The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-03-23
MISSING PERSONS FOUND.
New Line of Work Taken lip by the
Salvation Army.


Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army has been instru-
mental during one year in tracing no
fewer than IOS missing persons. The
total Is "A large one. but col. Sttt. who
has charge of This particular branch
OF the army's work. says that, after all.
IL is but n 1.-THE of the number who, TO
quote his own words. drop out OF eN-
istence" in The course of twelve months.
For London alone the estimate is fixed
nj about 1000 What IL is for all the
countries In which the army operates
or what the percentage of finds, the
Colonel was not able To say offhand.
The investigation department of the
salvation Army is unqnestionably do
ing an important work. Its inquiries
are not confined 10 the metropolis, nor
To the United Kingdom, but, with the
exception of Russia, China and one or
two other countries. Il practically en-
braces the whole world 1t is part and
parcel of the army and essentially Inter-
national. II Is. so to speak. new Scot
land Yard on an extended scale. For
the department is nothing II not ambi-
tious. II undertakes to search in any
part of the world for missing or run
away relatives and friends; TO seek 10
bring 10 Justice men who have ruined
or wronged girls or women, aud 10 in
qulre Into the respeetabllity Of people.
houses or situations. and generally adj
wise and help as far rs possible those
in difficulty
With the organization of the army at
its heel, and call. with officers and
workers ready 10 respond TO any and
every command, il is I'm position to
execute commissions OF the shortest
possible notice. And while 1t is prepared
To do all This without fee or reward,
Colonel Still pointed out that ut Is also
prepared 10 undertake. ut moderate
rates, detective cases and inyestiga-
lions of certain descriptions for those
in position 10 pay.
"'fhere Is no end he explained. ito
The possibilities of department of this
kind We began in very small way.
Someone lost friend and wrote To us
asking II we could make inquiries
through our officers. We did so, and
The result WAS highly satisfactory. This
led 10 the establishment of the investi-
CATION department.
Some of The cases were cited. There
was nothing romantic about them.
They merely bore testimony TO the gen
eral usefulness of such an agency. They
were Of all SORTS and conditions. Run
AWAY husbands. mothers who had de-
serted their little ones, friends who
have been missing for years, girls who
have foolishly left their homes, chill
drcn of tender years who have been de-
coyrd from their parents.
one ease was that of n man who had
left his wife for sixteen years. The
woman sought the help of the depart
menl in order. II possible, TO ascertain
whether her husband was dead or alive.
The army found him TO be alive and in
n position to support his wife. The
woman would have been satisfied with
a modest } shillings a week. The hus-
band declined to pay so much. The
army assisted the woman In bringing
the ease before a magistrate. Instead
of shillings the man was ordered to
contribute shillings g pence per week.
Instances of this kind could be multi
piled by the score. also Of girls who
have left their homes 10 go into service,
and after few months. perhaps. have
been completely lost to their relatives
and friends. In course of time it Is
contemplated including criminal inves-
tigatlon within the puryiew OF the de
partment. The idea would be TO assist
The police and bring offenders TO jus
tlee. The army and It's mnltlfarlous
qualifications would make valuable
police auxiliary. The penitent form has
on various occasions served useful
purpose in this direction. the penltents
voluntarily conserving to expiate their
OfIenses.
Colonel Stitt has n keen appreciation
of the importance of the work he has
in hand. All he wants is to extend IT.
As he very truly observed, "A great
many people In searching for lost
friends spend lot of valuable time,
ms well as money. in making inquiries
that cannot lead To any practical good,
whereas If they came to ms they would
have placed at their service an investi-
cation department that Is information
nj In its opera tions. London Mail.