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DISC 4 ihe little girl, after food had been given her, told the story of her wanderings to Mr. Parish. She said that on Saturday afternoon she was left by the other members of the LaRose fhlily to take care of the baby in the tent. Feeling lanesone she thought she would take the baby and go for a little walk near the tent. She had walked but a short distance in the bush along a path beaten by cattle when she saw some cows and being afraid they would hook her or trample upon her she ran away from the path among the bushes to avoid the cattle. When she tried to find the path again she was unable to, and from that point to where she was found four days later she wandered a distance, in a straight line, of about eight miles, carrying in all her wanderings the baby entrusted to her charge. Barefooted and thinly clad, over sharp rocks and through briers and bushes she wandered alone, not knowing where she was going. All Saturday afternoon and until late that night she kept going on and on, avoiding rocky precipices, over which it seems wonderful that the child did not fall, until she came to an empty fishing cottage where she and her baby charge slept. In the morning she found in the cottage an empty bottle which, with a forethought, wonderful to contemplate in one so young, she took and tied a string about it in order to carry it more easily. This discarded empty bottle was destined to play an im- portant part in saving the life of the younger child, for with it Caroline was enabled to get water for the baby, and, by crushing berries and mixing them with the water she provided food for the infant. The Baby's Critical Condition Just how far those children wandered is, of course, impossible to say. When they were found by Mr. Parish the condition of the younger child was very critical. The poor baby was at that time quiet enough for it was too weak to cry. Both of the children were scratched and sunburned, while they were literally covered with mosquito bites. So, soon as the immediate wants of the chihdren had been appeased Mr. Parish took them again into his yacht and carried them to their home. After that he had to search for some little time for the distracted parents who were diligently seeking for traces of the children, who, they thought, must certainly be dead. Their revulsion of feeling and relief may be better imagined than described when they learned the good news imparted to them by Mr. Parish. In speaking of the seven-year- old Caroline LaRcse, Mr. Parish describes her as a very intelligent, bright little child, and certainly her recent exhibition of pluck, endurance and forethought, make her deserving of all praise that can be given her. The parents of the children are naturally very grateful to Mr. Parish, but for whose thoughtful kindness and promptness in going to the rescue they would never have seen their brave little daughter and her baby brother alive again." *i********** The newspaper.account seems to be wrong in that the baby involved was a girl whose name was Bertha. The baby died some time later of an ailment unrelated to the adventure. As the search dragged out with no reward, peeple began to speculate on the fate of the girls, and rumours were abundant. Newspaper clipping, July 21, 1898 N0 TRACE YET 0f the LaRose Children - Some hints of Foul Play Lansdowne, July 21. No further particulars concerning the loss of Isaac LaRose's children, other than that contained in Tuesday's issue, have reached us. Many rumors are afloat, some hinting at foul play, as it is said a boat was seen coming down the lake and heading for the camp where the children were. It remained a short time and returned the way it came, but whether that is true or not we are unable to say. The story is a short but sad one for, if the children are among the hills their sufferings must have been terrible, as it is a wild, lonely place where even older people have been lost, but usually succeeded in getting out. It is said that a little girl was lost there about forty years ago. After a four days' search she was found alive, but her mind hopelessly gone. She only lived about two years afterwards. It is to be hoped that some trace of the children may be found, if only to satisfy their friends of their fate." The Larose homestead on the shore of Charleston Lake where Caroline lived until the above adventure changed her life. As a result of the many conflicting reports and assumptions, the childrens' father, Isaac, travelled to consult the Witch of Plum Hollow. The good witch said that the children were then in a shack somewhere, and that the search should be continued. Following this event Caroline became the favorite of the Parish family who had no children. She left the family cabin (pictured) and her twelve brothers and sisters, and grew up in the Parish home, attending public school and high school in Athens. Following high school, they sent her to train as a nurse in Cornwall where she graduated in time to be sent overseas in World - War I. Having served in hospitals in England during the war, she returned to Canada and took a position in Metropolitan Hospital in Windsor where she became Superintendent of Nursas. There she met and married Dr. Wilbert Bryan, Sr. and resided in Windsor until the death of her husband when she removed to London. She continued to make periodic visits to Long Point until failing health prevented her from travelling. The Heroine of Charleston Lake departed this life December 6, 1977 in her eighty-seventh year. BEDFORD‘ $1., WESTPORT Rideau Restaurant & Pizzeria Flavor Crisp Chicken Full Course Meals HOME COOKED APPLE, BEEF & CHICKEN PIES LIKE MOTHER USED TO MAKE HOURS (Effective May 1, 1980): Monday through Saturday - 7 a.m. to 12 midnight Suday - 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Attention Eishflfllenâ€" Breakfast Senied Daily he ewm§m~ mrfl‘“fl“’""‘