Donn Fendler

Who is Donn Fendler?

On July 17, 1939, twelve-year-old Donn Fendler of Rye, New York, was separated from his family and became lost on Maine's Mount Katahdin. His disappearance launched a manhunt which became front page news throughout the nation, and involved hundreds of volunteers. Donn survived for 9 days without food or proper clothing, before following a stream and telephone line out of the woods near Stacyville, Maine. In September 1998, a map was published with the trail he'd followed. Fendler was dehydrated, covered with insect bites, and 16 pounds lighter than at the beginning of his odyssey, but otherwise unharmed. He credited his experience as a Boy Scout in helping him survive by remembering that he should follow the stream downhill, by eating what he could find, and attempting to shield himself as best as possible during the frigid nights.

He became the subject of a book, Donn Fendler - Lost On A Mountain In Maine, by Joseph B. Egan, which has become a Maine children's classic. Written from his perspective as a young boy, Donn tells his harrowing story from start to finish. He tells of experiencing hallucinations due to fatigue and hunger, as well as losing most of his clothing.