Evening star., 1897-06-10
SARAH RANKIN,s STORY,

ny n COlOred Soldier.
/ There appeared in The Star q few. DAYS
ago an account of a girl who gave her
Eame as Sarah Rankin, and who had
alked nearly all the way from Baltimore
to Washington Sanitary Officer Frank
sent her to the Bruen Home, No. 1135 oh
street northwest, while he took steps to in
vestigate her statement. She claimed to
be only fifteen years of age, and if her
story Is true, she has been the victim of a
foul crime. The girl says her home is near
fert Robinson, Neb. that some time last
october, while going on horseback from
her widowed mothers home to sick neigh
oer 10 heip with the farm work, she was
seized by two colored soldiers from the
garrison at the fort whose names she gives
as Curtis Rouse of Troop K and Villa m
H. Blake of the band, and was dragged
from her horse and acompelled to drink
whisky until she became unconscious
Blake, she says, brought her to Baltimore
She decl lares he sat behind her and watch
ed her closely all the way, and that she
was TOO much afraid sof him to speak to
any one. 1t is easy To see that she is a
girl OF very ordinary Intelligence, and ut
terly ignorant Of the world At Baltimore
Blake took her to a colored boarding housa
kept by woman Of his acquaintance,
Maj. Moore caused inquiry to be made Of
the police authorities of Baltimore In ref
erenee to this boarding house, and was in
formed that the woman who keeps It had
sald Blake claimed to have married the
girl. Sarah says this is false, and that II
Is the first thing she Has heard Of any al
legged marriage The gdrl SAYS she told this
woman how she had been taken from her
nome by force, andthat her mother did not
KNOW Where she was, although the board
ing house keeper claimed the girl said her
mother was perfectly willing for her to
marry Blake w
Sarah gave Officer Frank the name Of one
OF her mothers near neighbors in Nebras-
ka, and asked that he be written to- This
was done, ard yesterday Mr.. Frank re-
ceived the following letter, postmarked
fort Roblnson, Neb., under date of June g.
1897. It was addressed to the County
commissioner and was as follows:
You stated you had young girl In your
possession by the name of Sarah Rankin.
Sne Is my only daughter. Her eyes are
dark, auburn hair. She has mark of a
sore on either back or shoulder She disap-
peared on the Goth of October, 1896. / sent
her to stay few days with a sick lady.
ehe went horseback. The next day about 3
o'clock her horse came home, with the
blanket torn in two, and we found the
bride about halfway from our house. How
she got away do not know; could not find
OUT. employed a marshal in Crawford,
but there was no clue to her recovery. So
l gave her up for dead. We traced the
hills and creeks and every place we could
for her. 1 am fifty-six years old and a
poor widow woman. My son got his right
For heavens sake hold her until 1 can sell
a couple of cows. 1 think by Saturday
can get the money to send to you, l am
almost raving maniac, as could not find
her. l want her at home. 1 am CID"
This letter was signed yours tr,Ily
Ellen Norah Rankin" One of the ladv
managers of Bruen Home read it to Sarah
and also the report from the Baltimore
police department. The child cried bitterly
over her mothers letter, and walled. out:
Il want to go to my mother"
While there are discrepancies in her
story, which are unexplained, the ladies' of
the Bruen Home, who have taken an in
terest In her, and are watching her closely
do not believe she has the capacity to act
q part and are satisfied she was either
forced or enticed from her home for evil
purposes by this colored man, without her
mothers knowledge.
They find no indication that she has ever
been depraved. She is young, and the hest
place for her is her mothers home.
The police department has no money
available with which to pay the whole
amount of her fare to Fort Robinson. hut
can render her some assistance, She Is
utterly destitute. Her clothing is almost
in rags. The managers of the Bruen Home
will cooperate with Officer Frank in get
ting her clothed and sent home to her
mother. They suggest that probably many
people would be glad to assist in this They
believe that philanthropic people in WASH
1Egton will not see this widows cows sold
in order to bring her daughter home.
Anything intrusted to Bruen Home 1125
9th street, for this purpose, will be used 10
the best advantage