The Washington herald., 1909-03-24


Praise Him above. We heavenly host
Praise Father. son. and Holy Ghost.
Sharon. Pa, March IA child's face al
the window. with a sweet-faced woman
in tbs background. tears rolling down hel
cheeks. and with 1000 men. women. ant
children on the outside singing the dox
ology as above tonight practically closed
at $50 o'clock the whitla kidnapping incl
dent.
It was at the whitla home 4s1 BAst
State street, that the crowd Of thousands
had come. headed by the Bull Rifles. tC
serenade the kidnapped child returned tc
his parents
At the request OF Mrs Whitla. who
had collapsed partly after her son was
brought home to-day. the demonstration
Of the townsPeople had been postponed
until this evening. And this was the
demonstration-the singing OF the dox.
ology in pure thankfulness to the Giver
OF al good gifts for the safe return OF
lille Whita.
March to WhitIa Home.
Il was a crowd most orderly after a
day most strenuous. Early in the even
ing the crowd began to gather In the
central part Of the town where the Buh
Rifles. $50 strong. were mobilizing for
the march on the Whitla home The Buh
Rifles were named after Frank F. Bull
the wealthy uncle Of the kidnapped boy
and It was partly as an honor 10 Mr.
Bull that the Rifles had been named 70
lead the procession.
BY the time the crowd swung with the
band into the gateway OF the Whitla
home. in East State street. 1t had been
increased TO thousands. and many could
not get within half a square, while the
yard around the Whitla home was simply
janmed with humanity. The band mount
ed the steps and began a lively tune
when the door opened and Attorney James
A. Whitla. father OF the restored bog,
appeared alone A great shout went 10
from the good-natured crowd. which
wanted Willie and Mrs Wbitla
Attorney Whitla, who has not slept
since his child was stolen six DAYS since
stood with tears rolling down his cheeks
He turned partly around and waved hi:
hand toward tie window 10 the left and
the crowd then saw for the first time q
childs face pressing against the pane
gazing ont into the darkness.
See Child at window.
II was the child-the kidnapped child
once more looking out from his father.
own home window. and as the crow6
gazed. before a shout OF greeting could
be given the wee boy. there came from
somewhere in the background a sweet.
faced woman who stood behind the child
placing her hands on his shoulders. II
was Mrs. Whitla.
The multitude gave cheer after cheer
at the picture Of the blessed home life
while Willie tried 70 throw some kisses
through the window and Mrs WhitIa
turned away sobbing joyfully. being ia
ken in charge by some relatives For
p a full two minutes the crowd shouted
then became quiet
Mr.. Whitla had not yet fully recovered
himself. and Rev. A. J. Mccartney. the
family pastor Of the Whitlas and per
sonal friend OF the little boy, made a
short address in which he thanked every
one for the visit and for the interest that
had been taken In the hunt for their
stolen boy. The minister finished. Mr.
Whitla stepped &c the front porch and
said in a voice which choked and broke
at times:
"On behalf of Mrs Whitla. our daugh-
ter. my son. and myself / want to thank
you from the bottom Of my heart for this
visit. Friends. many of you like myself.
are tired and worn out with this great
search. and that you have remained
away from your homes thus late at night
10 cheer US touches US 10 the heart
Thanks the Newspapers.
Had It not been for my friends. for
the great loud Outcry which they made
when our child was stolen there might
not have been cause for rejoicing. such
as we have here tonight. I want to
thank the newspapers Of the country. the
detectives. eveyone, every single person
IN the world for what they have done for
US Goodnight. friends
Then II was that some one started the
dOxology and soon the crowd had dis
persed. IT was one Of the most exciting
days in the history Of Sharon IL was
not until after last midnight that the
lnOuSauuS WHICH lau lnrOnEeu The
streets believed fully that Willie Whitla
had been found in Cleveland. and that
his father had purchased his release
from the kidnappers for $1,000. But once
satisfied that the boy was In the care Of
friends and that he would he home in
the morning the Sharon crowd simply re-
fused to go TO bed.
Daybreak brought thousands in from
surrounding towns to be present at the
homecoming OF the kidnapped boy It
IS estimated that 1900 strangers were in
the streets Of Sharon most Of the day.
Ciings 10 His Son.
When the Erie train arrived AT noon
the crowd was so great that It took
Chief OF Police Martin Grain and a dozen
OF his bluecoats to break a path for Mr..
Whitla to his carriage. The attorney car
Tied his little son in his arms and would
not trust him to any one. saying the first
10 receive their son from him would be
the mother at home.
Thirty automobiles and as many car
riages followed the Whitla carriage
through the streets in its seven-minute run
from the depot to the Whitla home. Mr..
Whitla permitted his son to run I'D the
steps when the door was opened bv Mrs.
Whitla, and safe in his mothers arms the
boy was carried once more into his par
ents home
TTrt-FTa