Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

The brief article which followed
contained no information not stated
in the headlines, and there was no
date line at the head of it. Mr.. Sharp
was busy preparing a second and
more circumstantial announcement
when a telegram was received from
Mr. Chalmers. A few minutes later
the second Record extra was ON the
street. 1t read:
Vera Cruz, Mexico, May 16.-The
expedition in charge of William Chal-
mers. managing editor of the New
York Record, has effected the rescue
of Palmer j. Morton, John NJ. Rock.
we'll, Andrus Carmody, R. !. Kent,
Simon Pence, Hiram Haven. Sidney
Hammond and L. Sylvester Vincent.
The kidnapping of these distinguished
financiers is the most sensational
crime in history. On the evening of
May 1. seven of these men were lured
on board the steam yacht Shark
owned by Walter b. Hestor, the famous
amateur newspaper correspondent.
Hestor planned the crime and exc
cuted it with the cunning of maniac.
He invited Messrs. Morton, Kent,
Rockwell, Carmody, Haven and Pence
to join him at dinner on board the
Shark, at which time an important
business matter was to be discussed.
Mr.. Sidney Hammond was invited as
legal counsel for Mr.. Hestor. L. Syl-
vester Vincent was present to discuss
another business matter with Mr..
Carmody. Once out in the Atlantic,
Hestor refused to return his guests
to New York. He permitted them to
send ashore the letters which were
received by their relations, and then
steamed south. He landed them on
the coast of MeXico--on the sixth
day--at point south of Vera Cruz,
on spot which he stated was an is
land. Here Hestor had fitted up a
bungalow on the edge of lake. CON
nected by narrow inlet to the Gulf
of Mexico. That night Hestor sailed
away in the shark
by interchangeable effort, the New
York Record traced this crime to
" u. IlCSlol. LIS uetcCIlNG
force, under the charge of John Ste
vens. located the bungalow. Special
credit is due to Bernard Seymour, the
famous detective reporter of Chicago,
who, by skill and strategy, which will
be explained later, found the con-
tractor who built the bungalow-Col
John Mcintyre, of Havana. On Tues
day, May 16, Miss Helen Carmody,
the beautiful and accomplished
daughter of Andrus Carmody, placed
the steam yacht which bears her
name at the disposal of the Record,
and in company with her aunt, Mrs.
Isabel White, sailed for Havana. Will
liam Chalmers, managing editor of
the Record, was in charge of the ex-
petition. At Havana, Bernard Sey-
mour, John Stevens and Col. McIn-
tyre were taken on board and the
yacht proceeded to Vera Cruz. In the
meantime the marooned men had not
been idle. They had constructed a
seaworthy boat and were out in the
gulf, about 80 miles northeast of
Vera Cruz, where they were picked up
by the Helen Carmody" and taken
to Vera Cruz. They are in splendid
health, and their sutferings have
been mental rather than physical.
They will leave tonight on the yacht
for New Orleans. and from thence to
New York by special train. The fol-
lowing signed statement is forwarded
by request of the rescued men:
:" To All Whom 1t May Concern.
We desire to announce our safe return
TO civilization, in good health and spirits.
We are mindful of the mercies of an ALL
wise Providence who has watched over
and brought us through many peris and
difficulties. We take this opportunity to
publicly acknowledge our thanks for the
splendid services rendered in our behalf
by the New York Record to whose ex
ecutive ability and foresight is due ou,
rescue from the dangers of the sea, and
our safe return to shore. Our gratitude
Is especially due to William Chalmers,
BERNARD Seymour and John Stevens. In
our opinion this forced detention was
the act of an irresponsible individual ana
not conspiracy fer any rational pur-
pose. Signed)
ANDRUS CARMODY,
PALMER j. MORTON,
JOHN NJ. ROCKWELL,
HIRAM HAVEN.
SIMON PENCE,
r. ]. KENT.
SIDNEY HAMMOND,
L. SYLVESTER VINCENT.
Vera Cruz, May "a
Ito be Continued)