Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1902-08-15
Pratt sprague Comes Near Following in
the Footsteps Of the Lost Char
ley Ross,
A MAN AWAY
Stranger Kidnaps the Lad, Then Abandons
Him Boy Has Many Adventures
and Is Mourned as Drowned.

Pratt Sprague, the l5-year son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. b. T. Spraguc, disappeared
from his home last Sunday afternoon
and until Tuesday his parents were left
fn distracted state as to his safety and
in deep ignorance as to his whereabouts.
The fact that the lad took his fish line
with him when he left the house Sum
day led to tho fear that he had met
tragic death in the waters OF Rock creek.
Tuesday noon he appeared at his home,
much to the relief Of his mother, and
told remarkable story Of kidnapping and
subsequent adventure.
The Sprague home is situated Just
north Ct the city, below the Northern
Pacific water tank short distance. q
patch Of ground over near the river IS
used as sort Of summer place and nv.
and Mrs. Sprague repaired there Sun.
dap morning, leaving their son at home.
When they returned to the house at ]
O'clock for lunch they noticed he was
gone but thoughtnothing Of his absence.
However, when they returned in the
evening and the boy did not show up
they became alarmed. Mr.. Sprague
proceeded up town and found Ernest
Gregg, his hired man, who told him the
boy was at the house when he left about
II o'clock in the morning. Pratt's fish
pole was found back Of the house, the
line removed, thus giving evidence that
he had gone to the river. Monday
morning search was made along the river
bank and in the ponds along the course
Of the stream and at noon Mr. Sprague
proceeded by train to Laurel, thinking
that perhaps his son had taken the Sun
day extra out Trainmen were found
however, who assured Mr.. Sprague that
the lad could not have been on Sunday's
!. train, as the cars were open ones and ~
would have been noticed had he at
tempted to ride in one Of them. Whet
Mr.. Sprague returned to the city or
!. TUESDAYS train he found that his sor
had preceded him in arriving and was
safe and sound ut tho family residence
When the lad left home shortly be
fore noon Sunday he went to the rive
(. with his tishlne and wandered ul
stream to the bridge near Alderman
!. Frank Sells home. Here he says h
met a man who was driving pack out
fit of horses. The man told him h
would give him a quarter to help drv
) the horses up to the top Of the bench
Pratt speedily agreed but when he reach
: ed the top he says the man told hin
+ that he should not turn back and tba
/ in fear Of the fierce looking stranger b
: rode on with him. When about 81
! miles this side Of Bridger the strang
J man told him to 'sgit." 1t was well tt
ward evening then and Pratt went to
4 ranch house, made known his plight an
j remained there for the night The mex
n morning he started out to trudge hom
h but got ON the wrong road and Wandere
d around for about six miles, as he Woul
Il Judge the distance, fell On some rocks
= the roadside and struck his knee 50 s.
q we're a blow that Il famed him. Then
.. proceeded to haystack and spent u
d afternoon there. Toward evening
4 set out again and finally by inquirir
the way rctraccd his steps and got ln1
n Bridger after nightfal. There he can
" upon a peddier's wagon into which
q crept and spent the night. Tuesdi
morning he got on the right road IL
II home and had not proceeded far when
to was overtaken by ii Traveller who invite
n. the now thoroughly tired boy into h
id conveyance and thus the wandorer pr
ceeded on the journey home.