The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-01
THE LOST BOY OF PASSAlC.
uTyDREDS or PERSONS RINGING
n,LLSlND SEARCHING SVAMPS.

MALLS md SE6RCBING SWAhPS'
,,ystcrioup DISAPPEARANCE Of n Boy -Four
wears OId-AgOuy of the Parents
woods scoured-A whole village ON the
Huut-The Urchin Found in New York.
One of the most remarkable instances Of an
eatly development Of propensity TO travel Is that
An Which young resident OF Passaic, N j., figures.
Maurice Atkinson, aged ~ years, started from
his home in passaic Tuesday morning, for the
purpose Of amusing himself as usual in wandering
over the meadows in front Of his fathers house, In
making dirt pies the roads, and in the prosecu.
ton Of ahc ordinary outofdoor studies OF extreme
youth In botany and entomology. lie did not return
10 dinner but ne the young mans habits had never
been regular, his absence not made the cause OF
alarm.
TEA TINE GANG.
tut no Maurice appeared to claim bis share OF the
evening meal and the maternal heart began TO ex-
pcrieuco the psngs Of anxiety. Hour AFTER hour
passed and the truant boy returned not Messengers
were sent TO the neighbors to CLEAN tidings Of the
missing urchin, but nobody had him since early
morning. at which time he was earnestly engaged in
mixing sandy loan and stagnant water with view
~ building monstrous pie or a mimic fort
When night came aud no further news Of the child
had been received, Mrs Atkinson was nearly frantic
visions OF
urrLE WHITE CORPSE
away down in the depths OF the dark passaic Hoated
before her distracted sight She saw her hrst-born
STRUGGLING In the water. heard his last dcspairing crv
and after his little form had been swallowed up by
tide, watched IL swept down by the heartless current
TO The broad ocean. Then she fancied him fninting
and dying Ia the swamp. stfanglnE to death In
The salt meadows among the whstling grass, or
heard his walls and shrieka in the hills aar
away, or saw him crushed beneath the iron wheels
Of thc locomotive screaming along In its ruthless
raih through lonely miles Of forest.
| % to tbs time no general alarm had been given,
Int few OF the negbbors. with Mr.. Atkinson. who
lad Just returned from his place OF business In the
tiy wore searching the boys usual hauhts near
home In tie hope Of ending linn unframed. But
the night passed, and
ruE nor WAS NOT FOUND.
On the folio Sins day, Wednesday, the VIII ,le com
munty was aroused. The memory Of the sad fate
men, women and i'dren, and all who could pos
soy take The Geld to join in the search for tho lost
hoy were at early hour All the bellies Of the
town were kept ringing, ana all the lvelong day
lhe people broken into squads and compsnies con-
tnued the anxious quest. Valley and hin were
scanned. but when darkness fell the hearts of the
parents were sti rackcd with suspense, for no signs
oftheir child had been discovered.
a o'clock every man and boy able TO take part
IN the search went forth with torch or lantern and
around the town were
ALIVE WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS
hurrying hither and ihither and the air resoupdeI
with frequent calls for the missing child But the
night passed and be was stl missing.
Yesterday represent ative OF The Sun took his
way TO Passaic. When he reached the town all the
bells were ringing merry peal, sure sign that the
lost bad been found, that tne truant boy had been
returned 10 his home
No time was lost in seeking the residence Of Mr..
Atkinson, who WAS found on the shady porch VI his
comfortable mansion, about mile from the rail-
road station. About him we're playing three sturdy
little children. stout Of limb, and evidently strong
" imbued with a lively scusc Of their own ind.
5duality. Maurice, the eldest Of
TIE LITTLE TRINITY,
was The FIRST to greet the visitor, and during an
hours visit manifested no relnctance TO answer any
Ia i'm md Ia r.lr1Itr
with docorous silence. but with no less dignifed
mean every word Of advice offered.
Ar. Henry M. Atkinson, the father of the Young
tsro CO the latest local sensation Is connected with
lae sun Seinal hsuranee Company Of New York.
lie to the eitc by the Erie Railroad every
morning, and returns TO his Passaie home at niahf
From him IdE suN representative received he fol
loving account OF his boys adventures. and tn
various hcdents connected with his inantile freak:
rms STORY OF TIE LOST DoY.
Maurice las always been In the habit of roaming
abou, home at will, and Us he has frequently been
absent whole day at time his mother felt no un-
tasGcss at his absence on TUESDAY, until night came
and returned from the city. We were very un.
easy al that night and on the following day our
t rSga6SSr' and in fact the whole community
The tells rurg, and by organizing in parties to hunt
Ior or boy The he search began At noon. There
man took out with him his New foundand dog, a
slenlhtent creature. one OF the larges, and most
tsgacOns In the country who was easily made aware
Of the mission on which he was sent by being
made TO
SMELL ruE BoT's sHoEs.
The dog and his owner secured the woods fr ON
here to Paterson all night long. Many OF the me.
ar Ben. Watson the bleacher and batting maker,
not only took part himself but brought all his work.
men with him. did also Mr.. Harris the painter,
whose shop you noticed at the depot. These
two gentlemen took the lead in organi.
Nj Mcdonald took HE team and went
out to Paterson; the proprietor OF the hotel at Cif
ton aud several others hitched up and went IRON
place to place during ;he whole night Ny next
door neighbor Mr.. Conkng, fearing that the gyp.
sizes Paterson might have Kidnapped the boz,
LISTENED to that point and Tar beyond il, aud has
only just returned Several Of the residents came
tog,tLor Yesterday, and without ny knowledge con
trbut ed $3.50 TO ofer
REWARD FOR THE Chips RECOVERY.
Mr. Atkinson was warm in his expressions of
gratitude TO his neigbors for their kindly sympathy
and assistance. lie thought their good feeling all
be has been but few months in Passaic. and is a
stranger to all but very few of its residents.
but where was Maurice :"
Tie ,oungster rad taken II into his head TO 90 TO
New York; So as the e:l2 train stopped at the depot
he mounted the steps. took seat in u com.
landed safely Of Jersey City, crossed the
ferry with the crowd without attracting
not ce. ami on reaching New York began a peripa-
ietc tour in search OF novelties. At 430 T.. N. he
lornd himself at the corner of Tenth avenue and
lLu'lrth street, where also ROundsman NJ Murray.
1. l,e TWENTY second Precinct, found him.
THE PRECIOUS PIGNY.
"Who arr you 5" said the officer.
Ina NY fathers SON said Maurice.
",Muerc DO you nyes' sail NJ, Murray
" 1--we M Jersey
WAT ~ your fathers name -
Why, hIs names Mr. Atkinson.
some further conversation between d Young in
d,r"uicnt and the officer followed, whercunnn the
little fellow taken to Police Headquarters.
.ll tLt.e .oit in charge Of the good.
hearted matron, "to be called for" Here
lie passed very agreeable time until
yosierlB morning, when Mr. Atkinson called to
make Inquiries, and was delighted 10 find that the
oudacious scion OF his house was In safety. As he
entered the room In which Maurice WIS amusing u
Knot Of Cnicers with his artiess praltle, the boy
recognized his father, and in the coolest possible
mhnner introduced him TO his new friends In the
simple words,
HELLO! THERE'S MY FArHERW
md In few minutes was on his way to receive the
embrace OF hls almost dlstrie ed mother
Nheh NE Train arrived at PRssaic an enth usiaam
arose nuch a. never been known in the old town
SINCE ue indians christcned IL Aquack anonck
People cheerod and yelled. The bells were sci 10
ringing, and IN a lew minutes there was much real
heartfelt JOY among the good folks OF the village 49,
N q new nation had been born or an Old one saved
The Sun representative found Maurice Atkinson
TO be young gentleman OF great self possession-a
hne-looklng little fellow With faIen hair and n
broad honest face tanned Glmos' 30 brownies
When asked why he had taken his sudden trio 10
New York, he replied with perfect frankuess: