Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-18
LOST FOR FOUR DAYS.
A CHILD,s TERRIBLE spFfnRIS
Wandering Through tho Marshes and
Meadows OF South Jersey for % hours
Without Food or Shelter.

Wandering Through tho Marshes and
Meadows OF South Jersey for 96 hours
Without Food or Shelter.
There is rejoicing in Dorchester, q little
town on tho Maurice river, twenty miles
southeast of BridgetOn, Cumberland coun.
ty, New Jersey, over the recovery of the
4-year old daughter of Captain John West
colt. who was lost on the meadows near
that town for four days and nights. On
Sunday afternoon last the children of
Captain WestcOtt, started for the meadows
to drive the cows home. Little Emma
toldled after the older children, and when
about mile from home sha was ordered
to return, by way of the river bank, q
different route from that by which they
came. When the other youngsters returned
home they were surprised to find that
Emma had not yet arrived. Search was
Immediately instituted for the lost one,
and the greatest excitement prevailed.
The father and mother were nearly crazed.
Darkness did not force the people to
abandon tho searth. Lanterns and old
tOrchlights, which had done service in
many political turnou,s, were produced,
and 4 score Of men and boys continued ut
their task until daylight, When they were
relieved by q fresh deputatiOn. All day
Monday aud Monday night the neighbors
never ceased to wander through the
bushes and peer auxiously through the
thick undcrbrush for the little girl, while
others dragged the river and bitches for
the body.
Captain Westcott persisted in accom-
lanying the investigators, though he was
barely able to stand owing to fatigue aud
worry. The mother, after withstauding
the awful strain Oh her system for day
and Il night, WAS Obliged to tako to her
bed. When the shades Of Tuesday night
closed around Dorchester many of tho
scarclers had lost heart, but the father
urged them On. Relays VI men and boys
were organized in tho town, aud sent out
every six hours to relieve the others. Many
Of the farmers left their fields and brought
with them their help.
trace Of Little Emma many concluded
that she had starved to death. Others
indulScd in tho bnlicf t.,,t tho child had
been carried of by trampi
Late Oh Thursday afternoon William
Forbcr accidentally stumbled across the
lost one lying beneath 4 clamp of under
brush so thick that it was with great
difficulty that he forced his way through.
Emma'S face had become swollen and her
skin had turned pslo blue color. Her
hands, neck and face were badly bitten by
mosquitoes. She was unconscious. Tend
crly the big farmer lifted the frail form
from under the bushes. lie gave such
d shout that his companions instantly
dvined that he had found the child. They
crowded around the little mite, whose
torn Grock, dishcvclcd hair and pinched
features told only too plainly the suffering
endured by her during the ninety-six
hours she was wandering about. No
time was lest in conveying her home and
procuring medical aid to save the fast
ebbing lifo. The parents JOY knew no
bounds.
A physician has been constantly attend
ing her. At first her weak condition
necessitated the most careful nursing.
She was without food during the four
days. On Monday night she Was exposed
to the fury of the terrible storm that
swept over that part Of South Jersey She
has been improving every day, but has
notyct roy aimed sufficient strength to prat-
tic about her experiences.