The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-16
ASTRAY N THE HILLS
A Tiny Tot Spends the Night in
the Woods.
THE SEARCH A LONG ONE
For Nearly Thirty Hours Victor
Matheson, Two Inc a Half Years
Old. wanders in Lonely and
Desolate Places.

Persons coming up from Deer Lodge
yesterday report that "a great deal of
excitement had been created in that
a half year old boy, who strayed away
from his father while the latter was
engaged in fishing. Advices received
from Deer Lodge by wire last evening
are TO the effect that the little fellow
has been found and hat he has been
restored to his parents safe and sound.
On Sunday morning Mike Matheson,
a carpenter, and his family. of Deer
Lodge. went out to Bags creek on a
short camping trip. The point where
they were camped is understood to ne
about o miles from Deer Lodge. on
Sunday forenoon Mr.. Matheson took
his rod n started out for a short fish
ing jaunt, accompanied by his son, Vic
tor aged 2R years. While the father
was occupied with his fly, the lad sport
ed and played upon the bank, and Mr..
Matheson paid but little attention to
him, not dreaming hat the boy would
stray out of sight.
Upon turning his eyes toward the
spot where the lad a been playing.
Matheson was Mortified to find that
his son was no longer in sight. He
called loudly to him, and searched the
neighboring woods, but was unable TO
find any trace of him. The hour, as
indicated by Mr.. Matheson's watch.
was 1920 o'clock. Matheson returned
TO camp and, with some assistance,
continued the search throughout the
night, but with no SUCCESSFUL trace Of
the boy could be found. Word was sent
to Deer Lodge, n as soon as possible
the fire bell was n and Mayor
LN.a - 4 -
party. n soon a hundred or more had
congregated. The search was conduct
ed In a systematic manner. M with
method, the searchers forming a circle
with the spot for its center where the
child disappeared. They gradually
closed in. The signal agreed upon. in
case trace of the missing youngster
should be found, was a pistol shot.
The s%earchers continued their hunt
from early yesterday morning until late
in the afternoon. Dinner was sent out
to them from Deer Lodge. instruction
had been given to close in slowly and
to examine carefully the woods and I'M
derbrush as the men came on.
At 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon
the anxiously awaited signal was
heard-a pistol shot gladdened the
hearts of the searchers. The move
ment of the circle was then rapid: i'm 10
minutes all had reached the point
Nnere marry MafcOtt STOOD with the
lost lad in his arms.
The child had been lost in a wild.
desolate place from 1890 o'clock on
Sunday until 4:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, nearly % hours. During this
time he a toddled about without food
and probably without water. The
place where he was found was at least
two miles from the spot where he had
first disappeared, and nobody will ever
how many weary miles this lit
tie tot dragged his tiny legs after him.
When found he was lying on the
ground-weary and exhausted, but
otherwise not in the least injured.
He was taken back to his parents
and the joy of his father and mother
at again seeing their child alive is de-
scribed as being great indeed. The
march back to Deer Lodge was a pro-
cession of triumph, and little Victor
Matheson, the stray, was the hero of
ii all.