The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-11-24
SAD MYSTERY
NOW SOLVED
Alter Sixteen Years Absence Lost
Boy is Found
some LOCAL INTEREST
,.,.. year. oid Louis Rowland, Stolen From
Parents, is Restored near kissimmee
Lived N, ar Fort Pierce.


.,o little Louis Rowland. son of Mr..
nd Mrs. Npedham Rowland, who was
,Sree wears old, was riding stick"
Srse IN front of his parents residence.
nssr Gardner, about twenty-five miles
ssnth of Kissimmee. while his mother
was preparing the morning meal.
Wh,n the little family were ready to
@ke their places at the table, the
mother went to the door and called
willie Willie come to breakfast ~
ht M answer came from childish lips.
The mother then remembered that
,be had seen her son, who was her first
mrn. going in the direction of cump
n scrub palmetto, and at once went in
,earch, calling to her husband to Come
and he'll find Willie"
That search lasted for sixteen years,
and every man, boy and many women
n that county have never ceased in
their efforts, although many had years
400 given the little fellow up for lost to
his world, believing that he had fallen
prev To some wild animal But not so
With the parents, and especially the
mother, who continually said that her
baby boy was still living, and prayed to
God night and morning to turn her
footsteps toward the path that would
lead to her daring child.
That prayer was answered, and in
Kissimmee, after sixteen long and
weary years of heartaching, Louis was
again clasped in the arms of his moth
Ct and fOndled by his father.
The story in this case reads more like
sromance than a fact. but here it is
from the lips of T. A. Bass, Jr., of
Fort Myers, in whose employ Rowland
has been for over year:
when Mrs. Rowland was young
and comely miss, she became engaged
/ to man by the name of lvey Bird, and
intended marrying him when she
reached the proper age, but as she
grew into maturity she met and loved
hr Needham Rowland, an Industrious,
honest and hardworking farmer, whom
she married after a short courtship.
This angered Ivey Bird. and he is
alleged to have told Mrs. Rowland that
she would shed more tears than ever
woman shed before; but she gave little
thought to his threat, and let the Incl
dent pass out of her mind. But not so
with Bird, for it is said he bided his
time, and when the opportunity arrived,
struck the blow that would leave the
deepest and most lasting wOund-for
10 Is supposed to have carried away her
irst born and given him to his brother,
Jason Bird, who was married and lived
% the east coast, near Fort Pierce.
The little fellow lived with the
Birds until he was twelve years old,
md was known as their son, and called
Louis Bird. At the age of twelve ne
nn away from Jason Bird and his wife
% account of ill-treatment, and went
70 Tante, which is ON the north shore
q Lake OkeechObee. where he worked
t@ l. N. RaulersOn for a year, and
then went to live with Peter Raulerson,
with whom he remained something
over four years. From there Louis
vent to Fort Myers and secured a posi-
n0a with T. A. Bass, Dr., and has re-
NAMED IN that gentleman's employ eV-
Wsince.
About ten months ago some gentle
nen from OsceOla county who knew
nal Mr.. Rowland had lost son many
lees ago, went to Fort Myers, and
vhlle there saw Louis Bird, and at
@ce recognized the stiking resemblance
Shr Rowland. remarking that they
Wneved he was the lost child. When
Seee gentlemen returned they went to
Wha, where Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland
~ 1--we, and told them of the reSem-
snce Of Louis to them, and Mr.. Row
sM left at once for Fort Myers.
As soon as he saw Louis he knew
70 be his son, but the boy who had
Eown to be a man. and had always
- Known as the son of Jason Bird,
~ not be convinced he WAS any oth
person than whom he was claimed to
% Mr.. Rowland returned home and
3. his wife tn Fort Myers to see
SSSls; and she, too, knew him to he
s't 'ong lost son, but still the hoy
~ mol convinced, and continued to
~ snd be known as Louis Bird.
-. Rowland after returning, wrote
~.ea TO Louis, and then the young
az eegan to think of the details OF
Past life, many of which seemed
ssn! vt the time, but when closely
g INTO, bore evidence that he was
We son Of Jason Bird. one of which
nat once. years ago Jason Bird
% OF anger, declared you are
ing but Rowland brat ! /
r.. ABOUT ten days ago Louis received
HeF from Mr.. Rowland saying that
%, satisfied he was his son, which
Louis read to Mr.. Bass, and ask
:@ whet he thought about the mat
~ Mr.. Bass answ, red, ~ th,nk
ne same ma have fho,ipht all the