Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-20
Not the Slightest Trace Of
Ralph House Yet Found.
His Family and Colby Students Are
Hunting Down Every Clue.
VIA! Was Thought to Be Trace at Fairfield,
Proves valueless.


appeared from Colby university mor'
than a week ago. Major House re
turned to this city on the afternoon ex
press, and to the Journal he said tina
it was slight clue that led him to be
lieve that Ralph had not committed
suicide. 1t appears that when he was
around the north college, toward the
Shannon observatory. At this time, 81
the person who is supposed to have
seen the missing man last, says, he ha6
on no overcoat. 1t transpires thai
his overcoat was in his room at this
time and now it is gone, indicating thai
Ralph must have returned to his room
for the coat. This leads Major Hous;
to believe that his son has simply disap-
peared, not in fit of temporary in
sanity, but for reasons best known tc
the young man himself.
When questioned as to what could
possibly be the reason for the young
man to take such step the major re-
piled.
"Well, I'll tell just how feel now
about it. He may have come to the
conclusion that he had best go out into
the world and shift for himself. He
probably thought that he was burden
to me, knowing that I have been in
poor health, and that he should go and
do for himself"
He had no financial troubles? was
asked.
paid as fast as they were brought TO
me. When he first went to Colby
told him to keep his bills down as
much as possible, but by no means be
stingy with himself, meaning, of
course, that I wanted him to have all
that was necessary for his education
and everything. that was necessary for
hints appear-as a gentlemaii-among
the college students. Now itsi&> posi-
BILE, as have said, that he may have
thought that he was a burden to me
and has determined to go out for him
self and thus. as he may think, re-
lieve me. I shall be relieved only when
1 find out where he is"
1t appears also that the young mans
grip was partially packed, and in it
was found a clean night shirt, as
though he had intended to go some
where to be gone over night. Search
for the rest of his night shirts reveals
the fact that one of them is gone and it
was one that had been used since be-
ing laundered. Then it stands that
the young man visited his room after
he was last seen and that he took his
overcoat. If he had intended to have
gone to the river to commit suicide
he would not have felt the necessity OF
going after his overcoat, and if he had
it is not plain why he should take MS
night shirt along on such an excursion
Keeping in mind that the young man
had said to his roommate that he was
coming down to the city to visit; that
the grip was partly packed, probably
in the presence of his roommate, al
though that gentleman does not re-
member seeing him do it, there is reas'
enable cause to believe that he had
planned this excursion into the wide
world alone, an excursion conceived
in the drought that he was burden
for him to shift for himself, but choos
ing to go in this mysterious way, 81
that he would not be followed ant
turned back.
That he planned thus is supported il
the reasoning that he would have sew
eral days start before his friend
learned that he had not come to Au
gusta as he gave them to understand
he intended doing. 1t is plain to b
seen that, if he intended to leave sud
uenly, to drop out of existence as
were, he would have planned just thi
way. 1t will be remembered that h
was gone for a whole week before !
was discovered that he had not come
this city. Then if he did go off for tn
= purpose of living and not to suicide
his plans worked admirably.
The young man was not sick, had nc
been sick, was not in debt, everything wa
pleasant at home, he was quiet but nc
given to dependency, never had snow
any signs of insanity, and why should h
have committed suicide? The only thin
that had tendency to mar the brightnes
of life was the fact, as the major, n
father himself admits, that he was les
fortunate in the goods Of this world tina
some of his college mates. and, possibl.
the haunting idea that he' was burde
to his father.
The young mans college fraternity ha
caused to be printed and sent to ever
post Office in Maine the following descril
| tio,, Of tho ,,;cSipp man.