The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-31
LOST TwENTY-E1eHT YEARS.
Strange Story of a Kidnapped Son
Returned to His Parents.

! A strange story comes from Washing
ton, n. c.. of the return of a kidnapped
son to his parents after twenty-eight
! years Of wandering, a part of which was
| spent in Savannah, where he was cared
for by an old lady and as an inmate Of st.
Johns male orphanage before it was re-
moved to Washington, Ga. The story is
romantic one. -
Samuel Chauncey and wife live just out
Of Washington, N c. The husband is 81
years old and his wife 49,
Twenty-eight years ago little 4-year-
old son disappeared. Search was made
everywhere The woods were ransacked,
hundred men were engaged in the
! search at once, and it was kept up for
| weeks and weeks. The search was so close
that many old COW bells, knives, etc. lost for
years were found The affair was adver-
Used, reward offered, trips were made
to different parts of the state, but with
out avail. Various beliefs as to the dis
appearances prevailed. One theory was
that he was stolen by a tobacco wagner
another that he had been burnt TO death
in blazing tar kiln; still another that he
strayed away and was picked up by some
one who took him to sea. 1t was rumOred
that the missing child was in Oxford, N.
The kidnapping was great sensation
for long time, and caused the parents
much grief The good old mother, how
ever, has always maintained the idea of
his return. She has priced his infant
clothing and his child's playthings as
treasures to this day.
MOTHERS CONFIDENCE.
When she made quilt for her other
children she invariably made and laid one
aside for him, and long after the kidnap-
ing when almost every one had forgotten
the story she would frequently speak of
her lost son.
These events happened in 1865 In 1892
book agent who had met j. G. Chaun-
cey was at a boarding house in Gaines
vile, Ca, and hearing a man called
Chauncey asked whether he was related
TO j. G. Chauncey Of Washington, n. G.
He replied that he had no relations in the
world, as far as he knew, and that he
knew Of no one of that name. He at once
wrote to j. G. Chauncey letter of in
quirY.
Other letters followed giving particu-
lars in description. The young man felt
that the evidence was strong enough to
justify visit of investigation. He wired
that he would be there last week. The
news of his strange life had preceded
him, and he was met by crowds of people,
was taken to Samuel Chauncey's at once
to see those who were his probable parents.
IDENTIFIED HER son.
Mrs. Chauncey recognized him as her
son at once. He weighs about $50
pounds, has the family walk, and
his eyes, NOSE, tongue and hair
are characteristic of the family
Hisfather did not feel so certain of his
identity, but said he was content if mother
and son were satisfied. The old folks and
the brothers and sisters met him with
most cordial welcome and much feeling.
In telling of his wanderings he said;
l have many disconnected recollectiOns
some vivid, some indistinct. l remem-
Der seeing my mother cleaning table
knives In the ground near the garden I
remember to have played with glass mar
bles and pine burs, and to have visited
the persimmOn tree near the house. / also
recOllect the sunshine at evening sweep
ing in at the back door and nearly
through to the front door. l also remem-
Der sitting on the knee of a man who
would CRATE his teeth and frighten me.
Again recbllect being in boat, fright
ened, and losing my hat. And many
other things / seem at times to grasp and
they are gone. My mother. says was
fond OF playing with pine burs and glass
marbles, and she now has the marbles |
played with. They told me the sun did
shine through the old building from the
one door to the other and that l often
visited the persimmon tree and accom-
panied my mother when she cleaned the
knives. ! cannot explain the ride on the
water unless it is connected with my talk
ing away. My father had often fright
ened me by grating his teeth.
CARED FOR IN SAVANNAH.
My first distinct and connected recol-
lection is of living with poor old lady in
Savannah, perhaps one or two years. She
was not able to take care of Inc and turned
me over to the st. Joseph's Male Orphan
home in Savannah, a Catholic institution,
where l was well cared for, but did not
realize it at the time. With a companion
of about the same age l ran away, and
wandered around from one thing to
another, making a living as best could.
Afterward l learned the marble cutters
trade, which is my present business.
What l was called by the old lady who
first had charge of me at Savannah, do
not know, but ! do know that my name
was changed to Willie, and at my con-
firmation in the Catholic church | was
called William Philomena Chauncey
When disappeared, if ! am the lost boy
my name was Samuel. Doubtless my
last name stuck to me because | would
tell my name very quickly to any one at
very early age, so they all say who knew
me as child.
Five years ago / WROTE to the orphan
| age, which was moved to Washington,
Ga, during my stay there, for my birth
day. They wrote me the year claimed
there to be correct, but no day was men
| toned. received that letter on Aug 13,
! and adopted that day as my birthday
Strange TO say the old family Bible here
shows that to be my real birthday An
other thing, whenever l moved from one
! point TO another have unconsciously been
coming nearer to my old home.
RIVER AND HARBoR.
The British steamship Ovingham while
] i. - i q !.