The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-01-14
A CuIcAGo Girl ELopEs.

CHICAGO, January l1.--During the early part of
last September j T. O'Rourke, st. Louis lawyer,
left his wife and family in that city and came to
Chicago an ostensible business trip. While
here he called ON the family of Albert II. Larned,
and one afternoon took Miss Mary Larned, whom
he had known for some thine, for boat ride on
Lake Michigan. Until to-day, their whereabouts
have been profound mystery, and great many
people believed them to be sleeping in the bosom
of the lake. 1t was foggy evening when they em-
barked, and as they were never seen to return, 1t
was thought they became befogged drlfted out into
the lake and were run into by "a pro.
pellar or a tug. and drowned dhe boat
was found September Z, at the foot OF 63d street.
half-full of water, and with both oars missing.
This strengthened the superstition that the occu-
pants had perished Numerous theories were ad-
vanced as to the fate of the pair as there was not
enough wind on the lake the night they embarked,
to hurt racing she'll the idea of an elopement
gained currency. When the boat was found, she
was riding on her keel, and this led people to be-
lieve that its occupans had not been pitched into
the water But the idea that they had run away
was secuted by the relatives and friends ot the
missing coaple They, and many others claimed
they would be picked up by some passing vessel.
They were finally given up as dead The public
statement is made to-day that the boat In which Mr.
ORourke and Miss Larned embarked was not cap
sized and that the couple after rowing the lake
until dusk lanedd safely the pier at the foot OF
39th street The craft was set adrift and the twain
walked to the Oakland station, boarded one OF the
Illinois Central suburban trains and rode down
Arriving at the Michigan Central depot they took
the night train and went to Detroit. They obtained
rooms at hotel, hut as O'Rourke was short of
money they subsequently moved to cheap lodgings
in "a modest part of the city. As O'Rourkes purse
was rapidly becoming empty he began to look
around for employment Finally he found work
az porter in a dry goods store, on small salary.
Miss Larned kept house, and, under an assumed
name they lived together in one room as man and
wife for nearly four months. firing finally, ~
the result of his intrigue with Miss Larned,
| O'Rourke it is declared, indicted an anonym ons
letter. in disguised hand, to his deserted wife The
| letter stated that her husband and Miss Larned
we're living in Detroit. Wh9n Mrs. O'Ronrke re.
ceived the epstle, she immesiately communicated
with the betrayed girls father The latter at once
employed detective who went To Detroit and
finally located the pair. The girl was only
too happy to return to. the shelter OF
her parents home even though a cloud did hang
over It, The officer confronted the girl when
O Rourke was absent, and she was taken to
Windsor, Canada, TO await the arrival OF hel
father Before leaving her quandom home she leil
| a note for ORourke, stating her intentiOn OF r.
| turning home. The father found his daughter o.
Windsor and on Saturday, January o. they arrived
in Chicago, and the girl is again under the care 81
| her mother.
| O'Rourke, on returning to his roOm found Miss
Larned had flown. Upon receiving letter IRON
the wife he deserted, saying she would forgive him
| he took the train for Kirkwood, Mo-, and Is again
with his family.
Miss Larned is good-looking blonde, 20 years d
ace, medium size, with well rounded figure, and
always dressed handsomely and with taste