Morris tribune., 1886-01-06
9eIo1Uto Spt4ut,e.
Published Wednesdays.
Official Paper of Stevens County.
II. w. RANDALL,
Publisher.
FLORENCE RUGER'S FATE.
iMPENETRARLE MYSTERY OF A CHI
cAeo GIRLS DISAPPEARANCE.
0sae. Like the ''Baseless Fabric of .
vision''-BlOtted Out Ia an Hour-A
Most Remarkable Case of
3 - - .~ ssNSisssu~ss

7 SHICAG0, Jan. 4-ADou6 O'CLOCK
Wednesday evening, Oct z, Miss Florence
Rugef, daughter of State Senator Ruger,
left her home at 53i LoomiS street Two
hours later the search for her began. Officers
and detectives have been employed, and
anxious friends have contributed an earnest
zeal and their hsst efforts 10 the hunt, but
not ono trace ef the missing girl has been
found. Whsn- she ,clssed the door Of her
eorcs OF clews Of all kinds have been
diligently traced to their source, but each
and all Of these failed to result in any evi-
dence OF her whereabouts To this day she
has not been traced ten feet from tho door
Of her home ,--.
Thc night vas cold, dark, and cheerless
A drizziins rain was falling. Miss Ruger
had passed the evening at home in the usual
manner, !, and during the disagreeable
weather had not been out during the day.
At tho hour stated she went to q rear door,
stepped outside, and closed it behind her.
Thsact was sdone in the plain matter OF fact
manner which any one would uso when
doing anything usual, and ordinary little
things sbout their homes, and attracted no
attention Half IN heur later some member
Of the household casually inquired for her.
No, one knew where she was. She would be
in within few moments. An hour passed
and her absence was wondered at By IL
o'clock her prolonged. and unusual absence
caused some uneasiness About that time
Senator gSr 9 Zsra.urned home and the search
for ht r than begun
The o.. .~1 !" mt to South Halstead,
expecting to find his daughter at her uncle's
No one at the house had seen her or knew
any thing Of her whereabouts Then he, too.
became alarmed. The neighborhood Of her
home was searched, and the homes Of all OF
her friends living In the vicinity were Wis
ited. Net ene Of them had seen her. The
nigAt was q wrstched one In that once happy
hsssehoA, and many moro nights of wake
fainess aa4 sorrow were destined to follow
g. The next day the police were notified,
and. Joined By friends of the family, began
q systematic search of the city. Every clew
proved, when carefully followed, to be due
b mistaken identity or some similar error
TAe daily press gave publicity to the strange
affair, and press dispatches, giving the
nearly every city and town in the United
States
When she went out she wore neat plaid |
walking dress, with plated skirt and |
csst-sway waist made in imitation Of q |
jacket and vest She had on dark straw |
hs$ matching the dress. She wore no wrap
Or circular nor any ruhbers, neither did she |
have any handbag A Subsequent search
established the fact that she had taken no {
sshsr ficthss from hsr wardrobe. r.
MSs Flsrence Ruger was born In this |
caty March ., 1858, and was therefore be- |
bwssa ~ and Is years OF age. Her home |
had always been In this city. She was of |
medium height and had . we'll developed |
md rarely psrfecs figure Hsr complexion |
vass fair, aed bad hatypeach,like .dchcacy |
which is rare among city girls, Her hair
ms light brown in color, and her dark.biue |
,ye swefe lArs Q liquid and and fun Of tho /
oppression which accompanies a sweet and /
,russang disposition. OF happy tempera-
meat. ight-hearted and joyous, abe
vas tho light Of the home which
asneeforth :. will always be, darkened
" the mystery of ber faAe.
There are several features of this strange
,ass which are worthy Of meaticn ct this
;taaS Mis- Rugsr, bad lived on a Loomia
sEses Tor years She was known to nearly
.vssy snS In the vicinity It was almsst al,
for her to walk block In that
berAoed without meeting SOME person
whe knew her. Yet It is Clearly established
hat NO one saw her. Had she gene In car
'iags some persen would have seen it
Yet = none >, was = seen. Had she per-
saked In the lake or tho river her
sody nonM surely have bssn found before
bis tine: After studying the case in every
'spses and frorn every standpoint enc is
,Fought to the eonclusion that she must have
BED, and that her destA was due either to
uiciAs d. sviolenoe But this does not re.
aeve q Psftielss of tAs mystery nor make
be facts eny essierwo discovery. MiN
zuger wxsa Pdfs aud innocent girl, Of un-
lsval charms Of mind and person. Her
ate win, In all probability, never bs