The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-04
TWO BOYS LOST.
4 sensational search by All New
Madrid and the Boys Found.


VIM. Riley, started out in the woods
to hunt stock with their uncle Mr.. Ned
Riley. The boys rode the same horse
and the party found the stock just
above the Charleston bridge near the
bayou. where Mr.. Riley and the boys
then separated, the boys intending to
go back home. They started towards
home and Mr.. Riley left them ana
went in another direction thinking. as
his little companions had assured him,
that they knew the way and could get
back home safely. This was about i
O'Clock. IIr. Riley returned home
that evening and did not think other
wise than that the boys We're each at
their respective homes, while Mr..
I Dawson and MIR. Riley. the fathers.
supposed their sons were safe with
their uncle with whom they left. It
was not until Sunday at noon. the
following day, when Mr.. Ned Riley
discovered that the boys had not come
home They had been out all night.
/ They we're lost.
Naturally then arose the dreadful
fears OF the fathers and the uncle and
a vigilant search was made. The
horse the little fellows had rode came
home without saddle or blanket. and
the animals lone appearance aroused
the unimaginable distress of parents,
relatives. friends and neighbors. and
a large posse was soon securing the
woods for the children. In the dense
forests. through the slOughs and
thickets the search was kept up until
Monday morning. when word came to
town TO send out more inen. Horses
and men We're hastily gotten in readi-
ness to Join those who had been
searching without success since Sun
day at noon. and in all about 80 men
covered the ground where the boys
were supposed to be. The little Eel
lows having been ont two days and
nights. il WAS with heavy hearts and
/ frantic efforts that the search was
srosecuted. None but the fond father
could feel the agony OF the situation
as he rode the dismal woods. perhaps
to find only traces OF q drowning in
the bayou. fatal accident or horrible
death having befell the cherished hope
OF his life. and son. But thanks to 4
kind Providence, the little ones were
preserved. though they endured hard
ships.
At about 40 o'clock Monday morn
ing the sunlight Of JOY beamed forth
in radiant glory. and Mr.. Davis Riley
heard the boys. saw lhem walking
along 4 cypress slough, went to them
and took them both on his horse with
him. the little fellows worn and weary.
but undaunted of fear and proving
( themselves little heroes OF the hour.
Their old shepherd dog had stayed
with them. slept with them and came
out with them but not as hungry as
his little masters rs they had skinned
and given him squirrel to eat during
their unfortunate encampment.
The fearlessness and courage Of
Masters William and Chilion, the
lost can best be gained by their own
story of their experiences. which they
tell with 4 seeming relish yet with in
termingled solemnity which charactiz-
ed some of their thoughts.
On Saturday, after they had separ-
ated from their uncle, and when the
dreadful black night overlook them
they took the saddle and blanket from
their horse, and happening near an
old pen they tas they expressed it,
crouched down in the pen on the
blanket and used the saddle for a pill
low. They could not sleep this first
night said Chilion. on account of the
hideous owls that perched and hooted
near them. and the barking of their
faithful dog that lay near by them.
During this night their horse got
loose and left them. They worried
through the night till day break, got
up. shouldered their saddle and walk
ed all day Sunday through the wet
bottoms trying to get to the railroad.
They We're at a place in the woods
about six miles north of the Charles
ton Bridge. They would walk until
their little frames demanded rest and
/ then they would rest awhile and start
out again on their wandering tour
. Sunday night came and found them no
nearer home than they were Saturday
night, but farther into the dense and
winding woods, but like heroes and
/ philosophical to the core of their little
hearts they spread their blanket again
and with their true old dog to keep
the night watch they went to sleep and
slept soundly that night while the
dark heavens above furnished the only
cover for their fatigued and weary
little bodies. They awoke at about 6
o'clock Monday morning and started
out again in the endeavor to reach