The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-08
FOUND UNCONSCIOUS
BY The RIVER
Mr.. R. B. McCalley Sud-
denly Disappeared.
FOUND TWELVE HOURS LATER
In Vacant Lot and Taken Home
His Statement Of the
Affair

There was considerable excitement
Saturday afternoon when 1t became
known that Mr. X. Is. McCalley. owner
of the fredericksburg Journal news
paper. Superintendent OF the Christian
Sunday School and leading member OF
that church, had disappeared. Mr.. Me
Galley went home about ten o'clock sat
urdsy morning and carried some books
and papers IA he left he handed
his wife some money to buy what
she might need for dinner. Moth
ing WAS thought OF this by Mrs. Me-
Galley at the time. MIR. McCalley. how
ever. did not 20 home to dinner aud this
being unusual his wife became uneasy.
Later she became alarmed and went to
his office. Mr.. J. H. Maupin, who IL as
ISOLATED with MIR McCalley, knew moth.
ing of the latter's whereabouts, and hhh
not seen him for some hours. By this
time Mrs. McCalley felt sure that some
accident had happened to her husband
and this opinion Was shared by her
friends.
Nv night the occurrence was the sub
iect of general discussion. Around his
home friends collected and Mrs Mci'alley
WAS in "A high state OF excitement. NJ
10 O'Clock phone message was received
stating that Mr. McCalley had been found,
and in a short time u carriage arrived 10
which was Mr.. McCalley and Mr. Barker.
Mr.. McCalley had been found In alotnn the
river. near the Mary Washington Hos
pital. lying on the ground unconscious.
wet to the skin and with his pockets
tnrred wrong side out. Ga his arrival
home he WAS Immediately put 70 bel and
DR. Hnles summoned. RestOratiyes were
appljed and in short time he was able
20 reply 10 q few questions.
Sunday morning Mr.. McCalley made
this statement.
II left my Office and went ~ Captain
Rowe'- store about . o'clOrk 10 rte MN
about some cattle. ! found he was not
there. but had gone down 10 the rec
Bridge with NJ. Alex Pratt went
there and spoke To Captain Rowe about
n matter of business and WAS standing
nearby when a stranger approached ana
handing me two peaches asked NE ~
take them. They were very nice iOohl ng
and ate them. | remembered nothing
more until found myself wet and cold
on the ground in the evening lust before
| WAS found. had $l0j in paper money
and some silver in my pocket, NJ had
been out collecting Tor the paper. J hir
/ ID all know about II.
Several people at the hospital had
heard calls for help during the evening
and IL was thought that they came from
across the river. At last Captain Wool
dy. who il sick at the hospital, SAID
There is some one in trouble nearby
and II some one does not 70 end see
about il will do 20 myself. Mr.. Tar
/ Brummett and Mr.. Barker were sent Tor
and they went down toward the river
bank They espied a man lying on the
ground inside Of what ia known "A th'
Shepherd lot. The man was Mr. Metal
lev. How he got in the lot is mystery
asitis surrounded by wire ience.
portion OF which had to be taken dpwT
IN get him out Neither OF the young
men knew who MIR. McCallcy was NJ
frat. and on finding out who he wa
asked him some questions All he cJulC
say was, Take me home; am so we'
and cold" Mr. Barker went ba"k to tn
hospital. 'phoned for a carriage en'
carried him home. Mr. McCalley VA
yery much improved Monday, but Il
stili in bed and has fever.