Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-07
BELL-BOY In LUCK.
He Has a Fortune of $4,000
for Certain,
DISCOVERS A LONG-LOST MOTHER.

Together with an Alleged Father Whom
the M other Never Met in Her Life, and
an Aunt Whom He Doesn't Remem-
berthe Strange Dilemma of Harry
Fersus on at Chicago-Claimed as Son
by Two People Entire Strangers to
Each Other.
CHICAGO, March Recently Harry j.
Ferguson, a bell-b boy at the Hotel Bruins
wick in this city, has become heir to a for
tune of $4,000. When about years old
the lad vas kidnapped from home, carried
20 strange place, finally put in an orphan
asylum, and from that institution taken
oy Monmouth, Ills, farmer, in whose
family he remained until few weeks ago,
when he ran away and came to Chicago
He had been told by the farmer who
adopted him that his relatives lived in
New York state, and by advertising he
managed to secure word from Lawyer An
drews in Canandaigua, n. Y, who in
formed him that he was co-heir to for
father, August j. Ferguson, who, how
ever, had since died.
An Alleged Mother Appears.
But the strangest part of the story was
brought TO the attention of Lieut. Ripley
Thursday afternoon. Early in the morn
ing a handsome, well dressed woman
walked into the Brunwick hotel on
Michigan avenue and asked for Harry
Ferguson, the bell-boy.
"Why do you want to see himsn she was
asked.
IL see BY the paper" returned the lady,
shat he has come to Chicago and that it
has been discovered that he iuherits a
large fortune am his mother and am
sure l shall know him the moment see
him."
The lad happened to be in an adjoining
room with a number of other lads at the
time. The mysterious lady was taken be-
fore the group. Almost without hestita-
ton she picked out young Ferguson as her
boy.
The Lad in Some Doubt.
Young Ferguson was not at first en-.
thusiastic over the meeting. He was evil
IDENTIFY inclined to doubt that the woman
was really his mother. II seem to remem-
Der having seen you somewhere before"
he replied, when she asked him if
DE would not recognize her as his
mother. "Your face is strangely ia
miliar, but it doesn't seem TO me down in
my heart as if you were nv mother. l
have always thought if l should ever meet
my mother there would be something
that would tell me in moment who she
was" He concluded to consult detectives
before he decided the matter in his own
mind, and two officers were detailed to
work it up.
Mrs. Norton's Narrative.
The mysterious lady who claimed to
have found her long-lost son had given
her address in a stylish quarter on Michi-
gan avenue, and to her house the detec-
tives went Clerk Haussman was closet
I'd with the lady until late hour and
got complete story from her She told
him that her name was Mrs Norton, and
that she had secured divorce from her
first husband, August J. Ferguson. in
New York state, and had then moved to
Chicago, where she married Norton who.
however. has since died She was positive.
she declared, that young Ferguson was
her son. Clerk Haussman says: "The
woman described certain scars and marks
on the boys body. and when we came TO
examine him they were just as she had
said"
Now Here Comes a Father.
But more surprises were in store for the
bell boy Yesterday morning his father
appearei-not the one who died in New
York, but j ohm A. d. Ducastel Mr.. Du-
castel is a Frenchman. He lives at 497
Wabash avenue, and is foreman of the
carriage factory two blocks north of that
number. Harry gave him an audience in
the parlor: "Zat is my boy" said Du-
castel. "Ze same boy lose four yaire ago.
l can not be mistaken. nevaire" The
Frenchman said his boy disappeared from
home four years ago, and he was sure
Harry was his son. Harry was just as
sure he was not
Also an Aunt.
The third in the procession of rela tives
was a woman who claimed to be Harry's
aunt She, like Mrs. Norton, described
marks on the boys body and told stories
of his prattling days. She also declared
Mrs. Norton to be Harry's mother. The
boy didn't remember the aunt. He once
more appealed to the detectives and an
other invest cation was started yesterday
afternoon soon after the aunt's visit, and
the boy and officers are now awaiting the
next claimant Tor kinship with young
ster who has $780, 900