A Seattle Family Keeps Vigil for a Son Lost on the Elbe

There is a slight possibility, but one that only the most sanguine would entertain, that Kurt Kleinschmidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kleinschmidt, of this city, did not lose his life at the sinking of the steamship Elbe. This bare possibility hinges on the supposition that he might have sent his name to Bremen for accommodations in the second cabin, but failed to reach the dock in time to sail. If such a thing happened his name would be among those lost, even though he were living.

The shock and the horrible suspense in which Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschmidt are held as to the fate of their son is heightened by the fact that they thought he had already arrived in this country and was on his way across the continent to Seattle. Mr. Kleinschmidt calculated that he would be in Spokane on the day of the disaster. Not a word has been heard from him, which practically establishes that he has not arrived from his ocean voyage. Albert C. and R. H. Kleinschmidt, the wealthy merchants and bankers of Helena, Mont., who are uncles of the lost young man, have wired to Bremen for news and also sent messages here night before last regarding the Elbe disaster.

Many stories are told of how men escaped death by missing a train or boat, but in the case of Kurt Kleinschmidt it was exactly the opposite, for if he had followed out his intentions of sailing on January 15 he would have been safe in the arms of a now distracted family. His plans were all made, and by letter he announced to his parents that he would start home on the 15th. Since then nothing has been heard from him.

He was born at Pleasant Hill, Mo., May 8, 1870, thus being nearly 25 years old. Few young men had a brighter future before them. He possessed a magnificent physique and rare mental qualities, as was shown in his studies. When he was 5 years old his parents moved to Helena, Mont., where his father became a member of the firm of Kleinschmidt Bros., one of, if not the wealthiest firms in the state. They have stores all over the state and also a bank at Basin.

Young Kleinschmidt was graduated from the Helena public schools and then entered the law office of E. D. Edgerton. Later he was appointed a teller in the First National Bank of Helena, which position he held with great credit to himself for two years. His interest in mineralogy, however, led him to enter the Colorado State mining school at Golden, where he received a diploma as a mining engineer. Not satisfied with the education he had already received, he went to Freiberg and entered the Royal School of Mines of Saxony. A short time ago he was graduated with the highest honors conferred in fifteen years. Preparatory to returning home he visited relatives at Bonn-on-the-Rhine. The mines of Westphalia were visited by him, and he also inspected the Krupp gun works.

His father being desirous of opening coal mines in the Stillaquamish district, he decided to come home at once, fixing the date of departure for January 15. What unforeseen accident made him delay his departure until the ill-fated Elbe sailed is a matter for the future to reveal.

Young Kleinschmidt was six feet four inches tall, finely proportioned and possessed of the strength of a Hercules. He was a fine athlete and considered one of the finest fencers in Saxony. His brother Carl is the head of the Kleinschmidt Brothers; another brother, Henry, is a miner at Sheridan, Mont.; his sister, Mrs. Sutor, lives at Los Angeles, Cal., and his two sisters, Annie and Marie, reside with their parents at the corner of Madison and Fourteenth streets.