, 1880-07-04
RAINFORTH'S MISSING CHILD.
Her Skeleton Found in the Den Of an
Enormous Kluc,ksnake.
Correspondence 4Nfte Turk Su1:-


WEsr UNION, Adams County, O., June
oa.-Gingcr Ridge, a rugged, sterile upland,
about six miles northwest from here, is much
excited over the killing of an enormous
blacksnake which for several years
has played havoc with the farmers
tlocks. Hogs, poultry, calves, sheep,
etc.. have lnysteriously disappeared, al
ways at night. Two years ago band Of
gypsies were camped IN the neighborhood,
and they were accused Of stealing tue mis-,
sing property. John Ralnforth, n farmer;
vino greatly suffered from these depr1dntions,
swore ont warrant before Squire fetef
AIMS, ard had several. of them arrested.
They had had a preliminary examination,
but nothing was proved against them, AMI
they were discharged. They went away,
muttering threats Of vengeance.
Mr.. Rainforth had u golden-haired little
daughter, i years old. whose beauty and
sunny temper were the pride of her parents.
On the day after the arrest OF the gypssi!es les
was last seen playing with a pet lamb
on the edge Ut rocky ridge. short dls-
tallce from tile house. Search was made
for her, but neither Sue nor the laMD
was found The whole MeEhbofhoG7a ;'s "7 was was
woods for miles around; Mt. Kallltortn
suspected the gypsies Of: abducting her: out
OF revenge FOR their arrest, anu followed tue
party across the Ohio. River into Lewis
County, Kentucky. When he came up with
theul they Indignantly denied all knowledge
OF the ciiltl's Whereabouts, and search VI
their camp failed to discover his little
daughter. lie returned to his home broken
''e5l Une cd day last week Mr.. R,inforth was
planting i field Of about twenty-five. acres,
Situated near his house., lie had not been at
work loug when he discovered What ut hrSt
seemed to be i Gres!! furrow across the lnitl- m
Ole Of the field lie soppsa p,s"H work a fe
the field from dense tticSett Of underbrusll.
On the fence he found blood and some
Sleeps wool, which, at once convinced him
that the body ef Ash sheep haa ,an} pee1 n
lis PASTURE and found that n large Cotswold
ram was missing Accompanied BY four or
five neighbors, Mr.. Rainlortli made search
for the missing sheep. The track through
the brush was marked oy drops q p1ooa aila ~
fence they came to ledge OF rocks, forming
one side Of a sleep hill. The truck led
directly to this ledge, III which was found
an opening Of sufficient size to admit the
body Of large inan: 4 !arSe ci!'afg,, 1,
tIrDwn tI,y ops,s;;a asuilaer % BY tie blast. When
the smoke cleared away the farmers drew
near and peered down. the opening, ana
there among at least a wagoll-load Of bones,
lay lay a hase bl.ck snake. q,iyeting. from his i,
hurt. The farmers waited until tne snake u *
boy a DRAGGED a S mo4stfr 9 scye eS5 aces Of 5es
in len ct],. and the biggest part Of his body
oyer tw9 fset a;a 4s T. a
sharp lis needles. The missing ram lay Dc,
with It sticky, glutinous substance.
/ visited tie spot to-day and SAW the mon.
ster snake wiile Lille s was - fffs tb men as erG a.
cnr,,er one of them picked up human skull.
i was Sna Ill IKE S'ldSi r m RainfaTE 1f S,9a1t Maa
Standing by inv side: when tile man came
toward gS wita the 59arI sai in bis s trce e
6uried Ills face in his hands and burst init
'i; Poor little Nellie" he cried, through his
sobs, {" Aiy Col, it is horrlblel"
After tine s eotrG!s 4 ;a 'tfs his fsGlngyt ep9
mysterious disappearance two years ago
! Tie bones Of the little one We're gathered to