The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-12
vv.MEDCALF
MISSING IN
RIVER CASE.
Fear Tragic Solution Of
Disappearance Of Rock
Island Man.

Mystery today surrounds the dis
appearance and possible drowning |
in Rock river late Wednesday AFT
ernoon Of Walter W. Medcalf, COM
mander II Siboney Bay camp, Span
ish War veterans, who has conduct
ed a business under the name Of
Black Hawk Furniture company
for the last year at 2029 Fourth
avenue.
Medcalf, who recently sold his
home at 1858 Forty-third street.
and had since resided at q camp on \
Rock river, was last seen at his
camp by neighboring campers about
2:30 yesterday afternoon when,
clothed in bathing suit and pair
Of overalls, he ,rowed down the
river toward Sandy Beach. where
early this morning his boat was
found. The overalls, lying in the
bottom Of the boat, suggest that
the missing man met his death in
the river.
In Town at : O'clock.
However, Mrs. Gus Moeller, wife
Of the funeral director having par
lors across the avenue from the
Black Hawk Furniture company
store, said that she saw Mr.. Med
calf come out of his store at S
o'clock in the afternoon. pick up
daily paper and reenter the store.
Herman Schwecke, owner OF the
building in which the store is locat-
ed, and living In flats upstairs, is
said to have heard Mr.. Medcalf
walking around in the store at
about the same time he was seen
by Mrs. Moeller.
Mystery Deepens.
The mystery is deepened by stor-
les told by swimmers off Sandy
beach Wednesday afternoon, who
claim that they did not see Mr.. Met
calf at the beach and that there
was no boat tied near the beach.
Notwithstanding this the boat was
found at about $50 o'clock this
morning tied to a tree at the beach
and in 1t were the overall jumpers
that campers had seen Mr.. Medcalf
wearing as he left his camp at 2:30
O'Clock in the afternoon.
Relatives say that Medcalf was
an expert swimmer and under any
theory of drowning he must have
contracted cramp or been over
come with heat prostration.
Went to Moline.
Ngro MoIoa1f xrhan i,,thrw{n-aI
by The Argus this morning, said
that at o'clock yesterday morning
her husband accompanied her to
the home Of her sister, Mrs. Aibin
Verne, 1888 Fifteenth street, Mo-
line. At that time he was in the
best of spirits. At noon Mrs. Med
calf conversed with the missing
man. who still showed NO indispo-
sition or irritation. She WAS un-
able to get any answer when she
sought to call him at the camp in
the late afternoon and early even
ing. She then surmised that Mr..
Medcalf was attending the Masonic
picnic at Long View park, for he
was active in fraternal affairs.
Failed to Return.
After a night Of worrying she
and her husbands sister. Mrs.
Frank Christian, 1874 Thirty-second
street, Rock Island, and A. p.
Dehr, Moline garage owner, friend
of the family, motored out to the
camp at 6 o'clock this morning.
. The boat that was used by Mr..
Medcalf was found q short time la
Ter by camper, and search for
the missing man by dragging the
river was Immediately begun. A
call was put in to the police and
large drag hooks we're sent out. A
number of boats were busy, but az
ter several hours no results were
obtained.
Diamond and Watch Missing.
MIR. Medcalfs street clothes were
found at the camp, but watch and
a diamond stick pin could not be
found, and a theory Is put forth
that unless he hid them before go
ing down the river in the rowboat
he must have hid them on the bank
near the beach, or perchanca, might
have met with foul play and had
the valuables taken from him
However, those investigating the
case can not account for Mr.. Med
calf being reported to have been
heard and seen around his store al
. O'Clock in the afternoon.
Worked for Hill Furniture Co.
Mr.. Medcalf first came to Roch
Island as a soldier in the regular
army on Feb. rs, 1908, and served
ior six years at the Rock Island
arsenal being discharged In 1914
About four years ago he begar
work at the Hill Furniture com.
pany, 1915 Second avenue. as Z
salesman. He stayed in the EN-
pioyment Of the company for three
years. One year ago he left th'
company's employ to open his owl
store at 202s Fourth avenue undel
the name Of the Black Hawk Fur
niture company.
Mr.. Medcalf was married to Mis-
Selma Nelson Of this city on Ma!
%. 1912. \
Had Host Of Friends.
Mr.. Medcalf had host OF friend
IN Rock Island. He was electel
commander Of Siboney Bay Camp
Spanish American War Veterans
ana his wife was president Of tn