KIDNAPPED 22 YEARS AGO.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1520, 16 August 1912, Page 4

KIDNAPPED 22 YEARS AGO.

AN AUCKLANDER'S ROMANTIC STORY. .; ' Kidnapped 22 years ago by lus grandmother from a suburb of t . Auckland, New Zealand, Christopher Daniel Saundersou, known as Chris Ward, im cmployco of tho United Railroads in San Francisco, a youth who lias been living for some time past in Oakland, was recently identified through tlio efforts of Thomas -Wcstoby, 717 Sycamore Street, Oakland, and is now returning to his mother, _ Mrs. Charlotte Saimdorson, who still lives near Aucu.land.

Accorduur to tlio story told by Wcstoby, the lad was kidnapped by his grandmother when about two years old and brought to California whoro his father, Charles Saunderson, known as Charles Ward, was living. Sannderson senior, is now dead. In 1900 Wcstoby became acquainted with Sannderson and his grandmother, who has since died, after the great earthquake and iirc in San Francisco, whoro tho pain wore living at the time, Saundersou has also discovered tuat ho Has a brolitai- living in Auckland. Tho causo of tho kidnapping is said to havo been due to a quarrel Between tlio parents. ' '

Sfumderson, who arrived in Wellington yesterday by tbo Manuka from San Francisco, told a Dominion Tepoi-tcr that just before the earthquake, when he was doing work in connection with tho post office, his friends almost got into communication with him; but about that time ho took up work elsewhere, and they onca more lost, all trace of him, and thought that he might have lost his life in the great disaster. Subsequently, however, an advertisement in tho Auckland "Star, asking for information as to his whereabouts was brought under tho notice of Westoby, and soon after that he got into communication with his people in Auckland. Saundorson leaves for Auckland by tho Main Trunk express this morning.