Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-08
SEARCH FOR A CHILD
Disappearance of Little Boy
From Camp Good Will.
AID OF THE POLICE ASKED
Parties Engaged All Night Securing
the Woods.
SUGGESTION OF KIDNAPPING
AID OF THE POLICE ASKED
SUGGESTION OF KIDNAPPING
Lad Only Three Years of Age-Had
Been on the Ground But
Few Hours.


Camp Good Will last evening alarmed
those in charge of the children enjoying
summer outing there. Robert is only three
wears of age. and how he mana ged to get
out of sight so quickly puzzled the police
and others interested in him. 1t was
thought that lie had merely strayed away
and had been taken into the house OF some
resident of the county to be cared for dur
ing the night, but when not found this
morning fear was expressed that he might
have fallen into Rock creek and drowned,
or that he had been kidnapped.
Parties headed by members Of the police
department and by persons prominent in
the work of the camp were formed this
morning to institute a thorough search for
the little fellow, and the territory in the
vicinity of the camp is being carefully ex-
amined. AS the search proceeds, and no
clues to his wherea bouts are discovered,
the officials of the camp and the members
of the searching parties are beginning to
fear that the lad has fallen into bad hands.
Arrived Yesterday Afternoon.
Robert arrived at Camp Good VIII yes
terday afternoon, expecting to stay sew
eral days He was with a party of Atty five
children taken 10 the camp yesterday and
of that party nearly all were from the
southwest. section of the city. Robert has
been boarding with Mrs. Ferry at 32S X
street southwest, and he accompa MED her
out to the camp yesterday afternoon, and
she was looking out for him during the
time he was there.
Robert and his companions reached the
camp in the afternoon, and they were as
signed to tents. The Barker child, about 6
o'clock ate supper with the other children
and later Mrs. Ferry took him to watch
some running races. All the contests were
lively, and Robert was very much interest
ed in them, shouting with glee whenever
race was being run. Mrs. Ferry also became
interested, and for couple of minutes lost
sight of the little boy.
As there were many children on III grass
plots under the trees and through the tents,
Mrs. Ferry expected to find Robert among
was in one of the groups, and that he could
easily found. She started on a search, but
failed TO find the fad.
Reported to superintendent.
Mrs Ferry then feared that Robert had
strayed into the woods and been lost. She
rushed to Mrs. Edna X. Bushee, superln-
tendent of The camp, and Informed her that
the child was missing. Those who learned
of 1t tried to quiet Mrs. Ferry by telling
her that Robert had probably gone off with
some playmates. or that. at most, he had
strayed only a. short distance and could
easily be found.
All the adults in the camp were informed
of the disappearance. and they began sys-
tematic search of the woods around the
camp. At first, only the immediate vicinity
of the camp was visited but when that
proved fruitless the scope was extended
and the searching parties kept up their
vigil all night Mrs Ferry, Mrs. Bushee
and Edward Gilfillan who is in charge of
the boys in the camp, led the quest, and
later they We're Joined by several police
men from the tenth precinct. Persons liv-
ing In the vicinity were also aroused and
they offered their assistance in hunting for
the lost lad.
AL OF the searching parties reported at
the camp about o'clock this morning
that they had found no trace of the boy.
The search had extended in all directions.
ough.
Efforts Redoubled.
Efforts to find the missing boy were re-
doubled this morning. 1t was realized that
the longer the time elapsed after his dis
appearance the greater would be the diff
culties in the way of finding him; and
further II known that if the boy had
simply wandered into the woods and be-
come lost he would be hungry and might
die of starvation unless food could be t.
ten to him. On account Of his tender years
1t Is feared the child would probably not
try to find d way out of the woods nor
Rev. John Van Schaick, pastor of the
Church of Our Father. 18th and l. streets,
who is chairman of the summer outings
committee. and Capt. Andrew Parker
treasurer of the committee, in company
with Charles F Weller, general agent of
the As rciated Charities, went to Camp
Good "4n this morning soon they
learned that the child was missing, and
they were ACTIVELY engaged in the search
to-day.
hen IT was realized this morning that
the child really missing from the
ca mp and EId ey identity strayed some dis
lance away, else had been kidnapped, a
spt cial appeal was :Lade to che police and
about a &c zen members of the department
We're detailed to help locate the boy. Police
men Clifford and Owens of the tenth pre-
cinct searched throughout the night and
this morning.
Additional Policemen.
Capt Elliott of the tenth precinct sent
Sergt Murphy and Policemen Hoagland
Clifford and Cavanaugh to the scene to rem
der all assistance in their power. BY in
structions of Maj Sylvester six additional
men were sent from other precincts to Join
in the search.
Detectives Parham and O'Bren of head
quarters were ordered to the camp later in
he morning. and after obtaining all the in
formation they could regarding the circum-
stances of the disappearance and the ap-
peardnce of the boy, they Joined in the
search.
Ghc mother of the lost boy is employed at
30l II street northeast, and Detectives Baur
ana CUEnwell were sent there this morning
to see if she had any news of the youne-
stEr. She was greatly shocked to hear of
ltrEert d!sapl lance, as she thought he
was stlll With Mis-. Ferry at the camp
1t was ICiInsd by Detectives Baur and
Co,iwtE that the father of the boy has not
been living with his wife. and that fact Is
being considered by the police as a possible
clue to the disappearance of the child.