The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
a ST. JOE RIVER MYSTERY.
What a Young Lady Says She Saw Re-
Gently Near Fort Wayne.
fFort Wayne Gazette


Broadway, will be remembered by several
of the people of this city.
One Sunday night about twelve months
ago he left his parents, telling them he
was going for stroll, and never returned.
Hours passed into days, days into weeks,
weeks into months, and yet no trace OF
the missing youth can be obtained, and
only three weeks ago the missing mans
aged father, broken down by the weight
of mingled anxiety and woe, was conveyed
to his last resting place at Underwood,
followed to his grave by a large number
of sorrowing friends.
Sellers, ir., was handsome young TEL
low, with dark curling hair and eyes black
as sloes, besides he was adept IN every
manly sport, and withal a merry and
obliging fellow. Little wonder then that
he was popular among his companions
and liked by everyone, especially the
young ladies OF his acquaintance. As be-
fore stated, no possible clew could be OBJ
tanned as to his whereabouts, or as to the
reasons OF his disappearance, and in con-
versatiOn the chief Of police said that
though every possible effort had been
made to find him and two or three OF the
keenest detectives in the United States had
been employed at great expense they had
been unsuccessful in their search.
However, one of the detectives had in
formed the chief that on inquiry OF the
boatman at the French brewery he had
been told that young man answering to
the description of the missing youth had
hired a boat that Sunday evening with
the expressed intention to row up to the
island and back. This was no solution of
the mystery, for the boatman said that
the same young man returned with the
boat after an absence OF about an hour,
paid for his hire, and wishing him good
night, went off in the direction of the
city. From that time to the present mo-
ment nothing has been seen or heard of
him in the flesh. At the time OF his dis
appearance the young man was paying
his addresses to a Miss Morgan, who re-
sides at 81 Breckenridge-st. For long
time this young lady mourned in seclu-
sion his uncertain fate, but as the months
rolled on she thought less and less of
the absent youth, and up till lately went
out as usual and enjoyed herself with
several young ladies of her acquaintance.
Miss Morgan, accompanied by two other
young ladies', well acquainted locally, and
an equally well-knOwn young man, went
on a trip up the ST. Joe river Sunday
evening last Laughing and joking, sing
ing snatehes OF merry songs to the dip
ping of the oars, the party were thorough
" ENJOYING themselves, when all at once
one of the young ladies put this question
to the others:
Il wonder what became of Harry Sell
lers? 1t is about a year ago tonight since
he disappeared" Miss Morgan did not
answer, but sat still as a statue, and the
rover ceased pulling at his oars. The
moon was dipping every now and again
behind bank of clouds, anon shrouding
the scenery with her silvery sheen, and
again all was shadow and gloom. Within
twenty yards of the boat wherein they
sat was the island.
The face of Miss Morgan suddenly be-
came fixed and set, an ashy palor spread
over her features, and look of awful fear
was in her eyes Suddenly with shrek she
started up. Harry, Harry, there, there,
see him it is Harry Sellers" And it was
with great difficulty that the only male
occupant of the boat could prevent the
thoroughly terrified girl from jumping out
of the boat in the direction in which she
pointed with extended finger. She stood
for moment struggling to free herself
from the restraining grasp of her friend,
and then with a sigh of relief saying
He's gone, he's gone" sank down in
faint to the bottom of the boat.
Another of the young ladies was so
frightened at the unexpected occurrence
that she too, tainted, aud il was only by
dint of the male occupants calming words
to the third that she was prevented from
going into Mysteries. The boat was
quickly turned about and headed for the
~ IN, bic 1.fo IA kho
young man, as he said, row so hard as l
did upon that return trip" The cooling
breeze of the river soon brought the one
young lady round and she nervously
laughed when told that she had been
frightened over nothing into faint. Miss
Morgan, however, had to be carried by
the boatman to the street car. She ap-
peared TO be in a kind of stupor, and
every now and again she would sigh forth
the name of Harry.
On reaching her home on Breckenridge
St, she was ut once put to bed and a ply
stefan summoned, who stated the patient
was undoubtedly suffering from a severe
shock TO the nervous system. He recon-
mended rest, and left soothing potion
which was TO be given to the lady every
two hours. Yesterday, upon inquiry at
the residence, a reporter learned that she
had somewhat recovered, and was willing
to speak upon what she had seen. Miss
Morgan is a brunette, of light physique,
and as she spoke of the affair tears welled
up to her eyes, and sobs choked her utter
ance.
'It was about 80 O'clock" she said,
"when we reached the island. l was
looking at clump of bushes at the end
nearest the brewery when all at once
saw the figure of young man standing
near the edge with his hands raised above
his head as if just going to dive into the
| water. At first / believed that it really
was young man, and was about to turn
away when the moon, shining out from
| behind the clouds showed distinctly the
face of the figure.
at was the face of Harry Sellers, the
young man who disappeared about year
ago. Still l thought l might have been
mistaken, and looked again. | saw the
| figure jump into the water, but there was
no splash or noise, and as it sank into the
water it raised one hand and beckoned
me-"
NO." Miss Morgan replied in answer to
a question, 81 do not believe in ghosts,
| but | am sure that what / saw was the
form of Harry Sellers"
The reporter inquired of the other par
| ties who were in the boat at the same
time if they, too, had heard or seen any
thing of the apparition, but all, including
the young lady who tainted at the same
time as Miss Morgan, said that they had
not.