The Washington times., 1894-06-03
Fin Ideally Told Story
[BY the New York sunl

lBy the New York Sun]
NoRTHPoRT, L. l., May 31.-On an easy bed
Of leaves heaped up by friendly wind ~
year-old Eddie Nichols, who strayed from his
mothers care on Monday morning, was found
about o'clock this afternoon in a clump Of
woods two miles west of his home. He had
been gone in all about eighty hours, but his
little heart still beat despite his terrible expo
sure. Sentinel-like, two great bleak oaks stood
watch over the lonely bed Of the little wan
derer. Their wide-spreading branches aided
in protecting him from the fierce storm which
flied tho woods with weird noises and made
the great trees sway and groan.
Only the back Of the baby's head and shoul-
der and an edge of his scarlet dress peeped
out from the forest bed. 1t was this that at
tracted the attention OF Stockton Van Brunt,
who. on a sudden impulse, had quit his dinner
table at his home on the Jericho turnpike and
started out alone to scour this particular
patch OF woods. The child lay face down.
ward. Brushing aside the leaves, Mr.. Van
Brunt disclosed the little form lying motion
less, as IL dead.
The scarlet skirt was torn and soaked with
rain. One chubby hand was raised as If to
wipe a tear from the pale face. Mr.. Van
Brunt gently raised the numb form and
turned the face to view. Almost instantly the
lids qUivered, and slowly opening. two blue
eyes filled with intelligence gazed wistfully
into the face OF the rescuer. Mr. Van
Brunt's heart leaped with Joy. and clasping
the child to his breast, as if to infuse his own
life into the tired baby, he started hot foot for
the road. Still clasping his burden closely
Mr.. Van Brunt continued his race until he ar
rived breathless at Mr.. Nichols farmhouse.
On the way he had met other searchers. who,
speeding ahead, told Mrs. Nichols the news.
kha.t Mr. Nun rftrt nt In and
snatched the baby from his arms.
The house was filed with gladness, and
Mrs. Nichols was beside herself with joy.
While a messenger on horseback dashed OIL
al full speed for Dr.. Ross at Brentwood, four
miles away efforts were made TO revive the
rescued boy. He recognized his mother and
several times tried to speak to her, but failed.
Warmth was gradually Infused into the body,
which was blue from the feet up. His COM
panion, a shepherd dog, licked one Of the lit
tie limp hands.
'Poor Sheppie Poor sheppie," lisped the
brave little fellow. Then how they worked
over him.. The doctor came at last and
helped, and after a while they tucked
the little chap warm and sale in crib, with
his mother on guard to rock him to sleep.
DR.. Ross was very strict in the orders he left.
Under no circumstances was any one to be
permitted to speak to the baby, and he was
to be fed few spoonfuls of prepared food at
intervals. The doctor is afraid the long
strain ray injure the active brain that guided
the restless feet of the little runaway.
1t is an old-time farmhouse on the Hunting
ton turnpike in Commac, five miles south OF
this village, that the urchin gladdens with his
merry life. His father is Daniel NJ. Nichols.
Besides Eddie there are Henry, IL years, May,
6, and a ne-month-old baby. Thomas DAILY,
Mrs. Nicholss brother, and John DAILY. her
father. are making their home there for the
oTt fat the
OF her baby and the dining room this after
noon Mrs. Nichols told the story Of the childs
disappearance and the long, anxious search
for him. On Monday morning. in company
with his sister May and the dog, the baby
went out TO play in a small patch OF grass,
inclosed by an ordinary rail fence, near the
house. II was soon after O'Clock that May
clambered over the fence and returned to the
house for drink.
I'm going for drink. baby" she said;
"stay here"
But the active little urchin was not disposed
to heed his sisters advice. Creeping under
meath the lower rail he gained his freedom
and was soon on the great turnpike. With his
scarlet skirt futtering in the morning breeze
and his faxen hair glimmering in the sun
light bravely the little traveller started out on
trip of exploration. A plenty OF daisies and
johnny jumpups sprinkled the roadside. On
he went from one cluster to another, needless
OF time or distance. Ten minutes after he
had slipped out under the bars his sister ran
screaming into the house:
"Oh, mamma. mamma, baby's gone. baby's
goneI''
Mrs. Nichols ran to the door. In vain her
eyes scanned the roadway and woods for sight
of sturdy baby with flaxen hair and 4 Grim
son skirt. Only the echo answered her anx-
ious calls Mr.. Nichols was away on business
in Ohio. but the baby's brother Henry and
1f-%t
in the field q little distance from the house.
They were summoned and hastily started of
in different directions in search of the child.
Mrs Nichols started out to alarm the sur
rounding farmers. The first place she sought
was John Carlrs farm, half a mile away.
Mr.. CARL and his wife were both away and
his farm hands were at work in the woods.
The frantic mother raced half a mile across
plowed fields to Farmer Henry Virgins
place. She says Mr.. Virgins was not dis
posed to aid her.
He said he had a garden to plant and also
had to make preparations for goingto market
the next day For the love Of heaven, she
says, she implored him to help her. Her
prayer was unavailing, and she started across
chase over the rough ground she sprained her
ankle and knee, and it was with difficulty she
retraced her steps and reached home again.
In the meantime the child's brother and
uncle who had ridden in different directions,
aroused the farmers. Mrs. John Hubbs sent
her son Jesse. II years old, on his bicycle in
search OF help. and Fred Hall, a colored boy,
mounted on Mr.. Strongs horse, galloped
across the country. George Wade sent his
men out to aid in the hunt, and William Wade
posted sentineis at intervals along the road
and all through the woods at night
Its too dark to continue the search" he
said, "but we may hear the baby cry"
1t was Miss Lizzie Wade, II years old, who
found the tiny footprints of the lost child in
the soft earth of the turnpike and traced
them patiently two miles down the road to
where the baby turned into the woods. Dis
carded punches OF bowers at intervals along
the roadway showed where the child had
stopped TO rest or play. On losing the foot
prints at these places Miss Wade patiently
continued her search until the broken thread
OF the wanderers journey was found again.
But at Duryea's woods the footprints ended.
That same afternoon, when Mrs. Carll came
home and learned that n child was lost she
started out with the searchers. carrying her
baby in her arms. Her friends were finally
almost compelled to use force in getting her
back to her homo.
Hundreds were securing the woods that after
noon. Some were afoot and others on horse
back. A wild thunder storm set in at 5 o'clock
and continued throughout the greater part Of
the night 1t grew intensely cold, but the
search was kept up. The searchers divided
into squads and tramped backed and forth
through tangled woods and open fields. Volun-
teers from the neishboring villages focked
in, and by next morning the road in front of
the Nichols farmhouse was lined with vehicles
and horses. Tuesday was clear and cold, and
the search went on without interruption. All
that day and the next night the woods re-
sounded to the calls of searching parties.
Wednesday was also clear. By this time vii
layers for miles around were aroused, and
fresh volunteers to replace those worn out by
the long tramp came pouring in. Rain del
uged the searchers again that night, chilling
them through and through When dawn
tb;e y,,rpiprv with cold opd rrind