The San Francisco call., 1896-05-04
PRAYER FOR HIS RETURN.
George Atkinson's Disappearance
Agitates Oakland Congre-
cations.
WAS A THEOLOGICAL STUDENT.
Was Last Seen Tuesday, and Foul
Play or a Romance Is
Suspected.
WAS A THEOLOGICAL STUDENT.
OAKLAND OFFICE sAN Francisco CALL
QQQ d. o y

90S Broadway, May 3.
George Ernest Atkinson, president OF
the Christian Endeavor Union of the
Market-street Congregational Church, is
missing. Tonight Rev. E. c. Chapman
gave notice of it and prayed that the presi-
dent might soon be restored to them.
The missing young man is a student at
the theological seminary and DR.. Mclean
has done all in his power to trace him, but
with no result. Last Tuesday he left his
rooms and no one has seen him since.
There are good reasons for suspecting
foul play. There is also some ground for
presuming that Atkinson has gone off to
sea'to drown his sorrow, because a young
lady to whom he was engaged refused 10
longer regard herself as his afianced.
This was sore blow to him, and he has
frequently threatened that he would run
off to sea-
Atkinson is the son of ". n. Atkinson
of Forest Grove, Or, and inquiry has
been made at his home. but nothing has
been learned. He was very earnest
student and popular leader of the Chris
tian Endeavorers. Two months ago he
was elected president of the Market
street Union, and under his presidency
the union was making marked progress.
DR.. K. @. Chapman, pastor Of the church
to which young Atkinson is attached, is
OF the belief that the missing man has
met with foul play. A short time ago he
received snug sum OF money from home
with which to carry himself through the
summer. This money has not been found
in his room, and no one knows what has
become OF it.. By the manner in which
Atkinson left the college it is not thought
that he intended TO make a journey, as he
went off in working suit of clothes and
tennis cap. His best clothes are in his
room and there Is not the slightest indi-
cation that he had prepared for journey.
Last Tuesday Atkinson was seen in the
Western Union Telegraph Office on Broad
way, bat since then no one has seen him.
The object of his visit was to see a young
lady operator who is a member OF the En-
deavor Union of the Market street Church.
She stated tonight that she had not seen
Atkinson and had not the remotest idea
where he was. There was nothing un-
usua, about his manner while in the tele-
graph Office, but since he left there moth
ing whatever is known of him.
The missing student was to have been
at LOOMS, Placer County, to preach to-
day and for several weeks, and it was
thought he might have been there. A tele-
gram, however, proved that he had not
peen neard from, and inquiries IN other
directions also failed TO bring any tidings
Il think Atkinson has either run off to
sea or else he has met with foul play"
said DIR. Chapman tonight. 81 do not
think for moment that he has committed
suicide, as he was not a young man likely
to do any such thing. He was 25 years
old and particularly bright and promising
He went to the theological seminary about
year, and made rapid progress. He has
never been missing before, and if he has
not met with foul play fear he has car
ried out scheme that Pm told he often
spoke about and has gone to sea. Various
reasons have been given for his desire to
rush off to sea, but none of them seem to
justify me in thinking he has carried it
out"
An intimate acquaintance of Atkinson's 8
has theory about his disappearance that
does not seem at all improbable. 81
Think" said he, "he has gone to sea
rather than face the ordeal of preaching.
1t is pronounced case of stage fright"
Revs. Drs. Chapman and Mclean kept
the fact of Atkinson's disappearance q
secret till this evening. but they con-
sidered it their duty as he did not return
to notify the police and to refer to the
matter from the pulpit.