Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-11-23
1A"ENiS GRIEF TURNED TO JOY
"Hiie Ihompson, Lost la the Mountains
Returns Home Safely.

Little Willie Thompson. son Of Mr..
and Mrs .fohn Thompson Of Wolf
Lodge, VINO was lost in the mountains
north Of that place from Thursday
morning until Sunday afternoon, re-
turned home safely not much the
worse ON account of his exposure. 1t
is needless to say that The boys return
was the occa son for great rejoicing
at the Thompson home. for the par
ents had never again expected to see
their darling child alive, and had even
began to despair Of ever recovering his
body. The deep grief with which
these parents had been afflicted for
three long, weary days was suddenly
turned into joy. The dramatic effect
OF this transition can be far better i'm
agined than described. And none but
those who have passed through similar
experiences can even imagine what
these parents suffered while dwelling
upon the thought that their darling
child had siu:cunlbad to exposure and
that his body was being torn and mu-
tilated by wild beasts. Then. to sud-
denly look once more upon tie ROSY
cheeks and smiling countenance of
taeir beloved child Who has the
gift of language To do justice in de
scrib;ng TIRE dramatic scere which
took place upon the lost child's return?
~ mi ian, l,,r,
about as follows: Willie Thompson.
II years old, left his home at Wolf
Lodge some time last Thursday fore
noon astride a pony in search of stock
-Arri wing on the divide aboUr two
miles nor til Of Wolf Lodge. the lad be-
came confused and, instead Of retrac-
ing his way as he intended began to
descend on the opposite side Of the d.
vide. We shall not attempt to de-
scribe his wanderings through that
mountainous country as it was de-
scrib bed to us. ffe was completely lost
ana spent Thursday night in the
mountains without shelter and only "A
small blanket tn protect him from the
cold. Some time during the following
day he arrived al the hone of Joseph
Cute. He stopped at the home Of
Mr.. Guie until sunday morning, when
the latter accompanied him to within
a shost distance of home. TIE boys
clothes and shoes were in rags and tat
ters fron contact with brush, and he
presented i most pitiable appearance.
but otherwise none the worse on ac-
count of his horrible experience.
In the meantime neighbors ami
friends of the Thompson family to the
number OF 40 or 10 were tramplng over
the mountains through the storm in
search of the lost child. and many did
not return home until the day follow
ing the boys return. One squad u
searchers, headed by John Thompson,
father of the boy, lost their way in the
storm of Sunday afternoon and were
compelled to spend the night out, re-
turning home Monday afternoon.
The action OF Guie. in failing To
give notice that the boy was found, Is
being strongly condemned. He is said
to have known about the kind Of
search that was being made for the
lost child as early as Friday morning.
yet he kept the bereaved parents III
ignorance until sunday afternoon.
John Thompson is quite well known
in Rathdrum. being frequent ylsi-
tor here lie the capacity Of telephone
line repairer. Mr. and Mrs. Thpmp-
son deeply appreciate the sincere good
will of their neighbors in the search
for their lost child and extend to
them their heartfelt thanks for thu
kindness and sympathy thus-eXhlhited
An OPPORTUSiIY FOR RiTIiDRl VI