Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-19
MYSTERY
Surrounds W. B. R0g-
erS' Whereabouts.
rAnRAxTs rAIrnFuL Assessor
CANNOT DE- FOUND Asrnn
niLrcEST SEARCH.
WAS in BAD HEALTH
MAY HAVE FALLEN INTO THE nv
ER AND DROWNED.
Two Searching Parties TO start out
WAS in BAD HEALTH
MAY HAVE FALLEN INTO THE NV
En AND DROWNED.
rwo Searching Parties 10 start out
This Morning at O'Clock and
pnIsen,ly Prosecute a Labor OF
Love.


yesterday that County Assessor w. u.
Rogers had disappeared and that RIO
trace OF him could be found. l5e last
left his home at i0i Ryan street ON
Friday morning between ;.nd ) clock,
as was supposed to go to ria oiice IN
the court house as usual. A llttlelnier
he was seen at Scotts grocery store
In the Ninth ward, where he exchang-
ed greetings and. said he WAS feeling
very poorly. Since then no positive
Information has been obtained cf his
movements or whereahouts4 though
the air is fllIed with Wild sumois of
men having been seen in parious raIts
OF the city und surrounding country
within the past two days who were
thought TO answer his description.
His non-appehrance at the office did
not excite any apprehension. As he
has been IA poor health Tor sHme
time and had frequently emtiasd at
home. The family did not scei alarm
ed until he failed to return hone at
night, and finally an active search for
him was instituted. which has cen
tlnued up TO the present Time without
avail
Whom any public official is missing
the question IL always asked whether
there Ia anything wrong wi,h hts ttnce.
but In this case his office is one OF
routine duty. no funds passing thrnugh
his hands, and all his relationa, hrth
official and social, were pleasant aid
harmonious. The most plausible theory
Is, that owing to illness. ne wnndcre !
away In dazed state, and through
weakness has been unable TO return
II IL even lntimated that while In a
deranged condition he might even hive
thrown himself into the Trinity river.
When last seen, however. he abpea. cd
rational and has never intimat1d any
desire to destroy himself 81 far as
could be learned.
He was until Thursday, when the
formal announcement OF withdrawal
| was made, q candidate for recollection
TO the Office of assessor, and his good
services as faithful officer being
recognized ir accordance with an old
| time Democratic usage, lie was conced-
| ed the right OF aasecond term, no ono
contesting the position with him. This
| voluntary surrender OF practically
assured office IS regarded by some as
! the fist and only evidence OF a weak
ened mental condition they have OBJ
| served.
Searching parties were out all day
| yesterday and also last night with
| torches. Portions of the river were
aleo dragged and dynamite exploded
| In a vain ondeavur TO locate the body
en- into the river, but up 10 an early
hour this morning without results
Ono rumor had II that q man Ia an
| apparently dazed condition was seen
yesterday morning sitting on tho
trestle Of the Santa Te track where II
| crosses the rivar by some section
hands. and later a man was seen In
Mr., II. c. Holloway's field between
the. city and the packing house. In
both cilses the description WAS said to
tally with Mr.. Rogers appearance
and further that the tracks found re-
sembled his footprint. being long and
narrow. But on the other hand 1t waf
said last night that the party who
made the tracks, had been found
though who It was could not be learn.
ed. Thus the air Ia full OF vague
rumors and nothing authentic appears
at this writing.
This morning a more thoroughly or.
gnnized effort win be inaugurated, ir
which all citizens are invited to par.
ticipate. Two bands will meet al
o'clock this morning to operate In dif
fcrent sections along the river, and II
the bottoms. The first VIII be under
the direction OF Deputy Shoriffs Res
and Purvts and the meeting place vii
be Dahlman's old refrigerator, From
which they Will proceed TO scour tn,
territory to the west. The party I,
the nome hour at Arlington Height,
bridge and will be under the leader
ship OF r. NJ, Daggett,
a thorough search win be made an,
All who can are earnestly requested /,
Join IN this labor OF love and human
ity. Remember the places OF meeting
'-pnhlman's old refrigerator. and Thu
Arlington Heights bridge; the time.
o'clock this morning.