Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-02-14
From The Hartford Times.
FACT STRANGER THAN FICTION


In consulting the tales of romance, and
perusing the many and various works of
fiction that issue from the public press at
the present day. none will be found more
full of interest, or tending more 10 display
the wonderful workings of experimenting
Providence, than the remarkable incidents
in the history Of Lost Child, recently re-
claimed from the western savages, by its be-
reaved parent.
In 1885, Mr. Ammi FilIey, Of Windsor.
CT. (havng in 1881 married a daughter of
Capt William Marvin, of Granville, Mas
removed with his family to The town Of Jack
son, in the State Of Michigan. In this town,
then wilderness, he located himself, and
by his industry and economy he soon found
himself in the possession OLA productive and
profitable farm; and by the accession of set
tiers, the town became populous and flour
ishing. Although in the vicinity of nu-
merous tribes Of savages, and often visited
by wandering families Of the natives, yet all
was peace aud quietness, and every thing
conspired to render their abode pleasan, aud
happy.
On the third of August, 1887, his little
son, then child OF FIVE years old, went out
to a swamp in the vicinity OF their dwelling,
with a hired girl, to gather whortleberries
The swamp was in the direction from Mr.
Filey's to the dwelling of Mr. Mount, the
father Of the girl, whittier they expected to
90 TO spend the highland the scene of
their toll was about a mile from the house of
the former, and some twenty or thirty rods
from the dwelling of the latter. Having
satisfied himself with picking berries, the
child discovered a desire to return, where
upon the girl conducted him to the road,
aud placed him in the direction to the house
of Mr. Mount-not doubling, as the house
was in plain sight and only few rods dis
tant, but the little fellow would reach it in
perfect safety. The girl returned to the
swamp, and after completing her supply of
berries, went home TO the house of her
father, and found to her as,onishment, as
well as that of the family, that William had
not arrived Notice was Immediately COM
municated TO the parents, an alarm given
through the settlement, and the whole popu-
lation rushed at once to the assistance and
relief of the almost distracted parents. Day
and night for more than week, witnessed
the praise-worthy exertions of his neighbors,
and the whole country, in every direction TO
an extent of more than twenty miles, was
searched with untiring vigilance. Every
pond and every stream of water was exam
ned and dragged, and every rod of ground
lscruiinized, for many successive days, but
no trace could be discovered of the absent
child. As an inducement to continue the
search, notice of the event was published in
the papers. and Mr. Filley offered a reward
of two hundred dollars for the recovery OF
the child, either dead or alive. As suspi-
cions were entertained that foul play had
been practiced by the Indians, enquiries
were made Of the different tribes and fami.
lies in the vicinity, and pecunlary offers ten
dered to their chiefs and influential men,
and Mr. Filley himself traversed for months
the wilds of Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa
but his efforts poyed vain. No discovery
could be made, and no tidlngs had, and he
returned to his heart-broken family, with
the sad reflection that their little William
t10S lost
For seven long years this stricken family
endured the agony of an affection that sci.
dom falls to the lot of human nature to sub.
nit to-'monihs Of vanity and wearisome
nights we're appointed to them
If the shaft of death had smitten down
this, their first born son, and they had pass
ed through the funeral soemnities, and seer
him laid in the grave of their own church
yard, time would have tempered their grief
and mitigated the anguish of their bereave.
ment. But the painful suspense, the awfu
uncertainty that hung over his fate was an
ahidino sorrom ,vbich limo could mt eoIi n,
and earth had no balm TO heal. As time
rolled on, hope became extinguished, bu
William was not forgotten. The mournfu
event, with its aggravating circumstances
was corroding canker upon every comfor
of the famIy-a fatal disease seized the
mother, and she sunk into an untimel,
grave.
Since the deceasc of his wife, Mr. File,
has visited Connecticut, the place of his ma
tiyiiy, and while here, by mysteriou:
course of events beyond the comprehension
of human wisdom to fathom, his long los
child has appeared, and been restored to hi:
fond embraces.
1t seems that the lad, before reaching tho
house Of Mr. Mount, was overtaken and kid
mapped by band of Indians, who in theil
wanderings happened to pass that way. lr
this family he lived, and travelled with then
in all their migratory movements, from the
time he was captured until the autumn o
IS43.
About this time this family visited Alban,
N. Y, and while there this white child wa,
discovered among them The municipal
authorities becoming acquainted with the
circumstance, at once caused their arrest
and took measures to compel them to dis