Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
Stories of Nebraska History
by A Il. SHELDON =

walked side by side--here they had sat
down to rest-here they were again and
pushing bravely on to find their hon.
Tuesday night the searchers camped
again by the side OF the trail. They
did not know until too late that they
and the children were only a little dis
tance apart that night.
wednesday morning they found where
Tillie and RettA had passed the night
lying close by each other on the sand.
Here the trail grew hard TO follow and
much time Was lost Meanwhile the
women at Thedford were helping in their
homes. preparing food and coffee which
they sent TO tho men on the trail. The
searchers found the work anxious and
nerve -racking. At times the little foot
prints were plain and clear and they has
tened 10 overtake the children. a little
farther on the light sand had sifted
across and left no trace to follow. The
poor mother could not join i'm the search
for she had two children younger than
Retta. one a baby. so she waited at home
from hour TO hour for news of her lost
children
While the searchers followed the two
children wandered on. travelling when
awake almost constantly. II they had
only waited they would soon have been
found, but their minds were filled with
the thought of home while their feet
carried them ever farther away with
each weary step. On Wednesday morn
ing TiIlie told Retta TO wait at the foot
OF a big hill while she went to the top
TO see ~ there was a house I'm sight
When she reached the top she seems to
have seen larger hill, common i'm
preston as one looks out over the coun-
try. and went on to get the wider view
from that Retta thought that she would
meet her sister more quickly by going
around the hill. and so started on. Thus
they were separated. never to meet again.
About noon OF this day the searching
psrty. which included Mr. Haumsnn, Mr..
Stacey Mr.. Msseburg and Dr. Edmunds'
found Retta carrying one little shoe with
it's sole worn through. while the other
had been dropped on tho trail Both OF
the girls had worn new shoes when they
left home that Sunday. Very tendcrly
the little girl was cared for by the doc
tor and the others. She had wandered
40 long without food or water that her
mind was affected for many days. She
said that they saw prairie fire and
went to it in hope OF finding some one,
but no one was there,
The search for Tlllie went on. From
DunninE, thirty miles east Of Thcdford
a party OF se8rchers started on Wednes-
day, the day on which Retta was found
They formed long line across the hills
to intercept her. for the children had
wandered east. on Sunday May II, the
Dunning party found the lost girl. She
had taken off her apron. spread II over
some rose bushes laid herself on tho sand
beneath and died. Her body was placed
on a hand car and taken 20 Thcdford.
Her parents did not recognize their child
except by her clothing. she was wasted
10 skin and bones and her fair, tender
flesh was burned black by exposure. Al
the neighborhood came 10 her funeral
and wept with her family az the worn
out body was laid TO rest.
That country IL settled nov and fences
stretch everywhere across the hills. one
has only TO follow a fence and he will
reach a ranch or road. The Haumann
family still live on their ranch near Thed-
ford. Retta has grown to womsnhood
and has a little daughter OF her own.
She lives at Broken Bow and often visits
the old home You may be sure they
do not forget their lost sister, Tillie.
nor do the early settlers fail 20 recall
with deep feeling the days when they
followed a fading trail while far ahead
Of them toiled the figure Of brave 1T
tie girl carrying her young sister In her
arms To ease her weariness as they
struggled on IN search of home.