The "Iron Mountain Baby"

Missouri Man Who As Baby Was Thrown From Train, Seeks Kin

West Plains, Mo., Feb. 11-Having failed in his efforts to determine his identity, William Helms, the "Iron Mountain Baby," has settled down to the task of providing his needs of life. He is emplyed here, but is always ready to investigate any information which might solve his question, "Who am I?"

Late in the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 14, 1902, near Irondale, Mo., an aged farmer, William Helms, made his way to a deep limestone cut at the north end of Big River bridge on the old Iron Mountain railroad, at present the Missouri Pacific, to obtain a piece of timber.

About five minutes before he reached the cut, he heard a fast northbound passenger train thunder past. It was train no. 4, with St. Louis as its destination. As he entered the cut, he heard a muffled sound, and looking around, saw a small grip lying close to the jagged rock wall beside the track. He picked it up and quickly untied the straps which bound it. Inside was a baby boy, neatly clothed. Packed with the child were some extra garments and a spool of black thread.

Helms quickly extricated the infant from its close and suffocating quarters, and with the baby under one arm and the grip under the other, hastened to his two-room log house nearby, where his wife and two daughters received the infant.

Apparently the baby had been thrown from the speeding train and dashed against the rock wall, for one arm and a leg were injured. Even today, now grown to manhood, he is lame in one leg.

A few years later the boy was legally adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Helms, and he became known then as William Helms.

The boy entered public school at Hopewell when 7 and attended until he was graduated. He worked on farms, at sawmills and other places to support Mr. and Mrs. Helms as they grew older. He then attended high school at Salem, and worked as a reporter on the Salem News to help pay his way thru school. He later took up the printing trade.

The young man's hope for some day establishing his identity hinges on the tiny garments which were found in the valise in which he was thrown from the train. In addition to the clothing he wore were two complete outfits. Helms does not believe his mother had anything to do with throwing him from the train, because doctors say he was only three or four days old at the time.