Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-23
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
4 BABY IN TITE WOODN

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his sister, the only one Of the family re
naming at home for the day, supposed he
had been with them. To the horror of all
it was reported that they had seen nothing
Of him. The child he'd been lost sight Of
for nine hours
The Bonhatels live on the top of the Ia
comic range, near the line, between Mount
Washington, Mass, and Salisbury, c. 1t
is densely wooded and sparsely inhabited
for miles in every direction The town Of
Mount Washington itself contains neither
doctor, lawyer, nor minister, so few are its
citizens. Salisbury, the nearest village on
the Connecticut side Of the line, is seven
miles away over a rough mountain road,
with steep climb in many place. The
woods are the home Of wildcats foxes,
and occasional wolves who might readily
molest Il child wandering in these wilds
The writer saw a pile Of - such pets
brought down from that region a few
weeks ago, the product Of winters catch
10y one man 1t was in this locality, one Of
the widest in New England, that bare
headed and bare footed child Of two years
and nine months was lost.
The father and mother were at work two
miles from home in another direction that
day. They were at once alarmed, and the
entire family set out upon the search be
fore night closed in. \ mile aud half
| from the house the little footprints made by
a child's bare feet in the mud 10y the road
side were found, and that was the only
trace Of him dscoverable. All night
through the family sought for him with
lanterns. They had no neighbors and so
were alone in the search. 1t had rained
steadily from the morning, aud at night it
poured in torrents What might become
Of child chilled through with a storm at
night Their anxiety increased with ev-
cry hour
The following day 80 men were enlisted
in the search The rain continued, and a
cold dreary mist hung upon the mountains.
making many a strong man numb with the
cold and wet The woods were searched
in every quarter without discovering a sin
gle trace further All night too, the Lam
terms were in use. Preparations were
made for dragging certain Of the mountain
ponds into which the child might have fall
en-. The third day opened with 800 men in
the field by this time the news had spread
to many settlements, and the road was
lined with wagons that had brought search
ing parties. The rain still continued and
II high wind accompanied it. The mist hid
every object 20 feet away. Every road
nd ,.la t.tp fol, oil ~,
plunged into swamps that hardly wildcat
even could penetrate. Several of the par
ty lost themselves and had to climb trees
to find their way out. The third day closed |
with all hope abandoned of finding the
child alive. The only thought now was Of |
discovering the body and relieving the az
ony Of the parents, who were well nigh |
dying Of suspense and sleeplessness
The fourth day opened with sunshine for |
the first time. The mist rolled away at 10 |
o'clock. Five hundred men were now as
semhled. Long lines of searchcrs, 10 feet |
apart, were formed, and every foot Of |
ground was minutely inspected. The par
ty satisfied themselves that the child could |
not possibly be in the territory thus gone |
over. The feeling was general that day |
that the body would now he found, no hope |
being entertained that the boy could have
survived the storm and hunger for three |
days. On the afternoon Of this day two |
men from Salisbury Martin Harris and |
Samuel Rossiter, were making an indepeud- |
ent search on the side Of Bear mountain. |
With a light buck board wagon they plung. |
ed into the wood cart paths that led down |
into Salisbury valley Both were expert |
enced woodsnen and knew every foot Of |
the ground Bear mountain is the highest |
land in the state Of Connecticut ,23ji feet, |
and is aside from where the main body was
searching, being also in another direction
from where the footprints were seen.
About o'clock Rossiter thought he discov-
cred something moving down the bed Of the
stream. 1t almost took his breath away,
on coming nearer, to make out the figure
of a child 1t was the lost boy
Choked with emotion Rossiter uttered
cry. Evidently the unusual noise frightened
the little fellow, for he threw up his hands
and started on a run Rosster, now thor.
oughly excited, ran after him, calling to him
that he would take him to his papa, and ii
nally captured the little fellow. more wild
with JOY than the discoverer of the Kohinoor.
The boys limbs were swollen with the rain,
resembling parboiled flesh his clothes were
torn almost away his flesh was scratched
with many a thorn. His fingers were suck
ed TO point, in his childish eagerness for
food. How he ever lived through those
chilly nights, all unprotected as he was, with
only bush for roof and "A root for a pillow,
will never he known. Traces Of leaves
were found in his mouth, and he said him
self that he ate them. He may possibly
also have found May apples in his rambles
aud lived upon them The place of his dis
covery was two miles from his home
As soon as Rossiter held him in his arms
shout was raised and in few moments the
cry rang through all the mountains, THE
hoy is found :" Every man passed the word
on TO his neighbor within hearing distance
and then made a break for the boys home
where they knew he would he brought
One of the searching party said of the
scene that follow 81 was on the main
road hurrying to the Bonhatels' when
runner dashed through us on his way to in
form the mother. His face was purple
his tongue hanging out. He stopped at
none of our inquiries, Every man and
horse followed him, and he beat us all
When he reached the cabin he had but
strength enough left to gasp out the fact
and then staggered aud fell Soon after
tl.. mi tba L., CO.,
the old charcoal basket Rossiter had taken
OIL his own shirt and placed it on him. The
mother could scarcely contain herself as
she clasped him to her heart All the men
were soon gathered around. Everybody
wanted to see the boy and hold him in his
arms. There were tears in their eyes and
tears in their voices"
Hardly less affecting was the arrival of
the father, He was four miles away when
the discovery was made, but the news was
passed to him in few minutes. He started
for the house by the first wagon he found
He could not go fast enough He caught his
boy to his breast aud walked up and down.
exclaiming "My little boy is found My
little boy is found I" A royal three times
three was given by hundreds of voices, and
then, as further relief to their feelings,
the hat was passed for the boys benefit.
The doctor was sent for from Salisbury,
and food was sparingly given him, although
he called for more pitifully.
The next evening a mass-meetng of the
citizens of Salisbury was held in the town
hall, surprising any demonstration known