. We refrain from
mentioning names. The bereaved lady
is still a widow, and still laments her
loss.
The husband of another literary
woman, Mrs. Margaret E. Sangster,
disappeared from Brooklyn fifteen
years ago, and the mystery has never
been dispelled. He had been suffering
from headache-it was the evening Of
July 4-anu Jne noise OIL HFe-CFdckerS,
pistols and small arms disturbed him
sorely. He said, the weather being
hot, that he would go out on the stooT
for breath of fresh air. The houl
was nine, and he had on dressing
gown, which was enough, one might
think, to distinguish him any
where. He did not expect tc
leave the stoop. But where hi
went or what became of him continues
to be a dead secret. Inquiry, search
rigorous investigation were fruitless
Not the slightest intimation of his fat'
has ever been received. He. too, wa
a lawyer, a man of contented DISPOSE
tion.. the soundest sense, vigorous
health and perfect balance. He wa
devoted to his wife and had every rea
son to enjoy and preserve his life |
is hardly possible to construct theor,
that will explain this case, which is on
of the strangest on record. To disap
pear eternally and untraceably from
doorsteps in crowded street early il
the evening, within the shadow of one
OVID home, and in such gaBb as any