Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-05-06
The Mysterious Disappearance.
Correspondence Gsllipolis Journal.
CHEsHIRE, oH1o. April a6th. 1869.

iiOhA euO iooe Shi, Al you udfo iVOLu III
your columns you can insert it:
Miss Cynthia Darst. daughter of
James Darst, started on a visit to her
uncle Elijah Darst, On Saturday even
ing about 81 O'Clock P. H., April 18th.
She told her felix that she would be
back on the next evening. She did not
return as she said. They thought,
perhaps, she would come part way and
stay with some of the neighbors on the
road. They went to work as usual,
but her father did not feel satisfied; he
spoke about her during the forenoon,
several times, as the girl was always
very prompt in doing what she said;
although he worked on till noon. He
went to the house, but the girl had not
yet come; he got on his horse and went
to see about her-he inquired about her
on the road; no one had seen anything
of her. He went to the place where
she started to go; when he reached the
place and inquired for her, they told
him that she had not been there He
put whip to his horse, and on his way
home raised the neighbors, and they
went to hunt for her. She had small
strip Of wood to go through, and they
all started to this piece of wood to find
her, as they thought tree or limb had
fallen on her. When they passed
through the wood they began to form
different opinions, some one thing and
some another. By 8 o'clock the whole
neighborhood was raised and in the
wood with lamps and torches. The
wood was Illuminated as far as could
be seen. They hunted all night, but it
was all in vain. The next morning
from two or three different places, be-
tween $50 and 800 persons were upon
the hunt; it was a very bad day, and
raining the most of the time. They
searched the wood, the thickets and
fields, for great distance that day
Night came and no information could
be heard of the lost. They could not
give her up, but continued the search
upon the next morning "Wednesday, J
there being about as many as upon the
previous day. Runners were started
in every direction to see if anything
could be heard of the lost girl. They
rode all day hard; no tidings could be
heardo her. There were great many
in search throughoutthen neighborhood,
and yet not word could be heard!
But, between sundown and dark the
the horns began to blow, the bells be-
gan to ring, the guns were heard and
the cannons were fired-the lost is on
her way home! Shortly she reached
her place of abode.
By this time, all are on their way
in from the wood, also the runners, to
see what was up. The lost girl is home
safe. There was more rejoicing over
her than nine hundred and ninety nine
who were not lost.
This is all that transpired before she
returned. l will now give you her
travels and wanderings in the wood
while gone, which have from her.
She tells that which we cannot doubt
in the least On her way she took the
wrong road and travelled for some dis
tance, until thinking she was wrong,
turned back. On her way back she
discovered that she was lost, and in
trying to find the right road wandered,
and being frightened, missed or did
not know the road when she came to it.
Dark coming on, she thought to get
out of the wood, but continued to trav
ell during the night, and in her travels
remember of passing through two
fields, and crossing couple of creeks,
which we suppose to be, from her de-
scription, Big Kyger and Leading
creeks. just before daylight she came
to house--the first she had seen, she
approached the house, but large dog
coming out did not venture to call upon
them. By this time she had reached
a road, and continued her travels all
that day without anything to eat, when
stopping at wayside house for the
night, there got her supper and break
fast. She inquired the way to Porter,
but they could not tell her; and then
wishing to know the way to Pomeroy,
directions was given her. She started,
and on the road had Leading creek to
cross, but upon coming up to the creek
could find no conveyance over, where
upon she started down the creek, and
coming to fallen tree which is used
as foot log, crossed upon it, and in
crossing thus, thought it prudent to
remove her shoes for her safety, and
while crossing unfortunately lost one of
them. She then went TO the first house
she came to, and telling her circum-
stances, was given shoe. While at
this house some men came in and gave
her money enough to buy her pair of
shoes She then continued her travels,
and meeting a man during the after
noon told him she was lost and told |
her name-this being the first time she
had said she was lost. She inquired |
the way to Salem Center. Then trav
cling on finally found herself in Harri-
sonyille, she passed on through the vii
lage about one mile, and dark coming
on stopped and stayed all might. There
again inquiring for Pomeroy and pro-
ceeding thence (as she thought until
about 10 o'clock A. M, when she again
found herself in Harrisonville. She
then started back to Salem Center, and
on her way met man, of whom she
inquired the way to Kygerville and
Danville. She travelled on until night,
and stopping for the night started
next morning for home. When she
reached Kygerville it was in the even
ing. She met DR.. Johnston, the first
man she knew; the DR.. did not know
her. She passed on by, when Mrs.
Johnston spoke to DR.. J. and asked
him if that was not the lost girl. He
then thought for moment, when he
got on his horse and went in pursuit
of her, and when heovertook her asked
her if she was not the daughter of