The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-12
Former Resident Of Alexan.
dria Last Seen Yesterday
Morning at Des MONIES
River Bridge.
NO TRACE CAN BE FOUND
AL Is Known is That She
Crossed Bridge With Male
Companion and People
Saw Them Separate.

A woman mysteriously disappeared
from the south end OF the Des
Moines river bridge yesterday. Al
though search was instituted as soon
Is suitcase was found at the Mis-
souri, end OF the bridge. no trace
could be found of the woman. The
man with whom she Is said to have
been walking, when they came down
the railroad tracks from Keokuk and
passed the watch house on the
bridge, is said to have gone through
Alexandria. In the suitcase was
picture and numerous articles OF
woman's clothing. The woman was
about forty-fve years OF age.
The woman who disappeared IL be
iieyed to have been Mrs. Thomas OF
Alexandria, who some time ago was
married to man at Waterloo. the
man who WAS her companion when
they passed the entrance to the
bridge is said to have been Henry
Gates Of this city. It is said that the
woman has been living in Keokuk for
about a week This statement was
verified BY q personal acquaintance OF
the woman who said he was taking
with her last SUNDAY.
It was learned this morning that
the woman sent her small daughter
to Alexandria. to her son, Robert
Thomas, who works in store there.
The son met the girl. and thought It
was strange, his mother did not come
with her.
Gates and Mrs. Thomas were both
residents Of Alexandria at one time,
and 1t is thought that he may have
oyertaken her on the way down the
tracks and was carrying her suit
case for her.
Passed Early IN Morning.
II was $3.50 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing that the couple parsed the watch
house on the Iowa side OF the bridge,
according to the Waterman on the
bridge. About two hours later the
suit case was discovered ON the
tracks, and an alarm was given. A
number Of witnesses are said to have
seen the woman stop At the south
end Of the structure, and her COM
panion leave her and go on down the
tracks. This IL all that can be learned
however.
The suitcase was found on the
tracks, and an Investigation was
made at once. The brush was
searched for some trace Of the wom-
an, but failed to give any clue az to
her whereabouts.
A constable was notified at Alexan-
dria, and word was sent all along
the track to look out for the woman.
A searching party which combed the
brush, falling to find any traces OF
the woman gave up the quest, after
exhausting every possible means to
discover some trace of the missing
woman.
This morning the suit case was
sent to her son In Alexandria In 1t
were found a picture of the woman
and numerous articles Of wearing ap-
parel.
Seen by People Living Near.
It was after noon yesterday when
the first intimat1on that anything was
wrong was given the Waterman at the
bridge, william Mclaughlin. Follow.
ing the report Of three men who were
coming from Alexandria and who
found the suitcase, It was decided to
Investigate A house some little dis,
lance from the bridge was the first
place visited
Here it was learned that the couple
were seen talking. and while the WON
an Of the house said that they saw
hundreds pass each day, and could