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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
History Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 27, 2017 B5 Tragic news of missing girl has happy ending Poem shares the 5-year-old’s harrowing story Blue Mountain Eagle Five-year-old Emma Nelson went missing on July 4, 1896, for five days at Cress Hollows, west of Susanville. She was found by John Pierson at Hawkins Flat. Former Bates resident Pat Cary Peck happened to meet Nelson’s daughter, Irene Behymer, also a former Bates resident, on a trip to Alaska. Behymer shared her mother’s story with Peck, which appears in the book “Bates-Austin Remem- bered,” a collection of memories compiled by Sonja Morgan. Behymer said settlers came from miles around to celebrate at a Fourth of July picnic in 1896, but as the festivities began, tragic news of the little girl’s disappearance spread. She disappeared into the dense forest, and crews of men and dogs searched from daylight to dark. After the fourth day, hope dimin- ished, but some didn’t give up, in- cluding family friend John Pierson. On the fifth day, Pierson walked into a clearing in the forest at Haw- kins Flat when he saw little Emma sitting on a log. He quietly said hello, and the lit- tle one said, “Hello, have you seen my daddy?” A poem at the Grant County His- torical Museum in John Day, along with a picture of Emma, paints the amazing search and rescue. HOTEL Continued from Page B1 floor. A spacious lobby gave the men a place to relax, talk and play cards. A basement provided storage space for ex- tra belongings. A Mountain Idyl Amid grasses on the cold, hard ground. No Mamma there to sing sweet rhymes, Naught but the winds sighing through the pines, Or the screeching of the night owl, Or the wild beast’s more angry growl. By Miss Charlotte Brown God and Angels heard her sighs When she closed her baby eyes. When the night dews kissed her cheek Angels there a watch did keep. Settle Mountain is a dangerous place, The bravest hunter fears to trace, He fears to meet the old brown bear In the fire pines and the black pines there. Little Emma, beautiful child On that dangerous mountain wild; Naught but the starry Heavens above That spoke of home, of joy or love. Dangers beset it on every side, There wild beasts roam, and reptiles hide. The mount looks wild as a storm at sea, And it’s ever dense as the waves would be. But amid all those vicious things The Guardian Angel spreads its wings. A child only four years old Was lost six days on that mountain fold. Her father searched night and day, And parties, too, in full array. They searched hills, valleys and plain, At first their efforts seemed in vain. Six days is no little time To live on berries what she could find. But God, who hears the raven’s cry, Much more His children will supply. Her father came to a pretty brook, Running through a lovely nook Nearby grew a group of willows, Sighing, waving, like the billows. She wandered from the picnic ground To gather flowers that grew around. Her brother saw her going that way, But did not think she would go astray. Her brother said, I think she’s here, Then came a voice so soft and clear, “Oh papa! I know you would come,” It was his child, his own dear one. She wandered away many miles Through trackless paths and dangerous wilds; There she was with flowers in hand, Amid beasts of prey on that mountain strand. Five-year-old Emma Nelson, who went missing for five days at Cress Hollows on July 4, 1896. The lost was found — great was his joy, No wealth could buy, nor wealth destroy. The Lord he thanked in praise and prayer, For His tender, loving care. She saw when she awoke from sleep. She was too young to know much fear, When the shades of night drew near, When weary and along she lay down Oh could we have that child-like faith While traveling o’er life’s thorny path. Her hope and faith, and trust were one; “Oh, papa, I surely knew you’d come.” Courtesy photo/Mr. and Mrs. T. Gail DeWitt Did she laugh, or did she weep? What thoughts into her mind did creep? Thoughts of Mamma, Papa and brothers, who? And the flowers she gathered, too. She did get frightened, once, she said, Frightened at where she made her bed. It was upon a fearful steep, Cooking was not allowed in the rooms, so the workers ate home-style meals in a “cookhouse” restaurant near the store at the south end of the lodge. Lunches were packed for the men to take along on their long work days. A steam heat system kept the lodge warm during Sene- ca’s frigid winters. The lodge closed in 1962, when Hines began to shut down its logging operations in the Seneca area. Since that time, the former boarding house has been a pri- vate residence, a bed and break- fast and, for a time, vacant. In 2014, Grayback For- estry bought and restored the building for housing for its employees, returning it to its purpose as a home for wood- land workers. While the trans- formation included several modern upgrades and recon- figuring of some of the single rooms, great care was taken to preserve the historical ambi- ance of the nearly 80-year-old building. The stately Bear Valley Lodge is a gem in the treasure chest of Seneca’s rich history and a reminder of its logging heritage. The Corner Cup LIVING Shirley Rushing with her dog, King, behind the Bear Valley Lodge in Seneca, 1960. Continued from Page B1 logging operations in 1962, Harrison’s parents bought the lodge building and continued to live in it. Harrison attended Seneca School through eighth grade and then Grant Union High School, graduating in 1964. She lived at the lodge until she was 21, when she moved out to attend school in Portland. Her mother lived at the lodge until 1969. Harrison, who lives in the Portland area with her husband, Jerry, reflects fondly on her growing up years in Seneca. In fact, it was there where she and Jerry met – in the third grade. She loves telling people about her years living at the Bear Valley Lodge. “I would have to say I had the perfect childhood,” Harrison said. MABEL’S CAFE EVE’S SWEETS Mon-Sat 7am-3pm 295 S. Canyon Blvd Canyon City 6am-3pm 7 days a week Enter on Washington St. Canyon City Courtesy photo Shirley Rushing Harrison 06124 their right mind would bring a girl of 7 to live in a room- ing house with up to 60 single men.” Harrison said the men who roomed there ate their meals in a cookhouse. She recalls her mom washed all the sheets in the basement and handled all the paperwork. Her father enjoyed his supervisory position, which allowed him to work indoors. During the holiday season, they made sure there was a big Christmas tree in the lodge’s lobby, Harrison said. She added her mother had a green thumb and even had a knack for get- ting geraniums to bloom during Seneca’s bitter cold winters. “They were happy they had good jobs,” she said. “Every- one respected my folks.” When the Hines ceased • Coffee • Tea • Hot Drinks • Cold Drinks • Smoothies • Baked Goods • Free WiFi 100 E Main St., John Day • 541-792-0425 Open Mon-Wed 6am-9pm, Thur-Sat 6am-12am & Sun 8am-8pm The historical Silvies School Boyd, Bo Hawk, Cl nnie, aren & Sheila ce 541-575-3553 S ILVIES V ALLEY R ANCH NEED A GOOD WELDER? We’re here to serve you. • • • • Established 1883 We are proud to be a part of Grant County and its history. We take pride in caring for our history, our environment, livestock and our families. Repair & Fabrication Steel & Aluminum Inventory Complete Machine Shop Welding Supplies & Gases 8 am - 5 pm, Mon. - Fri. 841 W. 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