Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-07
HIS MIND WAS A BLANK.
w. A. Smith, Who Disappeared From
Cedar Rapids, Returns.


Special to Times Republican.
Cedar Rapids, Feb. w. A. Smith.
proprietor OF the Mystic Dairy Com
pany of Cedar Rapids and of several
dairies situated in this and neighboring
counties, who created somewhat of a
sensation in certain business circles by
his sudden and then unexplained disap-
pearance few weeks ago, has returned
to the city, as he advised friends in a
letter from Chicago few days ago
that he would do. According to Mr..
Smiths rehearsal of the circumstances
attending his absence he has suffered
that peculiar and unexplained mental
phenomena known as lapse of memory.
1t ia apparent that his physical condi-
ton Is not the best and that he is still
suffering from a malady that has trou-
bled him for long period of time. Mr..
Smiths story of his absence as related
to the Gazette Is as follows:
He has no recollection of having left
Cedar Rapids on the train, but distinct
ly remembers having made a visit about
y o'clock in the afternoon to the Office
of Mower & HARDWOOD. He found the
room there very warm and went out
into the open air. 1t then occurred to
him that he would call upon Mr.. Jor-
dan at the union station and see if he
could not get some of his dairy bust
ness. He entered the depot and after
noting the Northwestern train go west
sat down upon one of the seats. There
his recollection ends SO far as Cedar
Rapids is concerned. tho he has con-
fused idea that he thought 1t was ex-
l,~t ]ay,
His next period of consciousness was
experienced as the train was entering
Chicago, he being aroused by the con-
ductor who observed that he had been
pretty sick. He felt drowsy and had a
severe pain In his head. He asked the
trainmen If they would not direct him
to hotel or rooming apartment He
was placed in a hack and sent to me.
He remembers of leaving his watch and
his money. which amounted to $40 with
the landlord, and asking that physi-
clan be summoned. He wondered how
1t was that he found himself In Chica-
go and said that otter a rest at the
hotel he expected to return to cedar
rapids the following day. After being
assigned to a room and retiring to bed
he suffered a complete lapse of memory
until a week ago last Monday when he
realized who and where he was and be-
gan to speculate what sort GA con-
struction would be placed upon his abb
sence from his business here. He inn
mediately got in communication with
merchant with whom he
was acquainted and wrote to friends
here saying he would return in II few
Gays. There were letters and his mile
age book upon his person by which the
hotel attendants or the physician could
have ascertained his identity and noti-
fed his family or friends but they did
not appear to think 1t necessary o. that
1t would be in accordance with his
wishes. Upon recovering consciousness
Mr.. Smith says the hotel people in
formed him that he remained in either
a complete or partial stupor the whole
of the time until the date mentioned.
He suffered severe pain at the base
of the brain and 1T had not entirely
disappeared The Chicago physician
thought it had some connection with
the chronic stomach trouble with which
he was afflicted.