Evening star., 1927-10-30
FORBUSH POSSE
SCOURS WOODS
Men Report Sighting Woman
Near Wheaton, Md.
Search Renewed.

Striking the first hot trail since the
search for Mrs. Ann Ramsey For.
bush, wife of Rev. Dascomb Forbush
of Canandaigua, n. Y, began II days
ago, bloodhounds early today led a
band of searchers deep into the heart
of Burdoff's Woods. near Wheaton,
Nd, about miles from the District
line.
Encountering an almost impene.
trable mass of honeysuckle and
briars, the dogs circled madly about
as members of the posse formed a
loose Gordon about the place where il
was hoped the woman is hiding, OBJ
sessed by the notion that she must
seek solitude and that her anxious
friends are bent on prosecuting her
Members Of the searching party
planned to maintain a vigil about the
area until daybreak and then advance
through the underbrush, each man
walking 10 PAGES from his companion
Woman Is Sighted.
The Wheaton clue, regarded as the
4LhPCI IoHt S1lACC llIC OiSdDRCdI,
ance Of Mrs. Forbush from Keith's
Theater. where she was attending a
performance with her husband, follow
ed two days when hope had waned
that Mrs. Forbush might be found
alive. 1t came from two colored men
who sighted woman lying on bed
of leaves in the woods. One of them
watched her while the other man ran
to store at Wheaton and telephoned
the Washington police. who imme.
diately set out for the scene with the
Rev. Forbush.
Five minutes before posse arrived,
the woman who answered in detail
the description of Mrs. Forbush,
crept from the thicket and made off
in the woods mumbling to herself.
The lone watcher, Preston Hyson, a
colored laborer, living in the vicinity,
was afraid to attempt to detain her,
but pointed out the direction she took
when the posse arrived. Examina-
ton OF the thicket disclosed a rude
bed. made of leaves, and the top of
a pasteboard carton.
Posse Takes Up Hunt.
The first contingent of the posse,
consisting of Arthur Mckinney and
Clifford Parmenter, both of Rochester
telephoned for reinforcements. and
within 80 minutes a detachment of
police from No. 13 precinct arrived
The Rev. Mr.. Forbush, accompa MED
by five Canandaiguans, who had ar
rived in the city less than an hour be.
fore, spread out from headquarters at
the New Winston Hotel and began to
aid in the search.
An irregular picket line, augmented
by Maryland State police and resi-.
dents of the neighboring countryside,
was thrown about the woods, while
a car was dispatched to Occoquan,
Va, to bring the bloodhounds.
A neighboring store was stripped
of its supply of flashlights and the
picket line resembled fireflies strung
out across the countryside.
New Searchers Arrive.
New members of the hometown
posse. relieving those who returned
yesterday. are: DIR. Harry NJ. Smith,
personal physician to Mrs. Forbush;
Leon Packard, Melvin Spencer and
George and James Park. The police
detail was in command of Sergt. J. Il.
Hood of No. 13 precinct. Although
almost exhausted physically after a
futile all-day search near Fredericks-
burg. Va. running down lead"
which proved as groundless as scores
of others which preceded it, the Rev.
Mr.. Forbush joined in the hunt last
night with renewed hope and said he
was almost positive that the woman
seen by the roadside is his wife.
Milton Burgess. one Of the colored
men who saw her, stated that she
was combing her hair when he first
saw her, and later turned over OH
her face and went to sleep. AS she
disappeared in the gathering dusk,
she mumbled something about being
pursued. Hyson said.
At midnight, the posse numbered
more than 40 persons.