Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-02
Lost in the Woods.

Mrs. Laura j. Reynolds and Mis-.
Jeannette r.. Kempton, of this city, re-
Gently had thrilling adventure in the
woods of the Island of Grand Manan.
large island in the Bay Of Fundy, which
has of late become quite resort for
artists and others who are fond of the
sublime in nature These two ladies,
accompanied by Mrs. Reynolds two
children, being at Eastport, Me-, con-
cluded to make flying visit to Grand
Manan, and set out for Flagg's Cove.
After spending day at this place they
started, accompanied by Mr.. Louis Bag
ger, of Washington, on the morning OF
September p, to visit Dark Harbor, the
most picturesque locality on the island,
and on the mountainous west shore.
About three miles of the distance from
Flagg's Cove TO Dark Harbor the roads
are good, and there was no diiliculty'in
driving to Mr.. Schoelield's house,
where the party expected to find aguide
to conduct them to Dark Harbor. Az
irving at this place, however, it was
found that all the men, including the
guide, had left for Northern Head, and
no one could be found except an elder
ly woman, who advised the party MOTTO
proceed any further in the absence of
guide, as the roads were both difficult
and dangerous. Having come so far,
however, and fully made up their minds
to see Dark Harbor before leaving, it
was determined to push on through the
woods without n guide, and trust to q
small pocket-compass and Mr.. Bagger's
instincts TO find the way to Dark Harhor
and back. Dark Harbor was soon
reached, amid the joyous shouts of the,
whole party.
About half-pas four o clock the party
started on their return TO Schoefield's.,
Having marked tho path leading from
the mountain down to the cove by tying
cllet-hapdkerchefs and pieces of
payer to the trees and bushes, there was
at first no difficulty in finding tho trail,
and the mountain was reached and
passed without any accident, Here,
| however, the marks of the footprints
were lost Renewed efforts were made
to find the trail by which they had
come, but in vain. 1t was agreed that
the children should be kept in Ignorance
of the fact that the party was lost, and
! barring that they were q little tired.
having walked for more than seven
miles, with only few hours rest, they
did Us well as the grown people. The
darker it grew the more evident it be-
came that it would be utterly useless to
attempt TO find trail in the dense
woods amid the mountains and ravines
in that part of the island. 1t was re-
solved rs the best and only safe course
| TO pursue under the circumstances, to-
camp over night,
The grass was too wet to permit of,
! the starting of q fire, and, even if ii had
not been so, nor n single match could'bei
found. The children soon fell asleep.
1t was so cold that the breath froze ON
| the pocket-hNndkerchiefs which had
| been spread over their faces. The spot,
which had been selected for the camp,
and which was the only available place,
was so close to the rayine, and the night
was so dark, that it would have been.
! dangerous to tramp around more than
five yards in either direction,
All night long, at regular intervals,
Miss Kempton and Mr. Bagger would cry
out the well-llnown Alpine hail used
! by the guides in the Alps, and which can
be heard for miles in the clear air of
! Switzerland; but no replies came, and
| their voices soon gave out.
At Iast, shortly after dawn, Miss
Kempton fanoicd that she heard the
faint report Of gun; this was followed
/ by another and another. Again the
Alpine cag was sounded this time by
The entire party, and was answered by
the distant barking of a dog and the
firing of more guns. Nearer and near
er came the guns, and ii was evident
that the relief party, aided by the dogs,
were on the trail. At times. however,
the reports seemed to be further off,
and the suspense was terrible until the
reports, coming again nearer, it was
evident they were again on the right
track. But an hour elapsed before they
came so near that their voices could be
heard, although they were halloing as
hard rs they could.
1t was nearly five O'Clock when the
relief party, consisting Of twelve sturdy
fisherman from Northern Head, reached
the camp, armed with lanterns, blankets
and a jug of brandy. BY this time the res
cued ones had become we'll NIGH OK
hausted, none of them being able to
stand on their feet, but after n taste of
the contents of the jug and rubbing
! down with blankets, the party was so
far restored that they could be carried
back to the starting point at Schoe-
fields. 1t was then ascertained that
the place where the party had spent the
night was in the most deserted and
dangerous part of the island, seven miles
from the nearest habitation, and that,
had il not been for the fortunate circum-
stance that one of the search party had
dog, by which the trail, which had
been lost during the night was redis-
covered, the chances were ten to one
that the party would never have been
found until relief in any shape or form
would have been too late. -MiladeLphia