The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-17
PHOTO TELLS STORY
MRS. STAUF AND MRS CL0SsEN DIS
COVER THEY ARE SISTERS.

In1S5S Their Father, Herman Delhi, Left
the Fatherland with His Two Mother
less Daughters-Duringt the Voyage the
Castle Garden as Strangers in a Strange
Land-They are Afterwards Claimed by
Relatives and Become separated-They
Marry and Move TO this Country.
A strange story was brought to light
Sunday at the German Methodist
church on North Emporia avenue
which was celebrated yesterday by a
reunion Of two well known families.
The great surprise was brought about
by an old photograph falling from a
Bible
The photograph told strange story,
and proved that the wives Of Jack
Straut Of Illinois township and Herman
Classen of Waco were sisters, although
rhey were unaware Of the fact until
the photograph fell from the Bible Of
Mrs. Straut, and was picked UP by Mrs.
ClaEsen.
where did you get it?" was the ques-
tfon asked by Mrs. Classen, while trernb-
ling with excitement. 81 have one ex-
actly Ike IL al home"
'T have had that picture ever since
we left Germany in 1888. Just before
we started father, at the request Of his
mother. visited a photograph gallery at
Hamburg and had this picture taken.
That little girl yoI see there was my
sister Mary, and that picture is poor
father, while this is ne. But what
makes you 50 pale? Are you sicll?''
said Mrs. Straut. as she saw how agi-
tated was her neighbor, whom she had
frequently met at church. Let US go
out in the fresh air.
The two women left the church and
took sats in a buggy where the cause
of the agitation was discover ed.
Emma, l am your sister Mary" SAID
Mrs. Classen, breaking out into a sob,
and folding her neighbor to her bosom.
'"That man was my poor father who
died at sea-
OF course the two women had much
TO talk over. and their husbands were
made aware of their strange discovery,
Rnd as result a family reunion was
held yesterday at the residence Of John
Straut in Illinois township.
From friend Of both parties an Ea-
gle reporter learned the following story:
I'm 1858 John Deihl the father of the
two women who had the strange meet
ing Sunday, and who have been ac-
quainted with each other for two years,
In the country as neighbors, concluded
to leave the FatherIand and come to
America. He had a wife and two
fiaugh ters aged 3 and years. During
the preparations for the emigrating to
America the wife was taken sick, and
at the end Of three weeks. died
"In vain did the relatives and friends
of Mr.. Delhi try TO persuade him 10
give UP the proposed trip. Finding their
efforts IN this direction useless. they
fhen tried to have him leave the child
ren, the mother OF Mrs Delhi being
anxious ITO take Emma (who is now Mrs.
StrauO, while his mother was desirious
of taking Mary (or Mrs. Classen, as sine
is known in Sedgwick county,
The man appears to have refused
both offers, saying that death had robb-
ed him of the mother, and he thought
NE mad enough sorrow without giving
up his two children.
'He. however, stopped at Hamburg,
and had pictures taken in a group
form, leaving one of these with each
of the grandparents and giving one to
each of the girls.
IN ten days after tine ship had weigh
eli anchor, Mr.. Deihl was pronounced
dead by physician on board the yes
sci, and on the morning of the eleventh
day out his body was consigned TO a
waitery grave.
.'On the arrival at Castle Garden the
story of the little girls was related to
the officers. They remembered that
their mother had a brother residing at
Wheeling. Va, for at that time there
was no West Virginia. The children
had some money and remained in New
York until the arrival of their Uncle
Jacob Strauss. It seems that Strauss
and a brother of Mr.. Deihl had come
TO American together and on the re-
reipt Of the letter from New York
Strauss had sent word to Deihl. who
was living near Kankakee, Ill, 10 come
no Wheeling, as he would bring the girls
there.
''Mr. Strauss met the children and
brought them to his Wheeling home
where they found their uncle awaiting
rhsn. 1t was decided that Snauss
should keep Mary, while Emma accom-
panied her uncle TO Illinois. and there
rhe children were separated.
They knew nothing about writing
and finaAy upon the death Of AR
STRAUSS MARY went to I've with another
Family, and when she afterwards wrote
q letter TO her uncle at Kankakee Il
was returned not called for. In after
years she met Mr.. Classen and was mar
Tied ard moved TO Sedgwick county III
1883
Emma grew up 70 woma nnood in IiIi-
nois and became the wife Of Jacob
Str3ut and moved TO Sedgwick county
in 1892
The two women have lived Within
five miles Of each other for the past
Khree years. but little dreamed that they
were fun sisters till the photograph told
the story.
La wv E.I,S TrIIcrx LII, ..--.- . g.