Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-12-27
Young Eyre May Have Been Set
Upon BY River Thieves and
Thrown Overheard.
EVIDENCES OF A sCUFFIE
THE DELAWARE RIVER HAS
BEEN SEARCHED ON BOTH THE
PENNSYLVANIA AND THE NEW
JERSEY SIDES BY FISHERMEN
AND BY FRIENDS.
AND BY FRIENDS.

Chester, Pa, Dec, PA new light
was thrown upon the case Of missing
George B. Eyre, last night, when Bon
sal G.. Ladomus. assistant city engineer.
anda member Of the Alpha Boat Club
visited the clubhouse, along the Della
ware, from which Eyre started out on
his cunning trip Thursday morning.
Ladomus discovered that his own gun
ming skin was gone and that several
lockers OF the members had been
broken open. presumably by river
thieves. Just what articles Of value
have been taken cannot be ascertained
until the members have been com
municatd with.
This clubhouse is seldom used in
Winter time. as the club has more
fashionable quarters up town, on Third
street. The theory now is that when
Eyre returned to the boathouse from
his cunning trip Thursday night. and
surprised the thieves, they showed
fight, and during the struggle ne was
overpowered, knocked senseless and
thrown overheard. The thieves could
then have easily made their escape in
Eyrc's and Ladomus' boats. This is
the most plausible theory advanced In
the case, and will give the police
clue to work on.
A reward Of 500 posted by Chief OF
Police Berry has induced fishermen
who know the Delaware river like a.
book TO engage in the search for the
body OF Eyre, who r0wed over TO the
Jersey shore last Thursday morning
TO shoot ducks. Not only the fisher
men are engaged in searching the
reedy creeks, but the friends Of the
young man have fitted out expeditions
and spent many hours on the uninvit-
ing Jersey river bank. looking for a
trace OF the missing man. So far they
have discovered nothing.
A most thorough search was made
by Captain Samuel ID. Clyde, assisted
by James Miller, an experienced fisher
man. They went over in naptha
launch OF light draft and explored the
Jersey shore from Raccoon creek 60 the
Flood Gates. They searched an The
creeks, wading when the tide was low
and pushing the launch far up the
creeks and among the reeds al high
tide. They even inquired among the
scattered farm houses for information
Of the missing sportsman. but without
avail.
Nobody had seen him on the water,
and there was not a trace Of the skin
Eyre used.
Two persons have been seen who say
positively that they saw Mr. Eyre in
this city on Thursday about neon. r.
e. Ross declares he met the missing
man on that day near Sixth street
station. between 11.30 and II o'clock
Mrs. Baker. an employe OF the post
Office, states she passed Mr., Eyre
crossing the railroad about IL o'clock
which would be a few minutes previous
to the time that Mr.. Ross saw the
young man.
II this proves 20 be true. then Mr.
Eyre must have returned from his gum
ming trip after q few hours shooting.
but the query remains: What became
Of the skiff, and why did not he change
his clothes? The clothes he changed for
the cunning suit were found at the Al
pha Boat Clubs Winter quarters. and
Mrs. Baker says he wore a reddish
suit, which does not correspond with
his street clothes nor the duck suit he
wore for shooting
coLoRED woMANs STORY.
James PIERCE, Well-knOWn river
man. for whom Eyre was looking on
the day he disappeared. and whom Mrs.
David Lytle. a colored woman, says she
saw with Eyre or Thursday going 10
the boathouse. declares that he was
not with him that day and his wife
says he was around home all day. He
was with the searching party yester-
day.
The description Of Eyre is: Age, "a
years; height, 5 feet 9i6 inches; COM
plexion, light: hair. light short mus
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