The Redwood gazette., 1902-12-17
LOST IN THE WOODS.
A Former BelvieW Resident Lost While
With Hunting Party.

The Minneapolis Tri5une OF Dec.
7th contains an account of William
T. Hagan. an one time connected
with the Belview Independent. and
quite well-known in this city, and
also formerly an employee OF the
Granite Falls Tribune, being lost in
the woods of northern Minnesota.
The article says:
"William T. Hagen, a Minneapo-
lis mail clerk, is lost ip the pine
forests forty-fve miles east Of Thief
River Falls and about thirty five
miles from Thorwick. Hagen has
been.missing since Tuesday morn
ing. Posses have searched the
woods since Wednesday morning,
but no trace of the lost hunter has
been found. Snow fell on Tuesday
night, SO that ahy possibility Of
trailing him was lost.
Wednesday night was exceeding
|
lv cold. Hagen carried no blank
cts and no provisions. He started
from camp early Tuesday morning
on the trail Of bear. carrying a
Winchester rifle and p cartridges.
| The other members Of the party
broke camp shortly after Hagen
started, and they did not return
until after sundown. AS Hagen did
not put in an appearance much
alarm was felt, but owing to the
snowfall it was impossible to do
anything effective till the next day.
| The closest attention was given in
case Hagen might fire his rifle to
signify that he had lost his way,
but not sound was heard through
out the night except such noises as
come out of the forest in winter.
Hagen did not carry provisions,
because he expected from the ma
ture of the trail, that be would be
back to camp inside of half a day.
1t is possible that ne became en-
gagged in hand to hand encounter
with bear, these animals becoming
very desperate in defense of their
young, but the more general belief
is that the young man lost his bear
ings and wandered around until ex-
hausted, being compelled to sleep
in the snow. If this is the correct
solution of the mystery, there is
very little chance that he, has sur
vived the rigors of Wednesday
night.
The particular section of the coun-
try in which Hagen is lost is very
wild There are only one or two
settlers, hunting parties seldom 60
in there at this time of year. There
is no shelter whatever, except that
afforded by the standing pine and
underground. 1t is not known
whether Hagen had a supply OF
matches or not. An experienced
woodsman ia his situation would
not be likely to perish so long as be
had ammunition and fire sticks. A
man can build a fire big enough tC
keep him from freezing to death
even if be has no blankets. and it is
always possible to kill something
that will sustain life. With a green
hand. however, the building of wind
breaks and the construction of big
fire are not simple matters. and
there is also the possibility that
Hagen might have been withou,
matches. Another posse started
out from Thorwick yesterday morn.
ing aud it is understood that an ex.
pedition is being arranged for at
Thief River Falls.
Hagen was on the railway mail
service between ST. Vincent and
Fargo. His friends live in Mime.
apolis and be resides here when of
the road. He is clever young fel.
low, well liked by his comrades and
highly considered in the service
Minneapolis friends of Hagen have
already gone to Thorwick in search
of him
INSISTS IT PASSED.