Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-17
HERO NURSE MISSING
Dr.. Woodring Disappears From
Des hIoines on Eve OF Roman
tic Wedding
SWEETHEART NO. APPEARS
Says Red Cross Nurse Is Her Fiance,
Tho 1t Was Generally Understood He
Was to Wed Spanish senorita Whose
Life He Saved in she Philippines
Other Iowa News.
Special to rtmes-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, June 17.-Des Moines is
stirred over the mysterious disappear
ance of DR.. L. o. Woodring a member
Of the International Red Cross society.
principal in thrilling romance, and
hero OF the Spanish-American war.
Woodring is the man who expected to
marry the Spanish senorita whose life
he saved in the Philippines. Now be-
wildered men are waiting for the dash
ing ex-soldier to return and consum-
mate important business deals which
he had started negotiating, and mys-
terious young girl who has suddenly
appeared as Sweetheart No. 2, wonder
ing as to his whereabouts. Many Of the
most prominent physicians shake their
heads obviously, the while they stoutly
maintain that Woodring was one of the
best nurses who ever struck Des
Moines.
Whether DR.. Woodring has commit
ted suicide, has been made way with by
some mysterious Spaniard, or has dis
appeared to get out Of the many COM
plications in which he has involved
himself, is only a matter of conjecture.
Woodring has not been seen since last
Friday morning. The prominent ply
sicians Of the city are of the belief that
Woodring may have disappeared while
under an hallucination. Ever since he
received a blow on the head from
Filipino while in the Spanish war, he
has been of highly nervous and ex-
citable temperament Yet all those who
have had dealings with him say he was
most brilliant and scholarly man. Mr..
Woodring came to this city last No
vember. OF small, almost Insignificant
appearance he had born faculty for
making friends. He could approach a
person, exchange few words, and i'm
mediately have him in sympathy with
him. He was q thoroughly likable,
genial sort, and numbered friends by
the score. He rapidly ingratiated him
self into the good will of the most
prominent doctors of the city. A mem
Der Of the International Red Cross So
ciety, he was given some of the most
difficult cases to nurse, and always
proved that he was a nurse above the
average.
Woodring was supposed to be very
wealthy. He spoke Of mining interests
in the west which brought him $1S,-
900. People with investment schemes
sought him on all sides. At the time
of his disappearance, he had made
contracts for all sorts of mining stock,
lands and other deals, besides sub
scribing $500 to the Y. w. c. A. build
Ing campaign. Tho most of the time
he was without ready money, yet be-
cause of his many admirable qualities,
physicians Of the city came to his aid.
One Of them paid his doctor bill while
he was at the hospital. Another per-
formed the operation free Of charge.
woodring was to have been mar
ried yesterday to q beautiful Spanish
and wealthy.
Now startling new developments to
the romance have been added with the
advent of Sweetheart No. g. 1t is
known that she is young girl from
the eastern part Of the state, who is
visiting at the home Of Mrs. Elva
Hickman. The young woman claims
to be the, affianced bride of the miss
ing man. With her he has left his i'm
portant letters, papers and other docu-
ments. Ever since a violent quarrel
with this young woman on last Thurs
day night, Woodring has been miss
ing. His suit case, clothing and all
his belongings are still in his rooms.
Woodfing told the girl on Grand ave-
nue. that there were couple of men
who were continually following him.
One evening downtown he turned
deathly white, and exclaimed, There
are those fellows now" The young
woman says the men resembled Ital
ians.
May Have suicided.
An unknown man, bareheaded and
dressed in black checked suit and
wearing tan shoes, walked out to the
middle of the Des Moines Union bridge
about 7:45 o'clock last night, mounted
the low railing and deliberately dived
head first into the river. He did not
rise to the surface, and no trace of his
body had been found altho the police
| dragged the river until q late hour this
| morning.
Is this unknown suicide L. A. Wood
ring, for whom prospective bride has
been looking for several days, and for
| whom another woman is said to be
crossing the Pacific that she may be-
| come his bride? Or is 1t Harry Freed,
OF 519 East Court avenue, who left
home last night with the threat that
''The river can take care of me as well
as the rest of them?