The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-01-14
PROBABLY DEAD.
The Queer Actions OF a Stranger
About Palatka.

The Queer Actions OF a Stranger
About Palatka.
A few drys since a young man by the
name of r. 81. Small, who is represented
as trusty employe Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, arrived in this city
accompanied by his bride, whom he had
married only few weeks since. They
registered at the Saratoga Hotel, but
soon left for a short visit to Crescent
City, returning to this city last Thurs
day. and resuming their old quarters at
the Saratoga. Friday Mr.. Small procur-
ed a buggy at the Gem City Stable, stat
ing that he wanted to go out in the
country hunting. Nothing strange was
noted in his condition, but failing to re-
turn with the buggy, inquiries were
made as to his whereabouts when it was
found that he had been out about eigh-
teen miles from the city. In his long
drive through the woods he lost the bug
gySthe lap robe and the harness, and
when found was leading the horse.
On making inquiries it was learned
that he had been acting rather peculiar
at his hone, and by the advice OF his
physicians, who said his mental trouble
was the result of overwork, he came to
Florida. hoping the trip would benefit
him. Instead, however, he grew worse,
his mania seeming to be for hurting. On
Sunday the proprietor of the livery sta
BILE sent men out with him to hunt the
buggy, but he could not tell where he
had been, and they had to return to the
city with him and the buggy has not
been found yet.
Tuesday Mr.. Small again left the no.
tel, taking his gun, and procuring small
boat, rowed out on the bay, where he was
capsized in the bitter cold weather. He
was rescued and brought back to his no
tel. and after getting on dry clothes he
again went out with his gun. Coin G
out River street, he broke the sail boa,
of Messrs. Mooney and Merryday from
her mornings. and with the oars pulled
across the bay, running the boat aground
on the other side in the swamp. Missing
their boat Messrs. Mooney and Merry
| day, with several others, went in search
of it, finding it az above described. They
| found several shells in the boat, loaded
with powder and shot mixed together
| but at that time, abnut nine o'clock a
| night, they saw nothing of Mr.. Small.
Yesterday Capt. j. E. Lucas searched
the river bank for some distance in search
| of Mr.. Small, and other parties went ov
or in sm all boats to search for him in thu
| swamp, but he was not found nor any
| thing heard Of him up to a late hour las
| night. The superstition is that he lef
the boat when it ran aground and wan
dered of in the swamp. where he prob
ably persisted from exhaustion and cold
1t is barely possible that he got through
the swamp and into the woods, and ma.
| yet be found wandering about.
| But little could be learned Of Mr.
Small here. further than the fact that h
stood very high in the estimation OF tn
Baltimore & Ohio railroad managers, an,
that he had letters and passes from Pres
ident Garrett. His young wife is in dee
distress, and has telegraphed for her hus
Much sympathy is expressed for her b.
the guests of the hotel; and every thin
possible is being done for her comfort
but the fact Of her husbands probabl
death has so far been kept from her.