The Montana post., 1865-08-12
THAT YOUTHFUL TRAVELLER.

If ever, in the annals of journalism, an
Editor was completely humbugged, sold and
receipted for, the unfortunate scribe Of the
St. Paul (NIinn.D Press is that man. In his
paper of June 2Sth, be devotes somewhere
about column to the story Of little cir
named Emily Wells. The whole thing is one
long tissue of falsehood, and the aforesaid
Emily may take rank MS the most accom-
plished imposter of her age in America. As
we speak from personal knowledge. we are
not afraid of any contradiction, for none
can be made without necessitating false
hood in its concoction. Emily Wells alias
Emily Hammond, resided in Virginia City
with her uncle, Albert Wells, and so far
from being in q starving condition, she was
well fed, and attended school for some
months, being well and neatly clad. ner
teacher finding her, though so young, COM
petely versed In knowledge of evil, appar-
emily without moral training Of anv kind. &.
and at the same time precociously smart,
took especial pains with her, and a mark ed
improvement in her manners and morals
appeared to have been effected. Her uncle.
D.
hired her out as ''hurdy gurdy'' dancer,
living on her earnings. Her teacher went to
him, and solemnly warned him of the guilt
of his conduct, offering at the same time to
educate her gratuitously, and to assist in
her maintenance. This was refused, and
after a time her sordid relative was convic-
ted and punished for his wickedness to this
child. Mr.. K. G. Knox, of st. Paul, who
knew all the circumstances of the case. with
another gentleman, took tue matter in hand.
and collected, in the first place, $I0O in gold,
with which he paid her passage to Chicago.
to Capt Moore, Of the steamier Cutter. then
lying at Ophir, on the Missouri. He then
obtained a further sum of $2S in gold. which
he paid to Mr., Boyse, of this CITY, for her
carriage to Ophir, For some reason or other.
the Captain Of the Cutter did not take her,
but he refunded the money and paid it to the
Captain Of the Yellowstone, who undertook
to forward the young girl to her destination.
Thus far the Editor of the Press probably
fills the role of a victim. If he stopped here
We should smile and pass on; but he assumes
the character of wholesale slanderer of
q people, as generous, right minded, and
compassionate, as can be found on the face
Of the globe. The word ''Virginia'' sounds
us u terror to evil doers, and in this city.
whose people are so fouHy maigned, a child
of FIVE years old could travel at midnight,
carrying purse of gold in its hand. with
perfect safety; while the poorest woman
could sleep in lone tent on hill side, as
safely rs in the White House. In fact. there
never was a mining city of two years growth
ut all resembling Virginia in the order, de-
cency and security that prevails in it. Out
RACES against the rights of mankind are
repressed by the civil law; while behind the
throne of Justice stands in reserve the body
whose very existence serves as a warning to
malefactors that they dare not disregard, |
and in force which they cannot withstand, |
and they are there to punish, not their own
citizens, who need it not, but to prevent or
punish the crimes of miScreants from other
less favored localities. Schools and churches |
are supported. Masonry, in purity and eff
cheney, counts its members by the hundred, |
and good men and true are they.
Where the deuded Editor of the Press
obtained the information which has served
rs the ground-work of his libel, we know
not; but the following extract from his
paper Is disgrace to anv sheet. If the
people Of St. Paul want to be improved and
shown how city should be governed, and
how western folks should live. let them send
L delegation hither. The words we print are
rs exactly the reverse of the truth in every
as can be written in English:
I'm new mining country, such as Montana, the
character of the Inhabitants is not supposed to be
uch as would afford much relief to suffering human
ty. Indeed, from all the accounts which we have
lad of Virginia City and its surrounding the people
Who compose its population of the most lawless
md bru;al type of human beings which are to be
ound anywhere on the face of the globe. ANY who
night have feelings Of humanity left, cannot long
etain them, when coming in contact with this class
If people"
The mission Of the Press (not the St. Paul
oresS) is a high and holy one, and we feel
orry that either ignorance, malice, or
Of both, should have dictated the
oul Slander against L community, who have
reatcd order, peace and civic rule, under
circumstances which would have left St.
Paul without a local habitation or a name.
We trust that those papers which have copied
he SANDER will insert the refutation. God
eip the people at St. Paul, if they know as
title about their countrymen as the Editor
f the Press.