Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-19
A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.


little children living nc ,Allouez mine,
started out with pals and baskets 20 pick
berries. They wandered along the high
way for about quarter Of mile, and
then turned on a new road. which leads 1
through the thick woods 20 the new mine |
called the Wolverine. All went well un- |
I'll the youngest, mite Of girl, and very |
small OF her age, being but seven years
old, complained Of being tried and wanted
to 90 home, Then for the first time. in
their efforts to rettace their steps, they
discovered that they had strayed from the
path and were lost in the thick woods,
where in many places the trees are but
foot apart, and the underbrush grows
as high as live feet. Vainly they
sought the right path till nigbtfall closed
around them-then, bruised and scratched
by the bushes. with head, face and limbs
bitten and badly swollen by the nip Of
the wicked black fly. the two older
children belonging to the Finn settlement
beyond the Allouez proper, tired and
| frightened. lay down and cried them
selves to sleep, and were found by aux
ious searches the following day in woe.
full condition. When these children were
asked for their little companions, they
replied: "We begged them to stay with
us, but the boy said he would go and find
the way TO the road. and then come back
| for us, but his little sister would not stay
without him." and they pointed the way
they had gone. In that direction a party
of men searched all daY, aided by the
half -crazed Norwegian father and Finn
mother Of the lost little ones. and all day
whistles of the Allouez and Wolverine
mines blew at intervals of ten minutes
to guide them to the settlements.
Saturday night came and no children
found. The weary mother must return
to her babe. but the father with few
men spent the night in fruitless search.
Sunday we found the road full OF Swedes,
Norweglans and Firms. while large par
ties we're in the woods. and the whistles
blew all day. Monday came and the
| Calumet and Aecla Joined in the search.
sending about four hundred men. Toward
night. a little footprint was discovered,
and piece OF the little girls dress.
Tuesday more men were sent out and
success was thought to be certain. but
alas! no children were found. AT even
ing the sky was full OF dense black
clouds. The thunder was awful; never
before do l remember such rainfall and
tempest as ragged for few hours, while the
rest of the night and succeeding day was
sultry with drizzling rain, and Wednes-
day night another tempest. Still the
search continued. Every day the shouts
OF six hundred men or more were making
the woods alive. Friday morning-one
week from the childrens' disappearance
came. and the Calumet and Hecla mine
was closed and the whole force together
with the Allouez men were stationed
along the road front, five feet apart,
with orders to break through the woods
in that line as best they could. TO search
every hollow stump, to remove UNDER
brush, to examine holes and make sure of
leaving no spot unexplored, and yet night
brought nearly every man back with no
traces of the children. Some stayed all
night at their almost hopeless task, and
some. a party of four Swedes, were them
: selves lost, and here is their wonderful
story. h
cat three o'clock Friday afternoon
we sat down by a brook to rest
We were tired and iewildered and
shouted loudly for our companions te
come to us, when from a heap Of bushes
came a boy saying: "Where are you
, Who is it?' We, thinking he belonged tt
some party of searchers, asked: Who are
: YOU WITH His answer came: my sister.
Up we sprang to our feet, and knew
: even in our amazement, that the lost
children were found, and alive, and il
their right senses, although they hat
been alone in the wood, amid lighting
{ and tempest, for eight days, nothing tt
} eat but berries. And the boy of but nint
wears had built huts Of brush to covel
a them at night, had gathered and loaded
1 both himself and sister with grea
punches of blueberries where they were
to be found, and was trying to follow the
tortuous course of the brook, which, ht
, remembered emptied into Torch Lake
: He was still brave. We gave them small
pieces Of bread at intervals during the af
ternoon and night, as we walked in or by
! the sides of the streams as best we coult
with our joyful burden, or lay down fol
; little needed rest, each two men with ;
: child between them to give warmth t
: the little, chilled frame.'
Saturday morning some one in th'
| ! street shouted to me: "They are fonud!
threw up the sash, and party OF mer
were right in front Of the house. .They
had the children with them. They re
fused food and drink, saying they ha(
Just fed them and did not dare to Civ,
! them any more. Both children's eye
: looked wild and rolled restlessly, as they
clung tightly to the necks Of their res
, curers; their bodies seemed covered will
! bruises and their little feet were badl,
. blistered; they were being taken to tn
hospital for examination. Dr.mD., th,
. Assistant Superintendent of the mine
rode With headlong speed to tell the par
ents. The mother wildly clung to hin
and tainted away, while the father, wh'
had spent every day and part Of ever,
: night in the woods, was nearly overcome
: Post. ,g