The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-06-20
Lost ia the " Wilderness--A Local Epis ode
Of Sixty Years Ago. y

The Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette relates
the thrilling experience Of an Old-time resi-
dent Of our neighboring town Of Indiana, and
as the scene Of the adventure IS located less
than twenty miles from EbenSburg, we need
offer no apology for reproducing II in the col
umns OF the FREEMAN. Here Is the story,
and we are sure it viii he perused with in
tereSt, especially by those of our older readers
who may be able to recall the circumstances
Sixty years ago a large track Of land in PeTnsyl-
vanla lying along the upper tributaries OF the Sus
4Aeii'ttll ana e.tstet DLtllli'7 W tg
rivers, was an uhroken forest The southern and
western parts of Indiana county were pretty well
settled the northern ana eastern parts FeIE rptIS
Iy. Jefferson had q few settlements in the south
judicial purposes Cambria had at that day but
lew settlers north Of the turnpike while Clesrneld
csts2 of tiie county PottefSad NIeKean
we're almost an unhruken wilderness, while Clarion.
as separate counties.
Tho CHERRY tree which stood at the point where
the eastern line Of Indiana county ON the banks Of
the west branch Of the SUsquehauua AZ that
wilderness" \ fourishtng little town has since
grown up near where the famous tree stood and
"4.e. aeiI< tJs name berry Tree. a.,
citizens of the town OF Indiana set outon hunting
They took horses and camp equipage. intending 10
spend a week or more. They selected n camp. and
Two Of the neu- whose names I do not rencmber
Henry ShryCck. the oldest man of the party. to
ON the second day they found what they Thought
more eligible place for their camp. nearly mile
the heaviest of their things before setting out on
their hunt, leaving MT..;5hryOck to remove some
trlp pac ana forth all right; but on the second he
became heWllderCd and was unable To- md the new
camp He wandered all day. of course getting far
ther and farther away every hour.
When his companions returned in the evening
they found their Old friend missing. They at once
Went 10 their old camp, but he was not there. kc-
turning they found q pan which hc had thrown
All ytt,t 10 ID, ;l W - .i ~ g. ~ ,.; ,,J
All hlguJ theN Travelled TO ana iro, shouting ana
hriu" shots, but in vain They kept mp the search
during half the following day. and then took their
horses ahd rode to the town OF indiana ahot l"eil-
~ miles. to give the alarm and set more siStance
Tho writer; then boy. lived there at the time.
and so highly esteemed he was should be lost in
The wilderness. produced a proioundcr sensation
than ever knew In any community All jhc men
who could possibly 20 started at for the place
armed with guns ANA horns. The object Of these
was TO make much noise as possible. so that the
unfortunate man might hear them and make his
way 20 them. Every night messengers arrived in
town "Iji tlc sad news ttJ SO ia inc seateL, VIZ
uusucccsstul. This was kept up for over week
the popular anxiety becoming more and more IN
securing tat wilderness for miles I'm an directions
around the cherry tree. Hope that ne would De
maintained with uuabatcd diligence.
At length. on the ninth day after VT Shry ech
was lost two gentlemen OF indiana were "aiA, ,.lE
quietly through the forest, making NO noise but
keeping g sharp lookout some distance lh a9-
now almost naked, crawling ou D. hands and knees
OF 81 IgIiy covert. Quickly they ran TO him and
found that his reason was utterly dCthToued. and
that hc had barely strength 20 crawl. Instantly
the signal that he was found sounded from party
to party. Physicians were there. The first thing
they did was 20 give him very small piece of bread
dipped in Diluted vino. NoIri-hmcHt was given
a. fast he was able to bear il. which, with the
warm clothing which his friends supplied. soon re-
stored him. With his physical strength his reason
and confused memory of his Wauderiug- quickly
returned. He related his first hcwidgment his
alarm and anxiety uul his desperate efforts to nd
the camp. lie remembered IBIS INST hunger and
the altering of berries. HrTewemhcrcl the visits
OF what he supposed 60 have been dogs u the night
which wcIu probably wolves. lie often heard the
noise of the --al- and horns of those who were
searching for him. but -uppuSius 10 90 have been
made bt Indians he always hid himself when DO
came near, and hence the difficulty of finding hun
When tiEr company OF -a.trrLgr- reached the town
the second c,cuiE- after he was found. the scent
was very iurre~Slyn-oUc uI genuine 10Y Mr
ShTyUck had been carried ou % bed u % wagon @
within short distance of the town There DE wa
mounted upon hUT-u-uT i.a was able To- ride and
vas already nicely shaved and Gres-ei-aua luu
headed tse tHufHI Ial ettHsasIe of not less than
hundred men. who made everything re7nIud wifi
their haru-, and were answered with shouts IRON
tho crowds. who scut their cheers from IulI aut
grateful hearts. AIr Shrro-k was soon hiUScl
again. and uatEiG Jhe worse for the terrible ur3ct
through which ue had passed.