The herald., 1898-05-10
the LOST IS FOUND
". G. HARRIS FINALLY LOCATED
AT VENTURA
MISSING FOR EIGHT DAYS
ue Wandered Away to Piru and Ped
died Pictures on His Back
In Ventura County

W. C. Harris, the Broadway art dealer,
who disappeared SO mysteriously from his
store Thursday, April 2sth. has been found
and 10 with his friends. His condition Is
regarded as quite serious, and great care is
being taken to nurse him back to health.
He underwent q terrible strain during his
absence. He was located last Friday in
Ventura. During his absence Harris had
been peddling pictures through towns In
Ventura county, and 1t is not strange that
he was In . dsbilitated condition as the re-
suit Of accompanying hardships.
When Harris left his store he said that
he was going to see some folks, but who
they were he did not state. Previous to
his departure he visited the bank and de-
posted some money and sent a receipted
bill to a young man in Whittier who was
indebted to him for q small amount. In
. letter which accompanied the receipt
Harris stated that he had been feeling
very badly, and requested the young man
to look after his family in case anything
happened to the writer. Harris had been
working too hard and was on the point Of
breaking down. His physician had advised
him to take rest, but Harris did not think
that business justified his absence, and
tried to fight against nature and failed.
While Harris friends knew that he was q
sick. man they did not realize how serious
his condition really was. When he failed
to return after leaving the store they
naturally became alarmed. The police
were notified and printed circulars, CIV
ing picture and detailed description Of
the man, were distributed through this
section, but for days no trace could be
found. It was last Friday when the first
Information and that which led to his re-
covery was received. A lady friend Of c.
c. Chapman. a brother-in-law Of Harris
saw him in Ventura and Immediately noti-
lied Mr.. Chapman. Earl Chapman was
sent to Ventura in quest of Harris, and
found him In a hotel. Harris dementia
had taken a peculiar turn, for, while ap-
parently In possession of all his faculties,
he failed utterly to recognize his brother
1n-law and asked the proprietor of the
hotel who the young man was Harris
did not at first desire to return to Los An
geles, claiming that there was an excel
lent chance to sell pictures at Santa Bar
bara and he wanted to go there. Mr..
Chapman would not listen to this, and
Harris finally consented to accompany
him to this city. They arrived Saturday
afternoon, and Harris was at once taken
to the residence of C. c. Chapman, at 224
West Twenty-fourth street. Harris COL
Iapsed, and though he knew his wife,
manifested not the slightest surprise or
pleasure at seeing her. In fact, he was
perfectly listless, and for time could not
tell anything about himself. They placed
him in bed and gave him nourishment,
and in a few hours the sick man rallied
sufficiently to give short account Of
himself.
He had become possessed of the idea that
he must go to work. and had decided to
peddle pictures about the country. He
had gone from here to Piru, where he re-
mained for several days. From Piru, with
a heavy pack Of pictures on his back he
had started out to walk about the country
and make a house-to-house canvass The
pictures were of cheap variety, but Har-
ris had done quite profitable business
and had considerably lightened the load
by the time he reached Ventura. So far as
he remembered, OF as could be ascertained
otherwise, his delusions had not impaired
his business acumen, and he got the best
prices possible for his wares. Harris has
been taken to Mr.. Chapman's ranch, near
Fullerton, where, by careful nursing and
Q quiet rest. it is hoped he will recover.