The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-29
WHEN LOST IN A FOREST
PREcAUTloN FOR THOSE REcREAT-
INC IN THE WILDERNESS.

George KEENAN,, the famous explorer
and writer. in The Outlook concerning
the precautions which a man should
take who goes out into the wilderness
for recreation at this time Of year. lie
introduces his recommendation by tell
ing how a visitor to a forest camp in
/ West Virginia strayed from path and
4 nearly persisted IN consequence. The
suggestions offered by Mr.. Konnan
may be valueless to persons who have
/ lived in the woods much. They are IN
tended only for the inexperienced. The
latter class is a large one, however.
When q man first recognizes the fact
that he strayed from the trail. ow-
ing 10 its indistinctness or his own alb
sentmindedness Mr. Kennan says. be
is apt to get excited and rush around
wildly. first in one direction and then
in another, thus making it more diff
cult for him to find the trail once
more. and also increasing the trouble
which his rcscuers must take 10 dis
cover him. 1t win often happen that
man viii not be more than short
distance from the trail when he per-
ceives that he has lost ii. He may hnd
it again. under these circumstances. IL
he proceeds cautiously. But If he does
not succeed, AZ least he should so act
that the task of hunting him up BY
others Will be comparatively easy.
The first recommendation is to stop
instantly, on realizing that the trAck
Is not visible. and to establish a base
as a military man would put 1t. A
more simple expression is, create
good landmark" This is TO be accom-
plished by cutting OF breaking a
tree branch. so that It viii hang up
side down and have its leaves invert-
ed The difference between the tint OF
the upper and lower surfaces VIII make
this object perceptible at a considera
bic distance. but its disrinctness should
be increased by tying a white handker-
chief 10 it in as conspicuous place as
possible This should be visible Oa al
sides. If the landmark be located IN q
slight opening. where the trees are not
too close together, so much the better
and it should be high enough to be seen
over intervening bushes.
The next step is to begin a series OF
short trips in different directions from
the base. returning after each one 10
that central point Il the sought for tran
is not picked up in the meantime. If
the man has a compass so much the
better ESeu If he has not. though. he
can explore in four Cor eight nearly
eQuidistant lines from the base by
marking his path along each one
Breaking branches or blazing a patch
on a tree trunk with a pocket knife. !
will enable him to hnd his way back,
IL he once gets out Of sight Of the hand
Ferchief. These clews win also be
useful to search parties If the lost man
does not quickly recover the trail. In ]
that case be should return to the land /
mark and stay as near it as possible.
A trail is a route in the forest that
has been followed SO few times as to
be worn very slightly. Only keen and
practiced eyes can detect It. But It 4
should be remembered that it Is much
more distinct when looked at length /
wise than crosswise. A man who has I
lost it may actually walk right over 1t. |
from one side to the other while hunt. |
ing for it. Hence. when exploring IN /
the manner just described, one should (
70 cautiously. and glance both TO tie
right and left. rs well as ahead.
A compass. an emergency army RI
ton, a pint cup with folding handle I
and n few matches should always be
carried on such trips. One should also
secure before going into the woods a
map OF the region. showing the roads
and streams within q few miles. and
studying it in advance. SO as TO be n.
miliar with the country even without
having the map at hand
The method pursued by Afr. KEENAN,
and companion IN seeking the man
who was lost is worth noting. The
trail led from a small camp in
the forest to farmhouse aud
store more than twenty iGiles
away. From this farmhouse one conld
get back to civilization easily. Tie
stranger, after short visit 10 camp.
was escorted TO within two or three
miles OF the farmhouse. and then. ns
The trail seemed distinct. be insisted ON
sending his escort back. A day or two
later Mr.. Kennan left the camp Tor
H. farm 10 get some butter and then
learned that the stranger had not re-
He and AR Mckinney. the
farmer. Immediately started out to.
ward camp. each planning 10 keep
nearly a mile away from Che other on
sides of the trail. They were
10 fire their rides nc hfteen-mlnute ln.
Iervals. as signals 10 each other. so
hat they might not get zoo far apart
lnd also 60 attract the attention Of the
stranger. A hnal discharge Of four
guns when the search seemed 10 have
proved useless. ELECTED faint lmmani
.ries which drew the scarchers 10 The
ipot where the wandereg was. Relief
came just tn time. for he was IA n
swamp up 20 his waist. his face ana
lody badly scratched. his clothing neai-
y gone. aud his strength and pluck ex.
lausled
Easy Tor gur~fara