Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-18

lfnOtOprapneu rep. y, l05<.
Ray Elliott, the 4-year-old son of Mr. and
Mrs. George Elliott. The parents were
poor people, but respected, and as soon as
1t became known that little Ray had dis
appeared all the townsfolk wero eager to
do what they could toward recovering him.
A thorough search Of the neighborhood
was instituted. No trace, however, was
found Of the lost boy. Then the distracted
parents were in a measure comforted by
the assurance of the searchers that Ray
must have wandered away from town in
childish play, and, becoming bewildered,
fallen asleep by the side of some country
road. Following this idea, the next day
q search was made of the woods and coun-
try lying about the town, and the river
was also dragged. All day long parties of
searchcrs wandered about the country, but
by nightfall it became apparent the boy
was not in that vicinity.
That he had been kidnapped was natu-
rally tho next theory. Then some ono re-
membered that a gypsy outfit which had
been encampcd near town had gone about
the time Ray disappeared. There were a
man and woman in this party of nomatis
and the man had been in town several
times, and, becoming intoxicated, had
fallen into tho hands of the town consta-
bic. In his anger at his arrest he had
vowed to get even with the town. Then,
too, people who had visited the gypsy camp
had heard the woman speak of losing q lit
Ito child and mourning the loneliness that
had como upon her since its death. These
stories grew in their travels from mouth
to mouth until 1t was settled in the minds
of the good people Of Marengo that the alb
ductors Of Ray Elliott were, in fact, the
gypsies who had been for q long time wis.,
itors in their town.
Money in liberal amounts was at once
raised to extend the search throughout the
state. Pictures of the lost boy were sent
to the officers in all the large cities and q
reward was offered for the recovery Of the
child. The newspapers made the story Of
the abduction known, and for time there
was such n campaign against the gypsies
as was never known before. Every band
which had child of the age Of Ray was
held under surveillance, and Mr.. Elliott
made numerous trips to different parts OF
the state for the purpose Of attempting to
identify children thus found. None of
them, however, proved to be the missing
boy. After time the search was given
up, and the disappearance of Ray Elliott
came to be looked upon as another Charley
Ross episode.
Friday, July 6, 1894, almost IA months
after the sorrowful occurrence at Marengo,
In picturesque spot known as Cedar
River park, near Waterloo, a Chautauqua
assembly had just been closed. People
from tho city and visitors were yet camp
ing mt the park, and among them was the
family Of c. I. Hepler, n hackman living
in Waterloo. On that day, according to
Mrs. Hepler's story, she was Mt their tent
in the park, when her husband drove up
with q strange woman, accompanied by q
little boy. They entered the tent, and
the woman told Mrs. Hepler that her hus-
band had talked of adopting the boy, as
they had lost q little one only a short time
before. The woman said that the child's
parents had parted and the father had
married again. He did not wish his Sec
ond wife to know that he had ever been
married before, and SO desired to give the
child away. Mrs. Hepler finally agreed to
keep the child until tho woman came
again, which she assured her would be in
a weeks time, and then they would decide
In regard to adopting him. The boy &C.