Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-16

Q few feet. In describing his sensation
experienced in there he said:
"Along erbout 20 feet or more thu
cave switched off sudden to the RICH
and wuz bigger. follered it, when
began to feel sumthin' jest like ez i
it wuz tellin' me to come erlong. My
head growed dizzy, and got so sicl
l could hardly see. Ther wuz hissin
sound, like ez # there were 100000
rattlers all rattlin' at wunst. turned
aroun' with what strength wuz left
and stumbled out. l wuz sick for al
hour"
Hardrick waited until nightfall, and
then returned to the Kitsmiller cabin
where he reported the affair to Mrs
Kitsmiller, who was greatly worried
Early the next morning Hardrick, with
Eph Cojar, Dave Duling and Pete Swad-
ley, visited the Big Buck beds and the
entrance to the cave. The snow plainly
showed that Kitsmiller had not come
out, and two waited all day while Dull
ing and Coiar crossed the mountain
and went to the entrance of "Ole
Looney cave" itself, but there were no
footsteps leading out of it, and they
returned to the Big Buck beds. Not
one of them could be induced, after
the experience of Hardrick, to go inside
the mouth of the cave, and that night
they all returned to the Kitsmiller
cabin, where by this time the family
had become terribly alarmed Mrs.
Kitsmiller grew hysterical, and it was
with difficulty that she was restrained
from going out and trying to find her
husband.
All night the party sat by the hem
lock wood fire in the cabin, listening
to the wind in the pines alcng Elk river,
and trying to quiet the grief of the
wife and children.
"I'll bring Hanse back all right to-
morrow, sis" Hardrick said TO the
weeping woman in the little cabin.
Hes all right. and it pears ez eff he's
jest playin' trick on us. IF don't
bring him back tomorrow yer needn't
never claim me fer yer brother, and |
don't want yer ter speak ter me no
more"
And the little chaps" as the chill
dren are called in humble mountain
phrase. were comforted and went to
sleep. while even the mother managed
to snatch little rest until the dawn
broke through the small rough panes
OF glass in the cabin windows.
The party at the cabin next morn
ing added to by seven Others, who came
from the village and nearby cabins,
held consultation as to what course
to pursue. They finally decided to
split up. half going TO the Big Buck
beds, and the other half to the entrance
Of "Ole Looney cave" Hendricl was
in this party It crossed the Panther
knob. went down Piney ridge until
the river was reached, and followed
It until the mouth of the cave was
sighted. black against the perpendicu-
lar cliff of the mountain side, with
he dead bush and bush in front of it.
To their surprise. when they reached
It, they found tracks coming out OF
it. This surprise was increased when
hey found they were those of man,
md Kitsmiller's beyond doubt. He
lad worn n pair of homemade mecca
Tins, and the peculiar-shaped tracks
made by these were plainly visible in
he snow which had not been disturbed
It the place since it had fallen. The
racks were run together. crossed and
ecrossed on one another, as if the per-
ION making them had been drunk or
.razy, and the mountaineers looked at
me another, nodded their heads, and
tilted the mans wife and children.
They followed the footprints, which
ed up the river, showing uncertain in
he snow, as if one making them had
wandered along in rambling. unde-
ermined manner.
1t was shortly after noon when they |
net with the object of their search.
lie was heard singing the refrain of a
mountain song around bend in the !
liver before they saw him, and the
way in which it was rendered con-
irmcd suspicious. II was Kitsmiller,
nut he might as well have been a wild
,east. When the party reached him he
vas backed up against a point in the
lift, with the broken-off stock Of his
life in his hand and his eyes glaring
With the expression Of wild beast.
lis cap was gone and his hair was mat
ed over his head. Hendrick spoke to him,
,nly to be answered with fierce, ma.
liacal curses. and when he approached
loser Kitsmiler knocked him down
With his dubbed rife barrel. cutting
deep cash in his forehead The others
losed in and soon had the man secure
v bound, although 1t took a fierce fight
0 subdue him. He fought with the
ury of mountain lion, and seemed
renzied by the presence OF his captors.
lie shook with fear and rage, and it
vas with awe that the members of the
,arty noticed that the mans dark hair.
which two days before had not shown
silver streak. was marked with broad
patches of white.
Bound hand and foot and struggling
;aroalv EitSmi1ler was led until n d11r- |