Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-23
MYSTERIOUSLY LOST.
People Who Are Suddenly Swal-
lowed Up By City Streets.
They Go Out for a Walk or Call. or Star
on Journey and Are Never Heard
from Again-SOme Prominent
Missing People.
IN. Y. Cor. Philadelphia Press.1

IN. Y. Cor. Philadelphia Press
The strange disappearance of Mr. Fred
erick r. Nourse treasurer of the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company, is not
likely to remain long unexplained, but
there are scores of such cases reported To
the police every year which are never
fathomed
The disappearance of Alexander F.
Oakley is one of those mysteries. He was
young man of good family and education,
and had made reputation as an artist and
designer. He was well known in art circles
in this city, and was frequent contributor
to Harper's Weekly and Magazine After
protracted tour of study abroad, Oakley re-
turned to this country and married the
daughter of ex-senator Sprague, of Buffalo.
He settled in New York, where his art work
and architectural designs procured him
good income. During the afternoon of
September 81, last, he was seen at his
apartments at the Baltimore Flats, on
Fortieth street Shortly before six O'Clock
he took his light overcoat and iefS the
house. and since then has never been seen
nor heard from. Search was at once insti-
tuted, but no trace of the missing artist
was ever found. No reason could be found
for his committing suicide, and his family
relations were ofthe post happy nature
As imilar case occurred at Syracuse n.
Y, exactly two months after Oakey's dis
appearance. William NJ. Rapalje. a we'll
known artist and architect of this city, was
missed from his home on November q. He
was twenty-one years old, and, like Oakley,
had studied and travelled extensively. He
was a member of the firm of Rapalje &
Candee, architects. On the day of his dis
appearance he attended to his business as
usual and left the office to go to the hotel
where he was boarding, few blocks away.
Since then nothing has been seen or heard
of him. No cause can be given for his dis
appearance, as both his business and social
relations were agreeable.
Another case which has not before been
made public is that of young Thomas W.
Fisher, son of Thomas J. Fisher, a promi-
nent real estate broker at Washington.
For some time young Fisher, who was in
partnership with his father, has been at
tentive to a well-known Baltimore belle.
1t was his custom in the evening after bust
ness hours to take the fast express TO Balti-
more and spend the evening with the young
lady, returning home at midnight. The
young people were engaged, and Fisher
spent all his spare time at her home.
One evening in the latter part Of July
young Fisher went as usual to call upon
his intended bride. During mis- stay
trivial dispute arose, and the young lady
in a moment of pique declared the engage
ment broken off Fisher left the house
without q word and wandered about the
streets for some time. Finally he took a
train for New York, and the next morning
he wrote to the young lady apologizing for
his rudeness and begging an answer at
once. The letter was received, but the
person addressed determined to punish her
lover, and no notice was taken of the apol-
ogv. When the next day failed to bring a
reply Fisher left New York and went to
Albany. Here he again wrote letter TO
Baltimore, but this time in Ear different
tone He said that he would burden her
no longer with his addresses and ended by
declaring his intention TO end his life, The
earnestness OF this letter and the deter
mination it contained alarmed the young
lady and she immediately wrote letter
confessinc her foolish attempt at disci-
pine At the same time she sent the young
mans letter to lis father, who hurried 10
Albany in time to find that his son had
gone before receiving the young lady's
note OF explanation.
Every effort was made TO find the younE
man, but from the time ne left the hotel
steps at Albanr no trace could be found
Again the detectives professed 70 hare
tracked him 70 this city, but 70 10 avail
a thorough search was made OF ali bodies
at the morgue. The police authorities of
the large cities were autographed, and every
effort was made that could be thought of.
but for months no tidings Of the missing
man have been received and his name Is
written down with those Of Oakley and
Rapalje.
Many other disapPearances have oc-
CURED recently. The strange disappear
aace of S, s. Conant is still fresh IN every
ones mind He was the managing editor
Of EG-p-r's Weekly. and known personally
TO thousands OF people throughout this
State. On January ID lSsS, he left his
Office on his way 70 his hons. and bas
never been heard OF since A few months
IN <{ot< 81