Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2026 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Detroit Free Press Wednesday, 5 September, 1883 A MICHIGAN MYSTERY A correspondent of the Milwaukee Sentinel writes from Pentwater, Mich., as follows: The mysterious disappearance of FRANK IRON, which occurred two years ago, has been recalled to mind in a most startling and romantic manner. FRANK IRON was the son of a prominent lumberman of this place, and was himself a heavy logger. In the latter part of January, 1881, he was running an extensive logging camp on the Pentwater River, about fourteen miles dis- tant from Pentwater. One morning he started out to visit an Indian encampment, about seven miles down the river, to pur- chase some hay for the horses employed about the camp. It was known that IRON had only $42 in money, which was just enough to make his purchases. IRON did not return to camp that night, but his companions thought lightly of the circumstance. He did not return the second day, and his friends became very much alarmed. A party was at once organized, consisting of woodsmen, and a search was made for the missing man. His trail in the snow was followed by a detachment from the main party to within a few miles of the Indian village. Here it was lost on account of a fresh fall of snow, but the searchers were determined to accomplish what they had set out to do, and moved on to the village. The Indians professed to be entirely ignorant of young IRON'S whereabouts. They claimed that he had not been in their village at all. This story was maintained by the Indians under the most stringent cross-examination. The most thorough inquiry failed to discover anything of the miss- ing man's whereabouts and his father and friends were forced to the conclusion that he had been foully dealt with. The theory of flight was scouted because of the small amount of money which he was known to have when he disappeared. He left $400 in the bank here and had $600 coming to him from his em- ployers. It was generally known that the young man always carried a large sum of money and it was thought that he had been waylaid by Indians or some roving loggers and murdered by them for the purpose of robbery. When the winter snow had melted in the spring, search was again made for the body, but it was like the first - fruitless. Young IRON was a general favorite in this locality. Young, handsome and endowed with an almost brilliant wit, he was ever welcome in all classes of society. Among those who grieved at the dissapearance of the young man was miss GRACE VASEY, the daughter of a millwright. Miss VASEY was the acknowledged belle of the town. She had hosts of admirers who would gladly have sacrificed anything to win her hand. The latter, however, she pledged to young IRON. The news of his disappearance was a heavy blow to her, and she has ever since mourned him as dead. About a month ago Miss VASEY was taken suddenly ill. She was seated in the parlor of her father's house when she suddenly fell to the floor as if in a fit. A physician was summoned and restoratives were applied, but they had no effect. The doctor, after a time, stated it as his belief that Miss VASEY had become entranced. The young lady, while apparently laboring under some powerful spell from which the efforts of the physicians to free her were unavailing, began to talk; at first in a rambling and disconnected manner. Her friends crowded about her eager to see the strange sight and hear the words which fell from her lips. Her sentences gradually became more connected, and her listeners were startled by the words: "Go to the Black Lake at midnight of August 28, and you will behold a light. Under that light lies the body of FRANK IRON." The girl repeated her command several times in the same unearthly way. What made it the more peculiar was that Miss VASEY and her parents are believers in spiritualism and are strict Catholics. Miss VASEY emerged from the trance very weak, and she re- quired good medical aid for some days afterward. She was interrogated by her father and mother about the startling words which she had uttered and was greatly surprised and alarmed. She professed to be entirely ignorant of every- thing which occurred during the time it was alleged that she was entranced. When the 28th - last Tuesday - came around, nearly 500 persons had prepared to visit Black Lake to watch for the "will o'-the-wisp," which Miss VASEY had predicted would make its appearance. There were delegations from Hart, Pentwater and Ludington. Black Lake is a small prosaic body of water, situated in the heart of a great pine forest and is about eight miles from Pentwater. It gets its name because of its dark, murky waters, surrounded on all sides by immense pines, which stand as gloomy sentinels on its banks. Long before midnight Tuesday, when the prediction of Miss VASEY was to be tested, the banks of the lake were crowded by the hundreds of curious people. At precisely 12 o'clock the watchers were startled by a low murmer, which seemed to come from the middle of the lake. The sound suddenly ceased, and many of the watchers were terri- fied to behold arising, as if from the center of the lake, a small, brilliant light. It hovered over the dark waters of Black Lake for an instant and disappeared. Some of the more cynical claim they did not see the light, but a major- ity of those on the banks affirm having seen it. The people all started homewards in a few minutes with the exception of FRANK IRON'S father and some of his friends. They pro- ceeded to drag the lake, full of hope mingled with fear that Miss VASEY'S prediction would be only too true. But the last part of her prediction has never been established. The work of dragging proved fruitless and the body of IRON remains undiscovered. The ending of the affair has pro- duced the greatest excitement here and at Hart, and the outcome of the final dragging operations is looked for with a great deal of interest. Miss VASEY was probably as much surprised as anybody at the appearance of the light. She did not herself see it, having refused to accompany some friends to the lake, but she regards it as a work of the Almighty. ===============================================================================