The morning news., 1894-11-25
RUNAWAY BOYS IN A CAVE.
Thor Parents Built Bonfire to Smoke
Them Out.
From the New York Times

Patchogue j.. l.. Nov. 15.-William Mat
thews, Il years old, aad John N1Grath, 10
years old, of this place, becoming tired
of going to Sunday school and saving
wood, decided to start out for themselves.
They buit cave near here and took up
their residence i'll It,
They were gone several days before their
place of hiding was discovered. When
they refused 10 come from their under
ground abode their parents built a fire
to smoke out the rebellious lads
McGrath is the adopted son Of William
Underwood, while his companion is the
adopted son of Capt. Frederick B. Smith,
d coal dealer. Both boys have been dill
gent readers of cheap literature.
The dimensions of their cave indicate
that they had planned for some time to
run away The cave was not more than
half a mile from their homes 1t is eight
feet long, four feet wide and three feet
deep. There are two rooms in the cave
and the floor is covered with boards. The
root is also of boards and was covered
with leaves, a small aperture being covered
by trap door In the place was a rudely-
constructed couch. There is a small cook
stove in one of the apartments
The runaways had the place well stocked
with provisions. Among the articles
found were bag of -four, a loaf OF bread,
a jug of molasses, several pounds Of but
ter, can of condensed milk, some heads
of cabbage, quantity Of prepared buck
wheat and a number of cooking utensils.
The youthful pair had prepared to de-
fend their underground home from in
vasion. They had two loaded pistols. two
big knives, and a rope formed into a
lasso
The boys laid their plans to disapuear
with the skill of veterans. The search for
thcm had been going on for several days
without success, The first cIew to their
whereabouts was obtained Tuesday night
by Jacob Thurber, railroad fiagman. He
had heard that the boys were missing. and
when he saw them in the early evening
crossing the railroad tracks, going toward
a small creek with a small water pail he
followed them. The lads were too fleet of
foot for the fiagman, and managed to elude
him. He sent word to the parents of the
boys, and they took up the clue.
While the search was being prosecuted
William Brandsford and Wilbur Weeks
companions OF the missing boys, were ap-
preached. 1t vas known that they were
in communication with the runawavs and
the boys were IN hiding in an old house al
Blue Point. The searching party went to
that place, but failed to get any trace of
the lads. The party returned, and threat
ened BrandsfOrd and Weeks. The two
boys led fhe party to the cave
The Tunaways were in the cave and de-
clined to come out when ordered to do SO.
They would not submit to coaxing. and as
last resort a fire was built to smoke out
the two youthful adveuturers. The fire
was fed with dried leaves. and when the
smoke began to get thick in the cave
young Matthews began to cry, and begged
for mercy. His companion. however. was
defiant, ana refused to leave the cave
Fearing that the boys would be sufrocated
by the smoke, the assailing party broke
into the cave ana captured ifs occupauts
When questioned, McGrath said he bsd
become tired Of going 10 Sunday school
and wanted his freedom nights He did
not want to be kept I'M tho house when tbe
other village boys were out enjoying them-
selves.
The other boy said his back ached from
saving wood, and he ran away in order 10
get rest.