Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-01
StOdrtJs,,sore Man,
"Dead," }" Returns



Continued from rose One
because Of the chilly weather all had re.
fused.
Mourned a. Dead
e He started out alone. He failed Ia
return and a few days Inter there was
found his battered canoe. When Dr.
Roy failed to return and nothing was
seen or heard Of him, he was given up
as dead. -
Friends supposed that his little craft
had probably been struck by a shin.
bis canoe capsizcd and that he was
drowned while attempting to swim
ashore.
Or. Roy says he recalls only the
strange incident OF suddenly coming
to life" in the clothes of a rough
laborer In the station nt Kansas
City, There herr, was scar on his
theory that he was struck on The
head at the time Of the accident, He
thinks that he may have been picked
up BY an outgoing ship and was per-
hnps taken to some city along the West.
ern cOast.
Once In possession Of his faculties,
he Immediately telegraphed to his wife,
at their home. ut 527 Fifth avenue,
New York, only to find that she had
given him up for dead and had moved
to Los Angeles to live with relatives.
Locates Wife
He located her there by telecram
and went to Los Angeles for the happy
reunion.
DR.. Roy. who IL thirty three years
old, was graduated from Swarthmore in
1900. and served subsequently, during
the World War.
At the time Of the accident the phoe.
nix. the student publication ut Swarth.
more College. contained the following
reference to his supposed death:
''1t is with a feeling Of deep sadness
that we announce the sudden death Of
Harold Il. Roy, 90, March II. 1921.
He was canoeing alone on the Hudson
River. and the particulars of his death
are not known, but 1t is believed that
an oil tanker. which was on the river
at the same time and place. must have
struck him. as the smashed canoe was
recovered. Swarthmore has lost loyal
son and his friends and classmates will
greetings"
The letter sent to the Swarthmore
College Alumni Association, in which
DIR. Roy tells OF his recovery in Kansas
City. was forwarded by David Dwight
Rowlands. of Sheboygan. Wis. presi.
dent Of the class Of 1000. The letter
| follows:
"Dear Dave-sit down before !
knock you down with the news am
writing you. This is neither ghost nor
story writing. but by my own hand !:
just ms-lIarold e. Roy. Swarth-
my thanks to you and to my class
for your kindness to my wife upon re.
port OF my death last March.
"When che tells me of finding my
canoe smashed up, that is all know
about it. and the rest is my recovering
my identity in Kansas City few days
| ago. ! have n recent scar and had
some soreness below and behind 1t. on
my right temple.
"Though my hands did not show
signs of any very hard work. I found
| only rough. heavy clothes in my hand.
| bags. recovered from the checkroom in
| the Kansas City Union Station.
Found also some Canadian money in
my pocket. BY telcgraphing ! located
my wife here with some relatives and
! we are happily reunited.
"I have myself recovered from the
shock more rapidly than she. being now
on milk diet and back to norma! weight.
expecting 10 continue tne ulct IOr SOIHe
time. HAKOLD II. NOf:
Dr.. Roy was one of the best athletes
in his class. playing football, basket.
ball and lacrosse. For two years he
was n star on the varsity track team:
He was graduated from the College OF
Dental and Oral Surgery in New York
In 1912.
Dr.. Raymond Walters. dean OF
Swarthmore College. said today he has
been in telegraphic communication with
DR.. Roy. at los Angeles. The long
missing man wired that his memory re-
turned suddenly. and that apparently
he had been wandering about In this
country and Canada.
DR.. Spencer Trotter. professor OF
biology at Swarthmorc. was DR.. Roy $
major instructor. He said he hoped
the dentists experience has not rob.
bed him Of his professional skill.
Esther Baldwin, professor of Eng.
lish at Swarthmore, was secretary of
DR.. Roy's class. She said he was very
loyal in attending reunions. and that
he has been generous to the college since
graduation. Or. Roy's last visit to
.swarthmore was in 1910, when he at.
tended the tenth reunion of his class.