Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-08-04
Bears Probably Ate Eer

little over month ago the whcle country
read eb:ut the d!sappeararcs of Auoie
Frederlcks from her home in Laurel Bun.
The village of Laurel Run Is at the foot OF
the Wilkesbsrre Mountain. l. is moun-
tain OF dense forest and covers an area OF
hundreds of miles. Portions OF it have
never been exploded.
Bars and other wild animals sre numsr-
Qua. When little Aopie was first missed
from her home the supposition was that she
had wandered into the woods End got lost.
a searching party was at once organized.
For three days they searched the mountain,
but could frd no trace of tie missing girl.
Then the father heard that band OF
gypsiss had oamped on the outskirts OF the
mouutaie, and that it was possible that
they had kidnapped Annie. The gypaies
had taken their departure two days before
A pose wns organized and the gypsiss were
pursued on horseback They were over
taken and their wagons were searched. but
Fredericks's little daughter was not smoDg
them. When the poase returned without
the girl. Mr. Fredericks determined to make
another search OF the mountain. He or
gan:zed big party, mostly his neighbors,
and said he would give every man 81 for
each day speot 10 the woods. He mort
gagged his little home in order 20 raise
funds.
The members of the party, however, re-
fused 20 take cent from the griet-stricken
father. As most of those composing the
searching party were working people, Ii wes
determined to start on the search early Sun
day morning go thst the men could get back
to work co Monday.
ACCORDINGLY, at o'clock on bright Sat-
bath morn, fys weeks ego, 500 people start
ed on. to 6ud the girl. Each carried his
owe provisi1us. The party was divided
into squads OF dozeo or more. Before
night the bsst part of the mountain was
trsversed.
just before dusk the advance guard of the
searching party returned. They had no
iidings OF the girl All night long women
and children waited nt the foot of the mount
aio for news. Stragglers from the searching
party returned every hour.
They were weary AID footsore. They had
the same story to tell. They had seen or
heard nothing OF the girl. Some Of the
sesrchers did not return until Monday light.
Egerybody gave up the search but the
father.
| He continued to roam the mountains for
days and days. Very often he came across
| the tracks OF besr, aud then he would
| think that II bis little girl ever got In their
way she was doomed. At last broken in
heart and spirit, M. Fredericks gave the
search up.
Yesterday morning there was knock at
the door OF The Fredericks cottage. The
father came to the door.
Your child has been found" said Aaron
Porter.
"What, fouud?' replied the father as he
jumped with Joy. SIS she alve?"
mo, she is dead" replied Porter.
"Oh, Gcd Dead" whispered Frederioks,
and he fell back In swoon. After he was
revived be accompanied Porter to the noun
tain. The latter had bean hucklsberrying.
Early In the morning he came across @ little
skeleton.
He at once came to the conclusion that it
might be the remains of Annie Frederioks.
He was not mistaken. The little girls
clothes were found some distance away. One
stocking still olupg to the right foot. lit
tie chain encircled the neck. The fathsr's
grief was pitlful.
The remains of the little one were placed
10 bcx and carried to the Fredericks home.
The place where the skeleton was found is
seven miles from the Fredericks home. She
wandered aimlessly about and then was
either killed by bears or died OF starvation.
II che starved to death bears or wild cats
made way with her flesh, az there was moth
ing but the dry bones left when found.