Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
SEASONED HUNTERS ARE LOST
Veterans Duplicate Wnndcrings of
hcncns in Snrpy County ON Ill
Fntcd Christmas Day.

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Ed Allen. formerly United states deputy
marshal, and Louis Littleneld Of the Board
of Health office started out on Christmas
morning before a good horse to spend the
day as spartsmen should, in the country.
Their destination was Fred Schroeder's
farm, three miles beyond Willard, where a
warm welcome has awaited hunters from
time immemorial. The men were equipped
with shooting irons and locked forward to
an absence of twenty-four hours. They eX-
nncted to leave the horse in winter quar-
tiers a. the farm and to make the return
trip by train. There was almost enough
snow on the ground for rabbits, and the air
was sufficiently mild to render a drive a
pleasure.
The horse proceeded at a good pace out
Center street and found firm footing on
the macadam. The twelve-mile drive
promised to end uneventfully, as both The
occupants of the buggy had lived in the
country for years and had traversed al
most every foot of the outlying country on
one errand or another. When the travel
ers had passed Ruser's park Allen noticed
tho road leading to the south up a steep
ascent. He recognized it as the "cut-oft,'
and announced that in his judgment the
horse should be turned into it. He prom
| lSeU tndI II WOulu shorten ne tip " "
miles and would bring the journey to a
close in time to guarantee that both the
travellers names should be in the Christ
mas POI.
The advice prevailed and the horses head
turned south. Littleheld claims that he
relied wholly on Aliens judgment, as he
himself had not been in the vicinity for
many years. Allen pointed out that 1t
was impossible to miss the way, as the
b. & NJ. railroad would interpose a barrier
on the south and a line of telegraph poles
would warn him if he worked too far TO
the northward. Passing the time in song
and story, like the pilgrims in the Canter-
bury tales, and refreshing themselves win
such means as they had p~roVidently la.d
by, the occupants paid small heed to pass
ing objects, and in some unknown manner
PASSED over the tracks. Littleheld ad-
yances the theory that the railroad at
that point must have been hidden in some
deep ravine which was spanned by an en-
closed bridge.
When the driver at last awoke to his
responsibilities all familiar mad
vanished. He realized that he was lost IN
Sarpy county. Keeping the depressing
knowledge from his companion, however
Allen urged the horse toward a struggling
| COllecIiOu Ol uOuSCS III Nv 'S'" 'iS
vaguely that it might be Willard, and that
his comrade might never discover his self
d%istrust. The hamlet was reached and
proved to be Deerfeld, easily identified by
the ruins of DR.. Miller's mansion.
Allen made his confession. After re-
ference to such solace as they had on board
the travellers then began an earnest eHoF'
to remedy their error and reach the
hospitable farmhouse before the dinner hour
They encountered a number OF hunters, all
of whom they knew, and who expressed
good natured unbelief that two such seasoned
veterans should have lost their way. Allen
and Littlefeld extracted such directions as
to their proper course as they could and
started on another tack. They Travelled
what seemed hours and met no living thing,
FINALLY another group of houses appeared
bearing an unfamiliar look in their mantle
of snow. A closer inspection, however, dis
closed the historic "Pappio" and betrayed
tho little town as Papillion, to the INFINITE
disgust OF the sportsmen.
Careful inquiry brought to light that the
Omahans had travelled two miles ana a
half which must be retraced step lor step
before the cross-road was reached leadlhg
to Willard. There was no escape and the
wearied horse was sent along at his top
most speed. Songs and stories had ceased
in the buggy, and all energy was devoted &c
reaching the coveted goal in time for Christ
mas dinner.
1t was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when the
sportsmen lifted their shotguns out OF the
buggy at Willard. The farmers house was
deserted, dinner had long since been com
pleted and all hands had gone Tor a
neighborly visit. The city men ate what
scrapings could be gathered at the village
hotel. in hopeless detection. They were
nuartered at the inn over night, and on the
morninp of December % went to Portal,
the only town in Douglas and Sarpy
counties which they had not visited, and
took the train for home.