Year: 1878

whole of Orleans County remained
wilderness and the inhabitants were few
and their homes far apart, Alpha Allyn,
son of Abner and Anna Allyn, set out
from his home in search of his fathers
sheep which were yarded every night to
protect them from the wild beasts that
then infested the county. 1t was on
the 9TH of Nov, toward dusk, that the
lad, then sixteen years of age, set out
in search of the animals, expecting to
find them and drive them home before
dark. Not finding the sheep iu the
open field, he followed their trail into
the woods, but a thick fog coming on he
soon lost his way and travelled all night
trying to find the opening and his home.
1t being still cloudy and dark in the
morning, he kept on until he came to a
brook, the source of which he thought
he recognized. He thought he was in
the great swamp, known as the Brown
ington swamp, then thought to be much
larger than it really was. He did not
choose to follow the brook, but attempt
ed to reach home by course which he
thought would soon lead him out of the
woods; after travelling for some time, he
again came to brook which proved to
be the same one he had left an hour be-
fore; again he set out and again return
ed to the same place on the brook.
Through the long day he kept on in a
steady run, not allowing himself time
for rest or to search for food. Just at
night the sun shone out, but to him it
appeared to be setting in the west. He
sat down for few minutes to take a
little rest, and to consider what course
! to take next. He soon set out again on
the run, and continued on in the dark
ness until completely overcome by hun
ger and exhaustion he dropped down
beside log and fell into unconscious
ness. His clothes were saturated with
water and with sweat, and as the night
was cold, he became chilled, his clothes
actually freezing upon his body.


1t was Saturday afternoon when he
left home. His father was then in Bar
ton, quite long distance to be travelled
on foot, his mother and eldest sister
were at home. AS it became dark and
Alpha did not return they became anx-
ious about him, and late in the evening
they sounded the tin horn for long
time, hoping to call home the lost boy
or to arouse the neighbors that lived a
mile away. Before morning they went
to the neighbors for assistance, but it
was concluded that Alpha must have
gone through the woods, distance of
two miles, to Philip Davis, where he
was remaining, to return in the morn
ing. Hiram Hutchinson went to the
house of Mr.. Davis, but no one had been
there and they knew nothing of the lost
boy. Mr.. Hutchinson Immediately start
ed for Barton to find Mr.. Allyn and to
get assistance in the search for Alpha
In the meantime the nelghbors had Cir
culated the painful intelligence far and
near, and the neighbors were rallying
for search. At the Hollow, (now
West Charleston,) religious meeting
was being held, but on receipt of the
news the meeting broke up and prepara
tions were made for joining in the hunt
that must be made through the then al
most unexplored forests. A large com


pany of women gathered to console Mrs
Allyn, who was almost frantic with
grief, having only short time previous


ly lost two of her children by death


Her eldest son was in the forest subiec


to the danger Of being devoured by wilo


beasts, or of perishing with cold ant
hunger.


The large force who had searched th,


woods in the vicinity where the boy re


sided, returned at night, bringing n


intelligence of his whereabouts, anc


failing to find any track that promised


his discovery. The father on hearin.


the sad news fastened home and JOINED
in the search. Elisha Parlin was sen
during the night of Monday to Barton
where the news was spread and MESA


ges sent to Glover, Irasburgh, Saler
and Bloomington to rally a large fore
to enter the forests on the south an,
: make their way toward Charleston. TIL
: feeling in Barton was intense inasmuc
as Alpha was born and well known ther


and Mr.. Allyn's people were formerl
from that town. The men from tn
south entered the Bloomington swamp
: on Monday morning, but CHANGED to g
through too far to the west and reache
: Charleston without finding any trace {
the boy. Some men from the mort
E came through to Bloomington, but too
e a course too far east and passed the bo
t as did the gang from the south. Al
other company from the north was heat


ed by Stephen Cole, and with him VIZ


his son Winthrop, an intimate frien
t and acquaintance of Alpha. They can
q to brook where tracks were discovered
: which were believed to be those of ii