The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-26
TITANIC WAITS
. FROM CENTERv|LLE
Iowa Miner Believes TWO Little Ones
Found on the ship
Arc His Child
rem.
COMING FROM FRANCE l,
Mother and Youngsters Were TO Sail
on Titanic and Father Goes
East to Identity
Thorn.

OIAN iIieN ii<i<iSs 10 fAPA 49, ~
Recognizing, as he believes, the pic
lures Of two children as those of two
of his family Of four children who
sailed on the Titanic from France with
his wife, Frank Lefebre, a miner near
Mystic, has gone to New York to
identify the two mysterious French
children listed among the survivors of
the ill-fated ship.
| Lefebre's story Is as pitiful as was
any told by those who lived to see land
after having taken passage on the
/ steamship. He came to America
several years ago to work in the
mines, expecting to make enough in
short time to send for his wife and
children. The money came slower than
4 he expected but in a short time he
had made enough to send for his
oldest son, who also found work in
the mines. Money began to pile Vi,
more rapidly after that and few
weeks before the Titanic sailed MIR.
Lefebre sent enough money back home
to bring his wife and the four sma y
children to Iowa. They engaged pas
sage on the Titanic.
Believes Others Were Lost.
i When the list Of survivors of the
4 disaster was given out Mr.. Lefebre
gave up all hope of seeing his family
again, for there were no familiar
{ names in the list of those who were
rescued. Two small boys were among
the rescued, but their names were
not learned. In looking over the
papers several days ago Mr.. I.efehre
! saw pictures of the two small children
and Immediately recognized them as
his own. Yesterday he set out for New
York and their Identification is ex
pected to restore at least two mem
bers of the family to the Iowa miner
He believes that his wife and thu
other two children were among those
. who went down with the Titanic.
Girl Cares for Waits.
The two little waits gained tenn
n porarv home with Miss Margare
: Hayes, a fellow passenger on the i'll
fated steamer. are still at Miss Hayes
j home at 304 West Eighty-Third street
: New York, and not word have the,
{ vouchsafed to any one as to thei
e names, their relatives or any othe
$ matter which might shed ray of ligh
On their antecedents or identity.
: Under the shadow Of giant azale
S they sat, each with brand new boa
j. in hand with which they entertaine
/ themselves while the French consu
$ to New York strove vainly to extrac
s some enlightening word from the eide
s. boy, whose age has been given a
three and a half.
It To every question the little curl
s headed chap replied with a polite BIT
. battling Our and said nothin
It more.
It do you like to play with you
a boat?1 asked the consul, taking tn
little fellow on his knee.
"Oui," came the monotonous repl
what city did you come from?"
"Oui."
d DO you remember the big boat tn;
" brought you away from France?"
c "Oui''
it This time the child's assent ws
,e rather bored as though he wished
!. add: why do you bother me wit
u questions about that old boat when
Z. nave this new shiny, painted, wonde
:; full boat of tin In my hand?"
,e That the two children are brothe
Il. is evident from their striking resel
In blance to each other. There is said
be difference of a year in the
ages. but the older boy is more thu
az years of age. If not, he is We
. tall for his years. Both children ha'
I unusually beautiful chestnut brow
hair which curls in loose ringle
about their heads. Their eyes a
3: dark. Their faces, of cherubic plum
e ness wear that expression of mingl
-. =.