The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-19
AFTER MANY YEARS.
Christina DOhring Is Reunited
With Her Family.
Abducted Sixteen Years Ago-Learns of Pa
rents Existence by Chsnee-Returns to
Find Her Mother Dead.

Cluu aeT mULutE U6au.
Abducted at the age of 10 years from her
home in Scranton, Pa, by woman who
had the reputation Of being a witch;
nomadic existence for five years while
drifting westward; eleven years in San
Francisco, mourned as being dead by her
parents; chance acquaintance with in
formation concerning her girlhood'S home
and her parents, and q journey across the
continent, only to see her mothers body
borne to its last resting place. is the story
OF Mrs. Charles DohTipg, who until re-
Gently resided on Clementina street, near
Third.
Mrs. behring's maiden name was Chris
tina ReuichIer, and She lived with her par
ents on Ward street in Scranton, locality
inhabited by large German element of the
town and by a number of those queer char
acters who make their existence in an I'M
known manner
OF this Aforementioned class was a woman
named Anna Drummond, who sold fancy
work, acted frequently in the capacity Of
midwife for the supplemented folk al ..-9t
neighborhOOd, performed cures with simple
herb remedies, with which she appeared so
well acquainted that she came eventually to
pear the reputation OIL DeluG Il WHICH,
WON THE CHILD's AFFECTION.
She was attracted 10 the child Christina
and then became deeply attached, showing
her affection by making presents 10 the child
very frequently until she won the little
ones affection in return.
Her actions excited no great amount of
comment, but one day the child was missed
by her parents and search was made in
every direction but without avail; then it
was discovered that the witch" Anna
Drummoud, was also missing.
The parents were frantic and made every
effort possible with their very limited means
10 discover the whereabouts OF their child.
Had The earth opened and swallowed her,
her disappearance could not have been more
cOmDete.
This was the result Of the Drummond
womaD's intelligence and knowledge of the
ways Of the police. Approaching the fact
that in large city she might possibly be
recognized, imprisoned for kidnapping and
lose the child she had assumed so much risk
10 possess, she lodged the large commercial
centers of the country aud slowly worked
her way through small towns and villages,
but always in a westwardly direction.
She supported herself and the child in the
same manner in which she had formerly
supported herself in Scranton; her pro
gress was consequently very slow, and five
years had elapsed since the abduction be-
fore she arrived IN San Francisco. Christina
being then Is years of age.
HER HOME ALMOST FORGOTTEN.
Anna Drummond, who was quite an in
telngent and well educated woman, spared
no pains TO increase her influence over the
child she had stolen, and by the time the
two arrived here the desire 10 return to her
childhoCd's home had been almost obliter-
ated from Christmas mind, while her par
entS, having never heard from her since her
disappearance, mourned for her as one
dead.
and Christmas adopted mother commenced
TO ply her former vocation, using Christine
as her assistant, and while she did not nc
cumulate any money, she managed to sup
port herself and the now well grown girl in
comparative comfort. In this way five
years more passed away without Christina 5
hearing from her old home. she finally ar
irving at the conclusion that her parents
had died. and looked upon her abductress as
her mother, having been taught to adopt
her name.
About the end of the five years OF her
residence in San Francisco she became al
most the sole support for the two, as Anna
Drummond's sight failed her, or AT least she
claimed that 1t did, for there are some per-
sons who believed she was shammiug for
what purpose no one can tell.
FALLS N LOVE AND MARRIEs.
And about this time also Christina made
the acquaintance of a young man in the
-lodging-house, Charles DUhring by name,
Hh0 made his living by working on the
stages of different theaterS. He ut once fell
In !oye with her ana she with him, bur The
course Of true love was not always smooth,
as the girls adopted mother did not fan Y
Duhring as match.
Her objections were. however, finally over
come, and Christina became behring's wife.
Alter the marriage a home was secured on
Mission street. and Anna DTummond lived
with them, the house being the property OF a
midwife who lived next door, and to whom
was related a part Of the girls history.
Ire midwife, Mrs Diedelpach by name,
was visited one evening by some friends Of
hers, John W. Finn, wife and his father,
who had just arrived from Scranton. Anna
DTummoDd and Christina DOhTing were also
present Some mention was made about
Scranton, and Mrs. Dohring said that was
her childhOOd's home. Mr. Finn piled her
with questions, and discovered VINO she was,
in turn giving her the information that her
parents were still alive and believed her to
BE- dead.
RETURNS TOO LATE.
With her permission he wrote back to
Scranton and sent the information to Mrs.
behring's parents that their loug-!ost child
was out here.
reply was received asking her to come
East and visit them, but limited means pre-
cluded the possibility then of such an ex-
pensye journey, but within the past few
weeks telegram was received by Dohring
saying his wlfe's mother was near the point
OF death aud requesting her presence Il Q
Immediately replied that she would take
the next train for the home she had not seen
IN sixteen years which she did arriving
there as last as steam could carry her, but
Bhe was too late, and only found the body
Of her mother wrapped in the cold embrace
Of death awaiting the last sad rites.
The Drummond woman had ere this passed
away. leaving to others to unite the ties
which she had severed and kept apart fol-
sixteen years.