The San Francisco call., 1905-01-20
Miss Gertrude Wells, Who
Disappeared From the st.
Francis, Is Traced to an
Apartment at California
REMAINS SECLUDED
FOR SEVERAL DAYS
Sick and Despondent She Is
COmforted by Her Friends,
Who Arrange for Her De-
parture for South To-Day

Miss Gertrude Wells, whose strange
disappearance several days ago from
her apartments at the ST. Francis
Hotel caused deep concern among her
friends, has been found Yesterday
the unfortunate young woman, sick in
body and mind, was discovered at the
California Hotel. where she had been
living for several days, remaining the
most of the time in her room and
brooding over troubles, the nature of
| which she refuses to reveal TO the
public.
The story of Miss Wells strange alb
! published in yesterdays Call, aroused
great interest among her friends in
this city, who had known her years
ago, and they Joined in search for
1 the missing woman that eventually led
them to her temporary abode at the
California. Having afforded her every
/ possible comfort they returned to the
st. Francis and settled her bill and
then gathered together from her
trunks such articles as she would need
and sent them to her. Later in the
day they arranged for her departure
! this morning for Los Angeles, whittier
she goes in search of health and where
she will be cared for by loving friends
or her school doys.
Miss Wells sister, Mrs. Fred Web
ster, yesterday telegraphed from New
York to a friend at the Palace Hotel
| to make every possible effort to find
| the missing woman and it was partly
II;
| Of House Detective Hershey of the st.
Francis that Miss Wells was found.
From this friend, who is a. New York
man, it was learned last evening that
Miss Wells was not in need of funds
and the young woman later confirmed
! this statement.
In her rooms at the California Miss
! Wells related her experiences during
! her stay in San Francisco. adding that
! she hoped soon to be far beyond the
city, in which during very short time
more troubles than she ever expected
to encounter again had been crowded
into her life. Continuing, she said
| looked forward to a very happy visit te
! California, which had so long been my home
] was sick in New York and finally. on the
advice Of my doctor and urged by my devoted
| sister planned Western trip. The over
land journey did not improve my health and
arrived In San Francisco Just before the
I Christmas holidays feeling anything but Acheer-
J fui. | was enduring troubles other than those
OF illness. but they are Of no concern to the
public. The gay scenes at the St Francis
strangely did not enliven me and the longer
, remained there the more respondent l be.
came.
Finally l read Of the arrest of that un-
| fortunate creature Mrs McCabe, and as
daily perused the stories of her experiences
in the City Prison I began to imagine that
|
From this story my mind was suddenly di-
/ verted to the tale of the arrest of Howell
Caradoc Rees, and as j continued to read OF
/ that poor fellows troubles il occurred to me
! that my own tribulations becoming toe
great.
! At night / would retire early and listen Ia
the music of the orchestra. but when the lat
ter ceased playing and my mind reverted to
my private affairs became blue that
could not sleep. Several days ago | rose after
a restless night and went out for walk AS
proceeded along the street keenly appre-
suddenly occurred to me that quiet place
OF rest might do me good. l wandered around
to the California Hotel and entering engaged
a room Since then / have been almost OBJ.
livious to what the outside world was doing
Yesterday / sent for some newspapers and one
of the first items that caught my eye was the
announcement that Mrs. McCabe occupy
ing comfortable quarters In the City Prison.
Fancy a woman having any comforts in a
Jail. Later 1 read of the issuance of a war
rant charging Rees with insanity. This morn
ing / sent for more papers and Immediately
.
ures whose troubles had so interested me.
Instead of finding Reese or Mrs McCabe head
Tired in some part of the newspaper l was
to the world Later / met my friends and
through them paid my bill at the st. Fran
els and arranged for my trip TO Los Angeles
I am going to Southern California in hope of
recovering my health.
Miss Wells, who appeared in buoy
ant spirits last evening as she talked
with Call reporter. said that she re-
gretted the publicity she had gained
and especially the fact that her sisters
name had been used in the affair. She
also regretted that Attorney Hoefier
had been annoyed. Concerning the
statement published yesterday that
Mrs. Webster had advised Attorney
Hcefier to look out for her and that
the lawyer was ready to advance her
funds, Miss Wells said:
My sister has always been very deeply con.
cerned in my welfare. No doubt she was
anxious that I should enjoy every possible
comfort during my stay in San Francisco and
furnished Attorney Hoefer with money to meet
any possible emergency that might arise
should I be taken seriously ILL Fortunately
/ am not without funds and will not find 1T
necessary to appeal to my sister or her at
torney.