Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-20
Strange Disappearance.

There has been intense excitement in the
northeastern part of the State during the past
week, caused by the strange disappearance of
young woman of ~ years named Emma
Sands, whose family live near Essex Centre
in Chittenden county. The Sands family
consists of n blind and widowed mother and
the daughters Lizzie, Emma, Mary, Susie and
Aggie, the youngest being II years of age.
Emma and Mary have a team and have trav-
eled in the north part of the State, selling
aces. Yankee notions, etc. The girls all bear
an excellent reputation. Emma had attend
cd the Essex Classical institute, and had
taught several terms in the vicinity of her
home. The week previous to her disappear
ance, Emma in company with younger sis
ter had been out on a peddling tour through
Lamoille county, and were on their way home,
Saturday night Othe 7th) when they stayed
over night at Cambridge. Sunday they took
their team and drove as far as Joel Putnam's,
ut Westford Corners, where Emma had for
merly resided. The sisters remained at Mr..
Putnam's during the day, until about six
o'clock in the evening, when Emma took the
team and in company with Luther Putnam's
INO lllllt BiIlh uuu Allhb Allth Oliitg' u uO-
nestle in the family of Eli Hobart, went to
Mr.. Hobart's house, and from there sent her
team back to Westford by the two younger
girls, intending to remain over night at Mr..
Hobart's, with Miss Cilley, and return early
in the morning to Mr. Putnanis. But, on
account of some real or fancied intimation
from Mrs Hobart that it would be inconven-
lent for her to remain there over night, Miss
Sands informed Aida that she was going to
at once return to Mr.. Putnam's and Aida
told her it would be best, under the crcum-
stances, for her to do 70. This was about s
o'clock Sunday evening 1t seems that Mr.
Hobart has working for him young French
man named La Rock, who told Aida that he
was going to see Miss Sands back to Mr..
Putnam's. Upon Miss Sands being informed
of La Rocks intentions, she endeavored to
avoid his company, and in order to do so de-
termined to take the railroad track back to
Mr. Putnam's instead of going by the high
way. The Cilley girl accompanied her about
half mile to what is known as the 'trestle
and wood-pile." This trestle is over a gorge
and is about 20 feet high and 100 feet long
On one side is dense woods, and on the other
wood and pasture lands; and for mile from
this place it is a wild and rough looking sec
ton. Aida saw Miss Sands cross the trestle,
where she made signal of 'all right with
her hands This is the last seen of her by
any one except La Rock. Aida turned and
ran back to Mr.. Hobarts, where she arrived
after night-fall La Rock went to neigh
boris near Putnam's and returned about half
past nine o'clock. When near Hobart's he
says he passed Emma going the same way
toward Hobart's, which would be opposite to
the direction in which she had started. He
spoke to her and she answered in broken
French, Don't understand" He left her, az
he says, and went directly to Hobart's.
When the fact of Miss Sands diappearance
became known the next morning the gravest
apprehensions were at once aroused, and the
whole community turned out to search for
her As many as 5000 persons, it is said, have
been engaged in searching the woods in the
vicinity expecting to find the body of the
young woman foully dealt with and hidden
away The Lamoille river has been dragged
and every thing that could be thought of has
been deem done, but without satisfactory re-
suit thus far.
Developments during the past few days
lead many people to believe that, instead OF
having been murdered or forcibly abducted,
the young woman has, in wild and daring
freak, donned boys clothes and struck out to
see the world