Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-07-10
A PIONEER sEETCn.
, ToUcsagG TkL1 O. a BURIAL ia
THE WILDERNESS.

the lonely crsgo OF Liiua Eu,s. which
Wa carei Tor by Como Kindly Hand
Tor Thiriy-lve Ycars-A Mothers Awful
Grief Almost Alone In the Forest.
In tho year 1929 a stoady stream Of
immigration was flowing into the terri
tory of Michigan The over restless poo
pie Of tho cast had heard wonderful sto-
ries of the abundance OF ga,no and great
fertility Of soil 10 DO found ia tho now
territory, and tho sturdy, adventure
some farmers Of rocky Now England
wero pushing their way westward, with
tho hopo OF finding the Iii Dorado Of
their dreams
Detroit, ut this time, was a sight 70
behold It's strcots wero thronged with
the covered wagons of the immigrants.
Hunters and Indians, half breeds and
soldiers were mingled In O chaotic mass
Among the great throng Of homo seek.
crs that lott Detroit on the Cd day Of
May, 1929, vcre James Harris. his wife
and year old baby. Young Harris had
put an OF lis earthly possessions into a
covered wagon, aud bidding goodby to
friends and relatives had joined that
endless stream OF home seekers that were
pushing their way into the Wilderness
Of Michigan, hoping by their energy
and perseverance, to build MP q homo for
themselves end ~ inheritance FOR their
children.
The road wcatward from Detroit fol.
1wrrara NJ oil T.HfuV. Hwnf1 nre1 - al-.-
slant travel tho mud had become so
deep that it was almost impossible.
Many Of the pioneers left the old road
and struck OIL into tho wilderness, MAX
ing roads for themselves.
Among This number was James Hur-
ris, and all went well for a few days.
After camping one night The wind sud-
denly shifted TO the northwest, and a cold
rain set in. This was the eighth day
after leaving Detroit. The company that
they had begun their journey with had
gradually dropped of, and for two days
they had Travelled alone, alone in the
great wilderness, unprotected save what
protection the canvas covered wagons
gave them. Was it any wonder that as
they listened to the howl Of the wolf
and the boot Of the owl they became a
little homcsick? Harris hud made a
great lro Of dry brush, and while it was
burning brightly the family had gone
20 slceP From this sleep the young
mother was aroused by q sharp, boarso
cough from her baby. She Immediately
awoke her husband, fresh fuel was
thrown on tho Gre, and as it blazed up
the young mother peerod ~anxiously into
the face Of baby Ruth. Ono glance ut
the little drawn face resting on her arm,
and the mother knew that the baby had
that dread disease, the Group. Every
thing was done for tho little sufferer
that the distracted parents could do.
They were young and inexperienced,
and al night long thcy fought for tho
life Of their little one, but all in vain.
Just As the first glimmor Of light APP
pcared in tho cast the spirit of baby
Ruth took It's eight. The young mother,
wild with grief, pressed the form of her
darling to Ler breast, moaning and say
ing over and over again, "Baby is
doad!' Sho refused to let her husband
take tho httlo ono from her. She would
never give it up; no, neverl All that day
they remained in camp. Toward evening
tho vito became calncr, and standing
near tho wagon with tho babe in her
AIMS she saw her husband dig the littlO
grave, and when It was finished a rudo
box was made, and she tenderly laid her
baby to rest, with her own hands plac-
ing it in the grave, and rs tho dirt rat
tied down on tho lid Ehe fell senseless
into her husbands arms.
After filling tho grave tho young IA
thcr took two little sprouts OF Lombardy
poplar that he had in the wagon, set
ting ono at each end Of the grave, and
cutting the words "Baby Ruth" on q
piece Of board he placed it at tho head
Of the little mound, and then they re-
sumed their journey. Years passed, and
a road was laid near tho spot. The pop
lars grow and became "a living monu-
mont. The piece Of board that had tod
the littlo onc'8 nam was annually re-
placed By somo Kind hand.
Time passed quickly, and May 10
had como and gone 80 times since baby
Ruth was laid 70 rest in the wilder
ness; tho poplars had grown to DO
trees and stood ia a cleared field near
the roadside; the surrounding forest had
long since disappeared. a board was
nailed 20 the trees with the words "Ba-
By Ruth" painted on il. a carriage was
passing by whom tho driver. en elderly
man, glanced toward tho trees and saw
tho inscription. He looked at the trees
and at the sign, hitohcd his horse, made
inquiry Of % farmer near by as to the
meaning OF the sign and was told that
when he camo to tho country no found
the little grave marked with n rude
board, and that he had spared the trees
AID nailed up anew board. His inform
ant wondered nc the emotion of the
stranger, who staid with him overnight,
but his wonder ceased when no was told
the story ct baby Ruth as / have written
IL, Tho wife and mother had died some
two years before. Other children had
come 70 bless her, bat she never forgot
her hrstbon and the little grave in the
wilderness. A beautiful monument now
marks the spot where sleeps baby Ruth.
Van Burou County Republican.
Jangiing Fiano Strings.