Saturday, November 4, 2017

"I Am A Wanderer From Home"

    "I am a wanderer from home." Grayson Osborne Moore was just 13 years old when he wrote those words in a postcard to his parents. On March 29th, 1900, thirteen-year-old Grayson disappeared from his home in Elmira, New York. 

The Fateful Event
    Earlier in the day, Grayson and his friend Louis Tanner had gone hunting. Grayson was especially anxious to try out his new Flobert rifle. In all the excitement, Grayson somehow accidentally shot his friend, Louis - in either the back or the leg. (Newspaper accounts differ.) Louis was quickly taken home and then to the Arnot-Ogen Hospital in Elmira. During all the commotion, someone told young Grayson Moore that his friend was going to die.

    Grayson went home, told his parents what had happened - and then fearing he was about to be arrested for murder  - left home. Unknown to Grayson, Louis had the bullet extracted and was never in any real danger. But 13-year-old Grayson Moore left before learning the fate of his friend. 

    From there the mysterious wanderings of Grayson Moore started. He was reported selling pencil sharpeners in Trumansburg, New York but disappeared from there. Shortly after he sent his parents a heart-rending postcard. (Elmira Gazette, 2 May 1900)
"I am a wanderer from home. You will never see me again. Think of me only as the black sheep of the family. I am well but lonesome and unhappy. No one to love me, no one to caress me, no one to care for me.  Your son, Grayson."
    The card was postmarked from Westchester, Pennsylvania. Elmira's police chief sent out postcards throughout the area with a description of Grayson - a slender boy of dark complexion and a slight deformity in his left ankle. His heartbroken parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson R. Moore, wrote letters and put advertisements in newspapers. Mrs. Moore, in a letter to the New York Journal, said "If I had money to offer a reward Grayson might be brought to me. But unfortunately, I have none. Yet Grayson, poor babe, is just as dear." (Elmira Gazette, 2 May 1900)

    On May 18th, his parents received a message from Carmal, PA describing a boy that matched Grayson's appearance. A picture was sent, hopes were raised but it was determined that it ws not Grayson. 

    On May 29th, it was announced that young Grayson Moore had turned up at the Newsboy's Home in Chicago. Mrs. Moore took the long train ride to Chicago, only to discover that it was not her son. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 29 May 1900)

    Finally, in early July, after 13 weeks, Grayson was discovered at a race track in Springfield Massachusetts. He readily admitted to his identity and was excited to learn that his friend Louis had not died. His mother joyfully took the train to Springfield and brought her son home.

Grayson's Journey
    Grayson had quite a tale to tell about his 13-week journey. After leaving his parents home, Grayson hopped on a freight train to Sayre, Pennsylvania. He slept at the station before taking another freight to Philadelphia. On the way there, he met a man who warned him that "tramps were looking for boys of his age and that after getting them they put acid on their arms, making them look like blisters." They would then send them off to beg. Moore determined that he would avoid tramps! He arrived at Scranton and managed to make enough money for food by selling cakes of soap. 

    Continuing his travel, Grayson stopped at Bridgeport, CT and eventually continued on to Salem Massachusetts where he was so ill that he was found passed out along the railroad tracks. He ended up spending three weeks in the hospital.

    Grayson's next stop was Boston. Here he applied for a job at a shoe factory. Told he was too young, he went out, earned some money, bought long pants and went back and got the job. He moved on, working in a rolling mill and taking other odd jobs.

    Finally, Grayson decided to come home. "I had decided that if they wanted to arrest me they could" and he started walking back to Elmira.  He had walked 90 miles, reaching Springfield, when he was discovered.

    This was not the end of Grayson's summer of adventure. On Saturday, August 25, 1900, Grayson Moore was arrested in a park for violating a city ordinance by riding in the park. (Elmira Star-Gazette, 27 August 1900)

Offensive and Disorderly Language (and marriage)
    The next time we heard from Grayson was in May of 1904. Grayson R. Moore, father, swore out a warrant and had one Carrie Kyser arrested. Grayson and two of his friends said that Kyser passed them and "did use offensive and disorderly language, calling them vile names and attracting the attention of the passerby." (Elmira Star-Gazette, 9 May 1904)

    Carrie Kyser was arraigned and her trial set for May 10th. She was noted to be 22 years old, a waitress and from Horseheads. Kyser was released on $100 bail. On May 10th, "Carrie Kyser, she of the unbecoming language and the sharp tongue" had her complaint withdrawn and she was discharged. (Elmira Star-Gazette, 11 May 1904)

    Sometime between this event and 1907, Ms. Carrie Kyser (Kiser/Kizer/Keiser) and Mr. Grayson O. Moore were married. They moved around quite a bit, ending up living in the Washington, D.C. area where his mother moved after remarrying after his father's death. Grayson died there in 1923 at the age of 36. Carrie died in 1927 at the age of 42. They had no children.


What became of Louis?
    So you might wonder? What happened to little Louis Tanner, the 10-year old whose untimely shooting precipitated the events above? 

    Louis went on to marry and have children. Although he appears to have worked for the railroad, Louis apparently had a long career as a bootlegger. He was arrested many times including being arrested for manslaughter while transporting and selling illegal whiskey in the early 20's. The trial was a sensation with many a column inch devoted to the tale. He was eventually acquitted of the charges but would continue to run afoul of prohibition laws.