The Portland daily press., 1900-07-16
KNIGHTS BODY FOUND.
Was Lost Last Fall While Huntin.
In Woods.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.s

4
Rumford Falls, July lion Tuesaav
October q, 1899, Arthur Wilson ANA
Richard M. Knight of Boothbay Harho,
left Bemis early in the morning and
struck off into the woods on hunting
expedition. At 10 O'Clock that mornlns
the two young men separated, aereelns
to q meet at certain Landmark by noon
Wilson reached the spot on time but
! Knight did not arrive. Wilson waited
and waited until darkness settled owe,
the silent forest and still his friend did
not come. He tried to hunt for him. be
signaIled and shouted and passed tha
night wandering about the woods ina
vain hope of finding the missing man.
but no trace of him could be found Rx
hausted from loss of sleep and by ankle.
ty, young Wilson at last found his way
back to Bemis hoping TO lind knight had
reached there in safety. No one had Seen
him and though the woods Were scoured
by hundreds OF people for days and weeks
no trace of the missing man was dlsooY.
cred.
TO lay an Indian reached Bemis from
the woods. In the depths OF the forest
so far way from the beaten track that
the searching parties had not reached It
this Indian came across the remains Of
man. Little remained Of the body. Iha
skull was intact and some flesh was
clinpinp TO it. 1t was impossible to learn
here tonight just where this body was
found or by what means 1t was idenh
fed, but the Indian is certain that the
skeleton is that of Richard NJ. Knight
Nothing ever occurred about the Range
ley Lakes which caused as great ssna
tion as did this loss of young knight
As soon as Wilson reached the town Of
Bemis with his story a searching party
of 30 started out into the woods For
two days they hunted their numbers be.
ing constantly increased by fresh arrivals
Young Knights's father from Bo0thhay
HarbOr hurried into the woods and
offered a reward Of 500 to him who
should find the boy. AS the days passed
and no trace Of him could be found thea
rewards were increased. Hiram Kicker
of the Poland Spring house secured
special train which ran up to Bemis
from Rafnford Falls on the sunday fol.
lowing Knights disappearance on Tues.
day, and this carried hundreds Of men
who spent q day or two in the search
Mr.. Kicker offered an additional reward
Of $500 for the recovery of the body and
the most skilful wO0dsmen in that region
lived in the woods for several weeks In
Of torn clothing could be fond, nora
foot print or any signs OF the man.
Knight S father was almost crhzed b. The
loss of his boy, while his mother was
completely prOtrated by the terribk
affair. She suggested chat the young
man pet dog be taken to the woods and
set upon the trail of Knight Where be
left Wilson on the fatal Tuesday and
this was one, but. the dog could not fol
low the trail
There were all kinds of stories in circn'
latiOn, some claiming that young knight
had found his way out OF the woods and
disappeared, but as no reason could b.
found for the young mans acting in this
manner, the story was not entertalnei
by many. The general supposition va;
that Knight had become lost in fhe
tangles of the wilderness, had wandeIei
about in an aimless way until exhaus'
ed from want of food and exposure and
had lain down to die IN the midst OF Do
forest. 10 was also thought that he NIGH
have met with some accident Wild
prevented him from walking and bad
time of his disappearance knight H6l
two coats, but tuesday and Wednesda
were exceedingly warm days for Octg
Der ana 1t was thought that he Nigh
have discarded these. Then came som
cold weather and this was followed b
a snow storm and the seorchers gave a
the hunt
This story of the Indian has greatl
excited Bemis once more. 'Buckskl|
Sam, - as he is called, one of the well
known guides OF the Rangeley LAX
region, telephoned Mr.. Knight at Booth
bay Harb0r tonight that he thought Oh
remains found were those of the missin,
young man, and that be had gone hac|
into the woods with the Indian 60 hrni
them ont to Bemis. When the full par
ticulars are ascertained perhaps Il may
be learned just why it was that youn.
Knight was unable to find his way oul
TO civilization. 1T was stated that ih'
place where the body was found wa
ome eight or nine miles beyond The
territory which was searched over b
those who went out to hunt for the boy
showing that young Knight must have
wandered many hours before death over
took himz.