The Twin Separation: A Seattle Reunion After 32 Years

A Very Incident

Mrs. A. V. Haas, wife of the chief of the fire department, and Annie Spencer, of Spencer, Washington Territory, met yesterday after 32 years of living apart, and cried with such joy as to bring even the witnesses of the scene to tears. The story of the full and affecting wonder is like a romance.

The names are Mrs. A. V. Haas, wife of the chief of the fire department, and Annie Spencer, of Spencer. Thirty-two years ago at home in Canton, New York, their mother died in giving them birth — twin baby girls. They were cared for at home until they were three years of age when the family broke up. The two baby sisters were taken to be raised by neighbors who soon separated, one to Spencer, Ontario, and the other to Michigan, Illinois.

Neither of these families knew where the other had gone and when the girls grew to young womanhood, each ran a great fear with a desire to see her sister. Letters were written to Canton, but those to whom they were sent had died, gone away or refused all information. Every means was employed that could be used to discover each other's whereabouts but without success.

One day more than a year ago the wife of Of W. Haas, of this city, went home and told her husband that she was sure she had seen Mrs. Annie Spencer, who had been a close friend and neighbor to them at their old home in Spencer, Ontario, and desired that he inquire about it. He did so next day and was told by Mr. Haas that the woman he described as looking so like Mrs. Spencer was not Mrs. but Mrs. Haas. Mrs. Haas having told of the circumstance, was convinced that the woman whose much resembled her must be her lost sister. She visited Mrs. Haas and became more fixed in that opinion from what she heard. She then wrote to Mrs. Spencer, and as a result of the correspondence that ensued was the meeting of yesterday. Mr. Haas says that the meeting has 'broken us all up'; that there never was such a scene before.

Those who have seen the sisters say that their resemblance is something remarkable. Their own husbands are constantly in doubt as to which is which. They are rather stout, neither having the advantage of the other and in every way closely similar, from crown to foot, in their walk, manner, voice, a mole on the chin and a light birth mark on the right cheek.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have come here to remain, and have already gone to housekeeping within a few doors of Mr. and Mrs. Haas, on Cut Street.