The San Francisco call., 1903-12-09
FINDS CRAVE
IN THE OCEAN
Mrs. Harry E. Oldt. a Young
Wife. Disappears With Her
Child From Steamer Queen
NOT MISSED FOR HOURS
Passengers Say She Was Tn
happy Because Husband Who
Is in Seattle Neglected Her

Mrs. Harry E. Oldt Of Seattle, who
left the northern port last Saturday as
2 passenger on the steamship Queen.
disappeared with her 4-vear-old
daughter during the dark hours be-
tween Saturday and Sunday. That she
went overheard there remains no doubt
and that her going was deliberate all
the evidence obtainable attests. She
leaves a husband in Seattle who de-
clines 10 discuss the domestic infelicities
10 which the unhappy woman referred
IN the brief communion she held with
some Of her fellow passengers. Wher-
ever lay the fault, the burden was
greater than the young mothers
strength, and with arms clasping her
baby, she sought refuge and rest be-
meath the dark waters.
Where or when the tragedy was en-
acted none can tell. Alone among
strangers. she kept her own counsel.
choosing her time sagely and executing
her design silently and with grim sue
cess
Mrs. Oldt joined the Queen az Seattle.
taking passage for herself and daugh-
ter TO this port. The steamship reached
Victoria late Saturday afternoon and.
in company with most Of the other pas
sengers. Mrs. Oldt spent a few hours
ashore. wandering with her little girl
along the streets OF the quaint little
British Columbian city.
RETURNS TO SHIP.
She returned 10 the steamship and
partook Of luncheon served in the sa-
loon after The Queen had started on
her way. Mother and baby retired for
the night 10 their stateroom. which
was on the upper deck, its door open
ing on the rail-guarded promenade.
The bedroom steward says that her bed
had been occupied There was nobody
in the room when she went there Sun
day morning. but he thought nothing
Of il and made no report.
The Queen carried many passengers.
most Of whom were seasick, and. in
the confusion, the absence Of the
woman and child passed unnoticed
until Monday. The fact that her berth
had been unOccupied Sunday night
FIRST attracted attention. Then pas
sengers. better Of their seasickness.
began 90 inquire for the mother with
the pretty little girl. The matter was
reported TO Captain Cousins, who at
once made an investigation.
IN the stateroom the woman's out
side garments were hanging. and on a
settoe stood two little shoes. belonging
to the baby. A purse containing 81 25
lay or the bunk. That was all A
search Of the clothes yielded neither
mark q Identification nor q reason for
The woman's absence. Mother and
child had gone. and all the result Of
the closest cross-questioning OF pas
sengers and crew was TO fix the time
Of the disappearance after leaving Vic
toria and before the early hours Of Sun
day morning.
MYSTERY UNSOLEED.
The bridge officers recalled no un-
usual sound, and the night watchman
could shed no light on the mystery.
The ship was searched. passengers and
stewards were questioned again, but
beyond the fact that woman and child
had disappeared nothing was or prob
ably ever win be learned.
Mrs. OIdt was a woman Of about 30
years. tail and neatly dressed. Pas
sengers that noticed her recall the un-
happy expression Of her face. and those
that had noticed and tried to comfort
her learned that the woman was fret
ting over trouble with her husband.
who. she seemed to think. had neglect
ed her The 4-year-old girl was
cheerful little creature and made
friends readily.
The belongings Of the woman were
turned over. yesterday TO the United
cs+a+ee SHINING Com missioner 10 whom
Captain Cousins has made a full report
of the tragic reason for their owners
absence