Miscellaneous, Mysterious Disappearance in Guilford, 1860

Mysterious Disappearance in Guilford

Chenango Telegraph, February 29, 1860

 

We learn that on Saturday evening last, a young Englishman named Elwood, who has for some time successfully taught a select school at Fayette, disappeared from his boarding place, and no traces were found of him until Monday morning, when his cane and cravat were found near a hole in the ice on Guilford pond.  When our informant left, means were being taken to search the pond for his body. He spent the early part of Saturday evening in writing letters, but what he did with them our informant did not know.  He had for some days exhibited considerable dejection, produced, it is rumored, by an uneven flow of the current of true-love, and whether he has drowned himself, or gone to other parts to hide his sorrow, leaving his cane and cravat as a blind, it is impossible yet to say.

 

The Guilford Disappearance

Chenango Telegraph, Mar. 7, 1860

 

The disappearance of young Elwood mentioned in our last week's paper continues a matter of mystery and speculation.  Search has proved unavailing in solving the question of his whereabouts, and, so far as the pond is concerned will most likely continue to be until the ice shall have melted.  His mother has arrived at Guilford from her residence in one of the Western Counties of the State, and (as do others most intimately acquainted with him) scouts the idea that either pecuniary embarrassment, or depression of mind, can have been the cause of his disappearance.  The letter which he had written on the evening of his disappearance was to his mother, and was pervaded by a cheerful tone.  In it he spoke hopefully of his present and future prospects, and reading what it contained would lead any to infer that the writer contemplated anything but a continuation in his then present locality and occupation.  And those who saw  him last represent him as being unusually cheerful and composed.  Reasoning from all these circumstances, and from the fact that he was accustomed to walk upon the pond, we understand that his friends fear that he went to the pond for his exercise before retiring and incautiously stepped into a hole [..torn..] The missing man was a person of fine natural abilities, careful cultivation, and extensive acquirements.  Admired by his friends and respected by his acquaintances, the mystery which hangs round his fate has thrown gloom over all who knew him. 

 

The Guilford Mystery

Madison Observer, Morrisville, NY

March 14, 1861

 

Something over a year ago, a young man named Elwood, a teacher at Guilford disappeared under circumstances which induced his friends to think that he had been accidentally drowned in Guilford Pond, but search developed no traces of his body.  From that time to the present, it has been a mooted question with those who knew him whether he had been drowned or run away.  But, within a few days, a letter has been received from him by a gentleman in this county, in which he gives an account of his wanderings and his present whereabouts.  He left because of pecuniary embarrassments, he says, and regrets the act--Chenango Telegraph.