Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-03-27
An Abducted Child Found After a
Search of Years.
LIVES IN HELENA, MONTANA,
A LAVISH Reveals the Identity of the
Young Man--It Is Strange
story.

been looking for him for IL years. For
that length of time he has been known
an Asa E. Mcclure, and he himself sup
po-ed that was his true name. The hap
py event of Friday came about
through an item in the Helena Inde-
pendent of February 25, that was notic-
ed by Mr.. Sire's stepfather in Missoula
1t led to the investigation which caused
Mcclure to suddenly change his name to
Sires, and brought him to his mother,
who had not seen him since he was lit
tie less than baby, says the Independ-
ent.
Seventeen years ago.. Sires, who was
then only years old, was kidnapped
by family named Mcclure, who had
taken a fancy to him. The McGuires
and the Sires lived in Eau Claire, Wis,
and were friends. Mr. and Mrs. Nc
Guire became greatly attached to little
Asa Sires, and often took him to their
home. They wished to keep the boy,
but his parents would not listen to such
an arrangement. The McGuires finally
concluded If they could not get the boy
legitimately they would have him by
foul means, and one dark night they left
with him, going south from Eau Claire.
The parents of the boy did not suspect
the abduction until the McGuires had
had good start, and when they did
realize that their supposed friends had
really gone off with their boy they did
all in their power to locate them, but
without success. 1t was supposed that
the McGuires had gone north and the
distracted father and the officers he en-
listed in the search lost a great deal of
time before they discovered their mis-
take. The end of it was that the Nc
CURES made their escape with the little
boy. They finally reached Miles City
where they remained several years.
Mrs. Sires scarcely recovered from the
shock of the kidnapping, being i'll for Is
months after the boy was stolen.
Asa Sires grew up in the belief that
the McGuires were his parents. They
treated him with affection, and If he at
first had any recollection of his old home
and associations, he forgot them in
time. The McGuires, after a time
moved to the Judith Basin, and shifted
around from one place to the other
Asa remained with his supposed parents
until he was II years old, and then
started out to shift for himself He came
to Helena about seven years ago and
here he found a home with Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred King, where he has been
ever since. Mr.. King died a few years
ago, but Sires remained as before.
Mrs. Sires did not give up hope of
finding her lost child for years after he
She thought he might be
in Montana, and frequently wrote to
her husbands brother, jeremiah II.
Sires, who is yardmaster for the North
ern Pacific in Helena, in hopes that he
might be able to find some trace of
him.
The years went by and nothing was
heard of the lost boy. Mrs. Sires be-
came a widow and in time married
Charles Straight, who has been for some
time in the employ of the Bonner Lum-
Der Company. Mr.. Sires, of Helena,
kept a lookout for some trace of his
lost nephew, but without success. For
seven years they lived together in this
city without knowing that they were
in the least related. Mr. Sires was for
merly a conductor on the Northern Pa
cific and frequently had as a passenger
his nephew who, of course, went by the
name of Mcclure.
Some months ago young Sires be-
came involved in lawsuit over a horse.
1t proved to be fortunate suit for him,
for it was the means of disclosing him
to his relatives and his true name. He
won the suit, but the man he sued,
Joseph Sweeney, appealed it to the SUI
preme court. That was another fortu-
nate circumstance for Sires in more
ways than one. The supreme court not
only affirmed the judgment, but fined
Mr.. Sweeney $25 for taking up a friv-
Olous case, and ordered that the judg,
nent be increased that amount. The In
dependent in it's issue of February rs |
contained a report of the case, which |
was seen several days afterward by Mr.. |
in Missoula. The name of |
Asa e. Mcguire caught his attention |
and he could not help being impressed |
hat ii might be the name of his step |
son. Asa is an uncommon name, he |
'easoned, and Mcguire being the name |
If the person who had abducted the boy. |
t seemed worth while to investigate it. |
Mr.. Straight accordingly telegraphed |
Mr.. Sires, the yardmaster, that he was |
soing over to Helena to look the matter |
Up. He reached there and Mr.. Sires and
lie went at once to Mrs. Kings home.
where they found the supposed Mcclure.
t took only a few minutes to convince
hem all that the lost had been found,
Mr.. Sires remembered that his nephew
when only years old had had the big
oe of his left foot cut off by accident.
The young man was quick to admit
hat he was minus a big toe on that par
ocular foot. If there was any doubt be-
ore, that settled it. The young man
vas overjoyed at learning who he was.
he wanted to leave at once for Missoula
where his mother was waiting for him.
Mr.. Sires took his nephew home with
Tim and showed him a picture of his
ather. Then the young man, accom-
panied by his stepfather, hurried over
o the depot, and took the west bound |
rain, which happened to be several |
hours late that morning, and that even
ng there was another reunion in Mis-
oula that was a reunion indeed.
Only few days ago the young Mr.. |
sires received letter from his sup
,osed parents, the McGuires, who were
n Colorado. They urged him to join
hem, and he had almost determined to
70 when he had presentment, he says,
hat it would be better for him to re-