The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-15
She Went Home for a Rest, Disappeared
and Has Not Been Seen Since
CAREFUL SEARCH UNREWARDED'
Her Home Was Mar III, ConaeclcuI RlVtr, and
She My Hsyy Thrown Herself lato Thai
Stream Rewards Offered.

Boston, Jan. 15.-The mysterious dis
appearance OF Miss Mary r. Ayers, as
sistant 10 the principal u the high
school in Springfield, Mass. whose home
is in Brattleboro, VI, remains unselNed
and The selectmen Of that town have Is
sued circulars which they have sent 10
Chief Inspector Watts OF this city, ask
ing that he make a special effort u aid
Deputy Siheriff Mcclure of Brattleboro
in searching Boston TO see If Miss Ayers
is here on has been seen here since
Wedne sday night, Jan. IL That was
when sne disappeared trom her moth-
er home on Grove street, BfdttieDOfO,
in pecunar circumstances. The Crcu-
lar states that a reward of 500 viii be
paid to any one giving information
leading to the recovery of Miss Ayers
either dead or alive.
WHO MISS AYERS Is.
Miss Ayers, who is about "a years old,
rather good looking. and OF a very af-
fable disposition, had taught school in
Springfield for several years, and SO
hard did she work and SO well did she
perform that work that she was chosen
assistant to Elias Brookings principal
OF the high school During the last
year Miss Ayers worked hard, and ii
was for a much needed rest that she
left Springfield on Monday last. Be
fore leaving she told her l&ndlady, Mrs.
Packard, that she would telephone up
on her arrival at Brattleboro that she
had arrived safely. That was the last
heard Of the young woman in Spring
field, until the news came that she was
missing.
Miss Ayers arrived home Wednesday
afala
so that her mother noticed that she
acted somewhat strange, being exceed
ingly nervous.
Wednesday evening Miss Ayers laid
out her light walking sackSand hat 10
go to the telephone TO let Mrs. Pack
ard know that she had arrived safely.
You ought not 10 go out with that
tight sack. Mary. IT Is bitter cold, re-
marked Mrs. Ayers to her daughter.
well. mother. you can have my golf
cape as I won't need It any more" was
what Miss Ayers replied.
THEN SHE VANISHED.
Miss Ayers theIs went out and that
was the iast heard of her When she
did not return a search was made TOR
the young woman, but no tIace OF her
could be found. The news that Mary
Ayers was missing spread rapidly, and
s,lJn the selecImen and otnerS were
Offering rewards. The news reached
Springfield, and then Principal Brook
ings and DR.. w. n. Thompson and
Deputy Sheriff Mcclure went to the
girls home and began "a systematic
search in hope of finding some scrap OF
paper v ich would Vell the reason for
her disappearance.
They searched the rooms, and on sat-
Lrday found i'm a drawer In the young
woman's mothers room. Miss Ayers
purse containing $474S, three rings tied
together and some jewelry. formerly
belonging TO her grandmother. They
were left in place wbtia they couid
hp Ieaci,, seen, .nid the "easOr they
wore rct found ere was mat Mrs..
Ayers bad not any occasion for going
u this dressing case drawer.
As sJon as these articles were 70 ma
The theory of sucide was forncc ana
thea the only clcw which has since
beer found was that the young woman
had been seen i'm or about town and
one which for a time seemed quite rea-
snr,able was the story from young
man who described a woman with
costume Ike that worn by Miss Ayers
seen between 9 and 2 o'clock Wednes-
day night w5\Sing to and fro on the
Main stree bridge evidently in an eX-
cited frame OF mind. But those who
have Followed The case n'-uutely do not
accent the suggestion that this could
have been Miss Ayers. They reason
that she probably went directly
through Walnut street down the rail-
road bank 20 the open river. thus evad-
ing people who might I've been on
Main street AT the time OF her going
A CHANGE NOTICED.
The affair has caused considerable
excitement in Springfield. as well as in
Brattleboro. because Miss Ayers was
Young woman OF excellent character
and highly respected. During her stay
I'm Springfield she had made many
friends.
The young woman's attractive home
Is but a short distance from The Con-
necticut river. and IL Is possible she
NAV have gone by the way Of Walnut
street directly 10 the river and TO the
rapids which are not frozen over Miss
Ayers had many loyal friends. 10 whom
her disappearance comes as a personal
bereavement For several weeks her
friends have noticed the change In her
demeanor attributable TO overwork and
worry about the health of her parents
vet none suspected serious conse-
ouerces. believing that a voluntary de-
cieinn 10 rest would restore her health
and spirits
Miss Ayers was I'M height : feet 4
inches. weight 115 20 100 pounds: hair.
browr, ewes, blue: wore a light felt
bat with long feather. light colored
short Jacket. trimmed Win black fur
p,ison dreSs waist black skirt and
ointft N No 4 ch,ep