Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-04
MUCH ANXIETY
Felt for Postmaster G. A.
Herrick of Madison.
Left Home Without Intimation to His
Family or FRIENDS.
Has Long Been lll-Temporary De.
raneement Is Feared.

Madison, Me-, May 3.-(SpeciaD.-.
George A. Herrick, aged about so, post
master here, left mysteriously, Saturday
afternoon, and his friends fear that he
may be suffering from a sudden illness
that affects his mind. He was first
missed when he did not come home to
supper at the usual hour, and search
was made for him in the town without
success. Every thing is all right at
the office and the accounts are in fine
order. 1t was found that he had
bought ticket for Oakland, and had
left on the train that leaves here about
go in the afternoon.
Sylvanus Russell, who is employed
here, went down on the same train to
spend Sunday with his mother in Wa
terVille and while at Oakland waiting
for the train for Waterville saw Mr..
Herrick on the station platform. He
spoke to him and Mr.. Herrick replied
pleasantly. He noticed, however, that
he was not acting in exactly his usual
manner but that he seemed to be alb
sorbed in his thoughts like a man who
1900
saw him walk down the platform to-
him again. He boarded the train for
WaterVille and did not see Mr. Herrck
on that or at any time after he walked
down the platform in Oakland
George West, conductor of the
'Scoot" the train that runs between
Oakland and Watervile did not see
any man aboard that answered to the
description of Mr.. Herrick on that trip
| into Waterville, so it seems pretty GER
tain that he did not go towards Water
vile from Oakland
Joseph Horrigan, the conductor OF
train No. 20, the one that Mr.. Herrick
would naturally nave taken had he left
Oakland in the direction of Lewiston,
was reached by telephone in Bruins
wick, Sunday evening. He had not no.
ticed any one on his train answering to
the description given of Mr. Herrick.
but remembered of hearing one of his
brakemen say something about an old
| man that acted somewhat peculiar and
who asked a great many questions.
The brakeman could not be reached,
| but what was learned seemed to indi-
cat that Mr.. Herrick had taken the
tram at Oakland.
1t was learned that he did not pur-
chase ticket at Oakland for any
| point. as the ticket agent there knows
nm very Well, and does not remember
| or having sold him any, Saturday. But
| it is very likely that he had a Maine
Central mileage and that he travelled
| on that from Oakland. He has been
clearly traced to the Oakland station,
but there is no definite news of him be-
You'd that point beyond what was
| learned Of Conductor Horrigan
1t is believed that when he left here
he had less than s. in money with him
and that for this reason he could not
get very far away without attracting
attention in some way. Telephone mes
sages We're sent in all directions and
descriptions given. Men We're notified
| in Bangor, Lewiston, Portland and Bos-
ton, so that if Mr.. Herrick reached
any of these places he might be identi-
| fed, but nothing was heard of him
| through the day, Sunday. 1t seems
pretty certain that he went farther
| than Oakland and towards Lewiston.
for he was very we'll known in that
| town and all along the line of the
Somerset railroad.
1t is said that some 10 years ago
when Mr.. Herrick was in the South
| he suffered peculiar attack of sick
ness that caused him to fall into a
| heavy slumber or sort of trance that
| lasted week in spite of all that could
| be done for him. None of his friends
know Just how this attack came on so
are not in position to judge whether
he was attacked by something similar,
Saturday. 1t is thought, however, that
| he was Influenced by some sort of sick
ness and this belief has caused a great
| deal of anxiety here.
Mr.. Herrick man about feet,
| 9 inches tall and his hair is almost
snow white. His general appearance
| would indicate that his health is not
good. Every effort is being made to
locate him and the telephone and tele-
graph wires We're kept pretty hot all