The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-26
CLYDE RENTz FOUND
TNnfONSVILLE PLANTER CARED
FOR LOST LAD.

Paid Boys Fare as He Was About
to be Put Off of Train and Took
Him Home with Him.
The News and Courier says Clyde
Rentz, the 13-year old boy who van
ished from his home at Lakeland, Fla
on January %, and for whom since
that date fruitless search has been
maintained by his relatives in this
State and in Florida, has been found
on a farm seven miles from Tim
monsville. Mr.. Pic Purvic, plant
er of that section came to the assis-
tarce Of the little lad as he was
about to be put Off train in Geor-
gia, and taking the lost youngster
home with him, has cared for him
ever since. An account in The News
and Courier concerning the disap-
pearance Of the boy was the means
of the discovery Of the lad by his
relatives after they had almost CIV
en- up hope of seeing him again.
Clyde Rentz IS the son Of Mr.. D.
P. Rentz, Of Lakeland, Florida.
When Clyde was two days old his
mother died and he was sent to live
with his grandparents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Jacob G. Rentz, who reside near
Branchville, in this county. Ele re-
NAMED with his grandparents till
las sun r1e1, when he went - Els
fathers home In Florida. He dis
appeared from Lakeland on January
2S and since that date all efforts 20
find him have been vain.
The first clue to where the boy
went when he vanished was report
ed in The News and Courier Tues
day. A Charleston man, travelling
on a north-bound Coast Line tram
from Jacksonville to Charleston on
January %, saw on the train a little
lad who gave his name as Clyde
Rentz, and who stated that he had
lost his father in Jacksonville and
had boarded the train, thinking that
his father was in one of the coaches.
The Charlestonian stated that the
conductor had put the lad on the
train at Folkston, Ga.
It now appears that Mr.. Pic Pur-
Wis, a farmer Of the TlmmonsVllle
section who was also on the train at
the time, paid the boys fare in or
der to prevent the conductor from
putting him off, and then took the
lad with him to his home. On Mr..
Purvis' farm, seven miles from Tim
monsville, Clyde Rentz has been Nv
ing happily ever since. Mr.. PurV1s
| bought him a suit Of clothes ana
some books and started him at
school. and the lad seemed perfectly
happy.
Although diligent search was
| made for the lad from the time OF
his disappearance, the case was not
| reoorted to the newspapers until
about a week ago. Then an article
was published in The News ano
Courier narrating the circumstances
of the lads disappearance, and tnls
| was followed by several other artl-
| cles of the same general sort. One
Of these articles in The News and
Courier was seen by MIR. PurVas ana
he at once communicated with
Clyde's grandfather at Branchviile.
An uncle of Clyde's, Mr.. Peter Rentz,
Immediately went to Mr.. PurVls'
farm to get the youngster.
Among those who aided in the
search for the little fellow was the
Rev. E. A. Mcdowell, OF Ehrharot:
The following letter from Clyde's
grandfather to the Rev. NJ. Mcdowell
soeaks eloquently Of the gladness
which the discovery of the boy has
brought to one South Carolina
home:
"The Rev. E. A. Mcdowell, Ehr-
hardt, S. C.-My Dear Brother: We
have found Clyde; he is at Timmons-
vile, S. c. My son, DR.. Peter Rentz'
has gone for him.
Leaving Lakeland, Fla, Clyde
boarded a train between Jackson
Vile, Fla, and Charleston. Having
no money to pay his fare the con-
ductor was about to put him off'
when a man form Timmonsville en-
gagged him in conversation. CLYDE,
told him his parents were dead and
that he was hunting for home. the
man paid his fare and took him to
his home in Timmonsville. He
bought for him a suit Of clothes and
some books and started him to
school; said he seemed perfectly sat-
ished and was doing we'll. He saw
the article about Clyde's disappear
ance in The News and Courier and
at once wrote to me. So the dead is
alive, and the lost is found. Thank
God. And may the Lord bless you
for the interest you have taken IN
the matter and the help you and the
sapers have given US in finding him.
ct have hope Of seeing my poor
little lost boy before tomorrow
night. I feel like new man, l am
so happy. Thank God!
"I am gratefully and fraternaliy'
yours,
"Jacob G.. RentZ."