Three-Year-Old Travels Alone from New York to Stroud

Three-Year-Old Travels Alone from NY to OK

New York Times, 7 March 1900

     Assistant General Passenger Agent Palmer of the Wabash today received a telegram from Stroud, Oklahoma, announcing that Helen M. Francis, three years and eight months old, had arrived safely at that point after having traveled from New York city without escort other than the trainmen to whose care she had been committed. Officers of the road say that little Miss Francis is the youngest child that has ever traveled alone by rail on a journey of such great length.

     The child was placed aboard a West Shore train in New York last Saturday, tagged for Stroud. Conductors on every division were notified, and where change of cars was necessary passenger agents took charge of her. The girl’s mother died recently, and her father desired to send her to her grandmother.

     The Chandler News noticed the story 9 March 1900.

The original clipping was provided by Jan Vassar.