Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-08

IRON tn. 81. Paul Press, June =


We met yesterday q youthful bu, extensive
traveller, Miss Emily Wells. little girl Of eleven
years. who has just returned from Virginia City,
Montana Territory alone. Her history from the
time she left this State in 1863 until her return
i Of the most remarkable character. and her &C
count of thrilling adventures, hair breadth es-
espes, together with the suferings and priyations
which she endured. would fll volume
Ia the spring Of 1863. this little girl living
with Der Grandmother at Shakopee, IN this State.
and whoa the expedition left that place in A pril
for the then Territory Of Idaho. she accompanied
il, taking With her her granddaughter, without
the knowledge or consent of the child's mother
who resided in this city.
Emily cannot remember much OF anything
that happened during her outward trip, but thinks
that there vas nothing OF more than ordinary in
terest occurred. The frat thing that she re-
members with any accuracy is the death oil her
grandmother which occurred in the latter part
Of the December following her arrival In ' IT
City, an incident which would be likely to leave
an impress not easily TO be ehaced, even on
mind so Young, as by il she was left IN wild
and strange land, without friend CT relative
nearer than fifteen hundred miles, and that over
a wild and barren country, Inhabited only by hos
tile bands of Indians After this incident, from
which time commences the eventfu era OF our
little heroines history, she was left frlendless
and alone with no one to care Tor her, or no
means 20 secure the sustenance Of life. Day
after day and night after night passed on in their
hurried course, but alas they brought no relief
10 our little sufferer During all these many
weeks and months she was compelled TO hunt
and beg for the morsel Of bread that was TO keep
body and soul together.
In new mining country such as Montana, the
character of the inhabitants is not supposed to be
such as would afford much relief to suffering hu
manity. Indeed. from all accounts which we
have had of Virginia city and its surroundings,
the people who compose it's population are OF the
most lawless and brutal type of human beings
which are to be found anywhere on the face OF
the globe Any who might have feelings of hu-
manity left. cannot long retain them, when com
ing in contact with this class Of people.
Ii was among such people as these, and in such
country, that little Emily was left, orphaned
homeless, and friendless, cast out upon the worse
than cold charities of unfeeling and unsympa-
timing world Ii is no wonder that she should
in her own language, be kicked about as she
went from house to house begging and entreating
for something to appease her hunger. Month:
passed on in this way, and the time had nearly
come when, with her constitution shattered by
exposure and hardships, il seemed unable mucl
| longer to bear up under its load of anguish anC
suffering. Just at this time, when her powers o
1
| her, were about to fal-when she had endured
all aud suffered all, both in body and mind
which il was possible for her young and tende
| frame to withstand, CLEAN Of sunshine. as j
were flashed across her detected mind; brigh
oasis in her desert life appeared to her in the per
son Of her deliverer
As she wandered one day along the bacl
streets OF Virginia City, seeking among the fltl
| of the street for some morse Of food 10 appeas
H1~ II. atlr 81 II
family living in the vicinity, 10 whom, upol
their request she related the sad tale of her sui
ferings. Her detected appearance, her apparen
innocence. aud the suaightforwardness wit
which she related her story, touched the heart
OF these good people, who agreed TO take her il
and adopt her as one of their own fam ily Will
she remained with her new parents her treatmen
was kind In the extreme. Nothing, she says
that they could afford to get for her. was denies
TO her, indeed il was Ia every sense home 70
her, and she says II IL had not been for the fac
that she remembered another home far away 4
Minnesota. where she had mother living whom
she could not forget, she would have been con
tented But IA u was. there WAS me- contentmen
for her there, In April last, after she had bee
In her new home some months, she CHANGED 4
hear OF party OF emigtanta Who we're about 4
leave Virginia City for the States, and havin
aseertained that by accompanying this party sh
could return 10 her home In 81. Paul, aud having
found out some OF the party, ana obtaining lhei
permission to 60 with them, che aeeordingl
stole away from her new protectors, aud on th
alat day OF April Last. babe adieu 10 Vlrgni
| City,
The party consisted OF about forty five teams
| aud were about two weeks Ia reaching For
Benton, up the Mississippi river, Nothing o
Importance occurred on their trip 10 Fort Benton
When within few days travel Of the fort the
saw party OF three of four hundred Indians
NJ great distance, but we're not molssted b.
| them. Upon arriving at Fort Benton the part
with whom she bad been travelling gave up th
notion OF returning 10 the States. and concludes
to stop at a new place Just being laid out on th
Upper Mississippi river, called Moria. Emily
| who still fondly cherished the idea of returning
TO her home, aud who accordingly declined th
| invitation OF her travelling companions TO remain
with them, was again left alone, aud still lon
distance from her destination. As good uc
would have ID, the steamer Yellowstone had Jus
arrived from below, and being about to return
Emily was allowed TO take passage on her 70
~. Joseph. Missouri.
Only one incident worthy OF note occurred VI
their trip down the Missouri. which was an al
tack by a party of Indians.
The Indians fired their arrows into the boat
but without injuring any one. Upon dscharg
being fred from cannon which they had u
board, tho Indians took to their heels, leavin
horses and everything else behind. Such a soun'
they we're unaaeustomed TO hear, aud supposed
Of course. that IL must have emanatcd from Oh
Evil Spirit himself. The Yellowstone was fou
weeks ON her trip down to 81. Joseph havin
laid up every night, IL being unsafe. on accoun
OF tho Indians. to travel alter dark. Upon aI
irving at -. Joseph. Emily took the cars 70
Chicago. from whence she came to this city. vi
La Crosse. aud IL now with her mother. Mru
Paddock, who resides on Pearl street.
Tho facts ~ VIC have related them are just q
We received them from the little girl herself. an
from the plain aud simple manner In which al
told her story. No have no doabt whatever OF /,
ttulhlulneaa The history itsolf II one OF Oh
mos, remarkable on record, That ono 20 soun
and tender could endure much aud travel =
far entirely unprotected, ID certainly a mlrael,
She isa smart, intelligent girl OF her ago. at
seems proud OF tha fact that she IL the gteatel
youthful adventufef known 10 history,