The Washington times., 1907-08-09

there by bathers. Each was picked up
and examined 10 see If II bore any re-
semblance to Roberts wearing apparel.
Policemen and volunteers. whose
clothing was saturated with perspira-
ton. because OF the oppressive heat and
humidity. kept continually at work until
darkness overlook them. Along the
roads il was more comfortable than IN
the woods and thickets. Into the forests
the searchers plunged, wading knee
deep in mud, mire, briars, grass or un-
derbrush. Bugs and reptiles by the
hundreds were encountered and many
searchers were driven out of the woods
by humble bees and hornets
Search Similar to That for Marvin Boy.
The search yesterday and last night
was exactly similar 10 that conducted In
the Horace Marvin case, Of Delaware.
DIR. Marvins three-year-old boy disap-
peared on the morning OF March 1. Be
cause OF his age ana heavy clOIhlng, II
was not believed he had gone tar. 1ha'
was the theory upon which the search
ers worked yesterday There was much
speculation as TO the distance the little
| fellow could have walked and whether
! or not he would have had strength
enough TO shout so as to be heard after
afternoon.
Search Is systematically Made.
From distant parts OF the woods the
| loud halloos OF the searchers could be
| heard. Headquarters were established
at Camp Good Will. The outpostS OF
/ vanguards reported TO the camp By
| shouting to the nearest searcher, who in
! turn. called out 10 another nearer camp
, On two occasions the 5eaFchers came
| upon what they thought TO be Tangible
| clues. but both proved worthless.
At a house, a short distance from
| Camp Good VIII, a white woman stated
| that she and her sons had heard the
/ cries OF an infant in the woods about
$50 o'clock Wednesday evening. Per
/ sons living in the woods were inter
| rogated, but stated that they had Meth.
/ er seen the child nor heard the cries. 4
/ colored man driving a wagon was stop
/ ped and questioned. He said he saw
] the little fellow sitting on the seat of {
| wagon beside a farmer about dusk Wed.
| nesday evening. The wagon was beinI
! driven toward Takoma. The police mad,
further inquiry regarding this clue, bu
were unable TO substantiate 1t.
Largest Searching Party.
Shortly after Major Sylvester an
nounced yesterday that the police de
pGrtment would pay $50 to the finder o.
the child, Secretary Charles r. Weller
Of the Associated Charities, made &
similar offer. Either the reward of S.
| or sympathy for the sorrowing mothel
| Drought out the largest number o.
starcners that has ever figured in
! search for a missing Washington per
| son. Ordinarily people are reportes
! MISSING and no further attempt tnan
telephone or telegraph message is mad,
| 10 locate them. Not so IN the presen
case, because the hearts OF all IN,
policemen in the case have been touche,
ana they have spent many hours in tn
! woods that they could have snent a
home asleep II they desired.
Last night the shouts Of the search
| eIS rang out on the silent air like tn,
Sal5 5 OF sentries In time OF battle. Nov
and then a fiickering light could h
seen on the top Of a hill only TO dns
/ appear Instantly as the person carTy
ing II dived into the woods or ran dow,
II,, nliL IN search Of the missing lad
huhdreds and hundreds OF times IA
Eearchers called Robert" " bopIna tba
the little fellow might hear them. bu
the woods only answered with stiffness
Think Boy Was Picked Up.
That child has been picked up." wa
the statement of almost every one O
the wearied and exhausted searcher
as they slowly trudged back 10 cam
last night at a late hour. still -ther
were those who firmly believed tn
tot had wandered through a thicket q
underbrush and was being held fas
by cruel briars or vines. The field
around Camp Good VIII look as thouR
brigade Of soldiers had passed owe
H. <Imost every inch Of the ground
covered with footsteps Of pedestrian
or horses Automobile tracks were ais
TO be found on the top Of Kills. on tn
banks OF the creek, and in the almos
impenetrable woods.
The mother OF the child called a
Police Headquarters last night 10 as
! certain. from Lieutenant Peck II an
trace Of her child had been found. Sh
} was bordering on hysteria when IN
formed that the twenty-four-hou
search had been futile.
! The mother dissipated the theory tha
the father Of the child mad molested (
She said the father, who resides
Goldensyille, Va, has never cxpresse
any desire to see the child or have
, Came Here Three Years Ago.
A little more than three years az
/, Robert Barker's mother camo to Wasl
ington. After the birth Of her chill
she remained in Washington and sh
I went TO work as a housegirl. Befor
, the birth of her second child. who
now several months old, Roberts mott
er arranged with Mrs Ferry. OF 32S
, street southwest to take care of hir
! For the care of the tot Mrs Ferry Wa
paid 5 a month. Since Seriember
last year Mrs. Ferry had provided T,
the child and ministered 10 its simp