Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-14
ABSENT FOR MONTHS
Gus L. 0tterson's Description
of His Wanderings.
WHILE SICK FROM DRINK
he Went Alone From New York Clear
Across the Continent,
TURNING UP In SAN FRANCISCO.
There He Again Became Ill and Tempo
rarily Deranged.
WHILE SICK FROM DRINK
TURNING UP IN SAN FRANCISCO.
HOW he WAS INDUCED TO RETURN

hereabouts of late. In q number of in
stances the missing men have turned up
after awhile, with more or less plausible
reasons for their sudden vanishing from
home and business haunts, but there are
several cases which vet remain mysterious.
One of these, though, The DISPATCH is
able to-day to clear up in an authoritative
manner.
Early last fall the residents of Allegheny
were startled by the publication of the fact
that Gus L. Otterson, who had been associ-
ated with Harry Swindell in the wall paper
business on Federal street, had disappeared,
and no one seemed to know what had be-
come of him. He left the city to go to New
York on business for the firm. About two
weeks after his departure he was tele-
graphed to that member of his family had
taken quite i'll, but no answer came, and
soon many storiesswere in circulation. New
York detectives were engaged to look him
up, but no trace of him could be found.
THEORIES AND RUMoRS.
The theory was advanced that he had
been made away with, but his friends here
did not credit that story and said he would
return. Since that time it has been rumored
frequently that he was coming home, but
those in a position to know denied these
rumors.
On Friday, April 4, Mr.. Otterson arrived
at the Union depot and went direct to his
home on Observatory Hill, Allegheny.
That day call was made at the house by a
reporter of The DISPATCH, who was met
at the door by Mrs. 0tterson. On inquiry
being made for Mr.. Otterson the lady said
he was at home, but was net prepared Just
then to make statement. By special ap-
pointment a DISPATCH reporter called
again yesterday, when Mr.. Otterson was
pleased to make the following statement:
II left Allegheny City on the morning of
August Is, going to New York on business
1t was about o'clock when left the Union
depot, taking an Allegheny Valley train to
Buffalo. 1 arrived at Buffalo that evening,
and stopped there for the night Early the
next morning 1 started for New York, and
on nv arrival there l went to the Earle
Hotel, registering in my own name. L went
to that hotel because l was acquainted there,
having stopped there before. That evening
went to the depot and met Miss Lizzie
Inner, our bookkeepr, and Miss Ida Ruff,
having told them before left the city that
if they reached there on that day 1 would
show them around the city. They went to
the hotel with me.
TAKEN ILL IN NEW YORK.
81 had been drinking quite hard from the
time left home. That night 1 took sick.
and about midnight the manager of the
hotel sent for physician; on his arrival he
ax-a r1raSoriOfIop xrh1nh T had TIlad
and he also gave me four injections of
morphine. The doctor said my sickness
was the result of heavy drinking. Holm
was the name of the physician who attended
me. Miss Immer and Miss Ruff left New
York on Thursday evening.
81 was i'll at the hotel Wednesday night,
Thursday and Thursday night. Friday
morning felt some better, and took to
drinking again, and that morning bought
ticket and left for Chicago On my arriving
in Chicago purchased ticket for San
Francisco. 1 remember crossing from one
side OF Chicago to the other in bus, and
think l laid over there about five hours.
then went direct to San Francisco, arriy-
ing there on lie night OF August 81; that
night ran around some with a couule of
gentlemen / had met on the train, one of
whom was dentist. He took me to the
Hammond baths, as he said that would do
drinking &C ntInually. / did not know 1
crossed on ferry before going into San
Francisco-that shows the condition in
which l was.
'After taking the bath 1 went to the
Palace Hotel, registering in my own name,
where 1 remained two days, then left
for Monterey, putting up at the Ho-
tel del Monte, where my name ap-
pears on the register. 1 remained there
H. Al.
to Sandecoo, stopping there one day and
one night and on leaving there L went to
Sacramento. There was an excursion around
that way, and was one of the party. /
remained in Sacramento one day, and then
returned to San Francisco.
SICK IN THE FAR WEST.
"Ou arriving at San Francisco L again
went to the Palace Hotel, and was then
taken down sick. was quite i'll for six
days, under the doctors care, DR.. Dennis
being the name of the physician who at
tended me. While recovering from nv sick
ness-and, in fact, during all the time lay
at the hotel-I suffered terribly in both
mind and body. For davs at a time
everything would seem a blank to me,
and when | was finally able to get
up, and my mind cleared to some extent, 1
began to wonder where l was and what had
transpired. | had frequently heard of per-
sons becomin temporarily deranged. and
terrible things they would do while in that
condition, but never had the thought en-
tered my head of how terrible their suffer-
ings must have been. Surely nobody is
able to understand how one in that cOndi-
tion suffers. From the time 1 left New
York l must have been in this condition,
and evidently knew nothing of where 1 was
going or what would finally become of me.
when l LETT Pittsburg l had with me
about S400, and after recovering from my
sickness found myself in debt about S150
This was tor MOTEL bills, the physician, and
my nurse. If L had had the money would
have returned Immediately to this city. As
soon as was able / started out, very much
discouraged and down bearted 10 look for
work. l secured a situation and went to
work on Wednesday morning, for G. W.
Clark & Co., at my trade-paper hanging
and decorating. l was in their employ un-
til about February 25. They had in the
neighborhood of As men working for them,
with most of whom 1 became acquainted, |
and all of whom knew me by my own name,
showing you that 1 did not attempt to con-
ceal my identity.
SEEMS SINGULAR TO HIM.
''It seems singular to me that if such |
strenuous efforts we're made to find me they |
were without success. During nv stay in |
California the Journal, our trade paper, had |
an account of my being there, and, beside, 1 |
met quite number OF persons whom 1 |
knew. from the East.
About this time, one morning while at |
breakfast, and feeling exceedingly down.
hearted, noticed among the hotel arrivals |
the names of George Price and wife, OF Allie |
gheny City. / went to the Office and asked |
leave of absence that day, and about 9 |