Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
Lost in the Sand Hills

The great sand Hills section OF west
ern Nebraska is In the shape of an open
fan The handle of the fan is in Hayes
and Dundy counties near the southwest
corner OF the state, the broad wings
Of the fan extend into parts of Cherry.
sheridan. Holt. Rock, Antelope and
Pierce counties. reaching the northern
border OF the state. The center of this
sand hills fan is in southern Cherry and
Thomas counties. Here extend for many
miles in every direction great billows
OF sandy soil. Until closely studied all
OF the landscapes look alike, for each
sand hill seems like each other sand
hill, and the little wales which lie be-
tween are all sisters Of the same age,
The sand drifts and slides about with
each gust of wind. There are no great
landmarks to serve as guides. II one
climbs to the top OF the highest hill in
sight, everywhere is a confused medley
OF hills and holows extending as far as
the eye can see. It Is as though In an
ocean tossed by a great storm the waves
suddenly had been changed to sand.
In the early years of exploration and
settlement the sand hills were regarded
as a dangerous region. Many stories
are told OF hunters and explorers who
were lost among these hills. In more
than one place human skeletons have
been telling their mute story OF los
ing struggle with hunger and thirst in
these treacherCrs wilds.
one Of the most thrilling incidents OF
frontier days occurred I'm the sand hills
OF Thomas county in 1891, In March Of
that year a German family named Hau-
mann settled near Thedford. There were
nine or ten children la the family. The
eldest girl. Hannah, went to work for
Mr. ellison. a neighbor, who lived about
a mile o., half away. II was her
custom to come home on Sunday and
spend a happy day with her brothers
and sisters. on Sunday, May 10, she
did not come home as usual, because Mr..
ellison was away and Mrs. ellison wished
Hannah to stay with her for company
This made the other children unhappy
and Tillie and Retta coaxed their mother
to get them go over to the ellison home
to visit their sister. Tilie was years
old and Retta was 4. After dinner Mrs.
Haumann let them go, telling them to
stay an hour and then come straight
home. They reached Mr.. Gllson's safely
and about I o'clock started. hand in
hand, to return home. At this season
the sand hills are beautiful with grasses
and wild flowers. and the two children
left their path and ran eagerly TO gather
those nearby They saw others still
more beautiful a little farther off, so
they laughed and ran on and on to
gather them until the path was lost and
the great sea Of sand hills stretched be-
fore them wave upon wave. Lost upon
this sea. they wandered on.
Night came and brought no children to
the Haumann home. At dGybreak the
next morning the neighbors were search
ing the hills Word had been sent 20
Thedford and from there 10 the surround
ing country. Although II was the busy
season OF the year men left their fields
and herds and tramped or rode over the
hills and hollows looking everywhere for
the two little girls. Monday afternoon
Just before sundown they found their
trail. That ight Mr.. stacey and party
OF searchers camped on the trail. As
soon as II was light they followed the
chidren's tracks, sometimes rapidly,
often more slowly and not infrequently
upon their hands and knees. The story
Of the childrens wandering and weari-
ness was written IN the prints made on
the sand and grass along the way. Here
I lie had carried Retta-here they had