The New York herald., 1870-01-21
TIE wEpT OF WYNOCKIE.
No Trace Yet Of Les Enfants Perdu-The Aid Of
Clairvoyants Invoked-Singular
Superstition.

The deeply interesting yet painful narrative Of the
mysterious disappearance or the three children of
Wynockie, on New Years Day, has been already
tod, but only In outline An event SO startling and
unaccountable deserves more than passing notice.
That children should get lost IN the woods, as they
frequently do In The streets Of the city Is not IN It.
self a matter for surprises but that these children
should disappear from view suddenly and leave no
trace OF their whereabouts Is indeed remarkable.
Ever since she discovery was made by Mr.. Joseph
Wybe that his children were lost thorough search
has been gong on In the woods and
mountains OF the wild region where 1t was
supposed they had strayed; every bush for
miles round was examined; every rocky cavity
visited, and the river which winds round the
mountain was dragged for the bodies OF the little
ones. Hundreds of people engaged in the search,
and the whole upper part of the county OF PassaIc
was deeply agitated The local authorities as fur
ther stimulant TO those engaged In the mercful
search offered reward OF 500 for the recovery OF
the three children or any OF then and private citi
zans were ready with their purses to reward him
who should be successful IN rescuing the wept OF
wynockie All effort thps far, however, has awaited
nothing; the people have seltled Gown into their
ordinary quietude. the mystery Is still Unexplained
ana the wretcled parents OF the lost nnocents are
left to mourn alone.
The house in which John Wyblc lives, and from
which the children strayed, Is built the side OF
valley, about twelve miles north OF Paterson and
half mile beyond Tills Hotel, the main road to
Long Island. The country round about Is wild,
stern, and sparsely Inhabited by people as wild
the land on which they live. The principal occu-
patton or the miserable creatures who dwell In the
nuts on the sides OF the mountains Is charcoal
burning and the income derived from the sale OF
this article Is their entire support. In winter when
the snow covers the ground, whitens the tree tops
aud but half conceals the hdcous DOulders Of rocks
that hang tlreateningly over the valley; when the
voice Of the river Is hushed ana the herce ICY wind
howls along the mountain slde-the scene ls dreary
and desolate beyond description.
The weather was mid and calm, though rainy on
New Years Day. though the following days were
bitterly cold. Joseph Wyble left his three children,
aged ten, eight and Fix, respectively, with his wife,
and started Tor P0mptOn that afternoon. He was
not long gone when the little ones seeing the coast
some nuts and away they scampered along the side
Of the hill and were soon lost to view. Wnen the
deepening oI approacning night santed on the road
the boys. Her husband soon returning from POmptOn
she went to the door and called them each by name.
The deusive echo only answered. Then the poor
people raised an alarm, the news spread neighbOrs
gathered ana general search was made. Ia the
morning, through binding snow and rain, people
came back from the woods and cliffs with the tidings
OF Ill omen. The children were not TO be found. SO
much ana no more l Is known: But as superstition
round about attributed the disappearance Of the
children TO more than ordinary causes. The more
the lost ones were rejected ana the most absurd
stories OF demon agency, hobgoblns ghosts were
yarns 80 worked upon one Of the men that ne de-
clared to have seen the ghosts OF the children, who
told him that their throats had ,1,. been cut
discussion OF afiinties and believer In 'spirits'
said she was in trance and that while in that state
she saw the missing children wander into the
woods followed them 10 her minds eye, when
picked up by man, put into wagon and carried
Oh. This man9uvre on the part Of the man, appa-
n IL w
this:-The man was building q barn. but had not
money to finish 1t, so he took It into his head TO
steal the children and hold them until reward
sufficient TO meet the expense Of fnlshng his barn
offered for their recovery. The story Is lnge-
the spirituaiist should the cnildrenI return alive.
But while It IL strange that snch gross
superstition should still exist in . country place
Il ' is more sinaalar still that respectable people
IN the city Of Paterson should be 80 infatuated as TO
believe such absurd stories leow named I,n Mills
yoyant and well known humbug, was actually en-.
trusted by his admirers to 90 to the scene Of the
The cHildren's disappearance. This "seer'' was
taken up Wyn0ckle with his wonderful globe, and
there I'll Monday Locking % INTO 1T n go9e
teen acres. In certain direction about Two miles
from the house OF the children, which had not yet
been searched as all. Under rock on this
patch OF land he saw quarter Of beef,
with spotted hide and pair Of horns. On party
Of men gong to the nsgnoornoSd MI indicated saey
that the earth about was covered TOO deeply with
snow for HIM TO see well; but there would come
| more snow, then freezing, and then some rain to
take that snow away, after which the children
| would be found quite near that rock under winch
| the beef was found Mills, 1t Is also said pointed
out where the children had slept the night they
had disappeared, showing whore they had scraped
| together the leaves to make couch. He SAID tney
nad returned to the same place on Sunday night
Also. After that they seem TO have been showed
under for he does not appear to have seen any
| Of course these movements produced intense ex.
element among the people; but OF course also. no.
thing ever came Of them. Suspicious are enter
talheu Dy many persona that tho children were nb-
| Quoted: and there some who declare It to be
! their opinion that they were murdered ana buried
| ~ sone out VI ths way place. but wnale It w0nld