The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-08
Saturday Morning; July 8, 1866.
A YOUTHFUL TRAVELLER.

IA I'LL INA v
The following interesting account of a
very remarkable journey, we cut from the St.
Paul Press.
Is We met yesterday youthfal but extensive
traveller Miss Emily Wells, little girl of II
years, who has just returned from Virginia
City, Montana Territory, alone, Her history
from the time she left this State in 1868 until
her return, is of the most remarkable charac-
ter, and her account of thrilling adventures,
hair breadth escapes, together with the suffer-
ings and privations which she has endured,
would fill volume. =
In the spring of 1868 this little girl was liv-
ing with her grandmother at Shakopee, in this
state, and when the expedition left that place
in April for the then Territory of Idaho, she
accompanied it, taking with her her grand
daughter, 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 there was nothing of more than ordi-
nary interest occurred. The first thing that
she remembers with any accuracy is the death
OF her grandmother, which occurred in the
latter part of the December following her arriy-
al in Virginia City, an incident which would be
likely to leave an impress, not easily to be eff
faced, even on mind so young, as by it she
was left in wild and strange land, without
friend or relative nearer than fifteen hundred
miles, and that over wild and barren gc0un-
try, inhabited only by hostile bands of Indians
Alter this incident, from which time COM
mences the eventful era of our little heroine's
history, she was left friendless and alone, with
no one to care for her or no means to secure
the sustenanae Of life. Day after day, and
night after night passed on in their hurried
course, but alasl they brought no relief to 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 sup
posed to be such as, would afford much relief
to suffering humanity. Indeed, from all ac-
counts which we have had of Virginia city
and its surroundings, the people who compose,
its population are Of the most lawless and brul-
tai type of human beings which are to be found
anywhere on the face of the globe.a Any who
might have feelings Of humanity left, cannot
long retain them, when coming in contact with
this class of people.
1t was among such people as these, and in
such country, that little Emily was left, orph-
aned, homeless and fiendless, cast out upon
the worse than cold charities of an unfeeling
and unsympathizing world. 1t is no wonder
that she should, IN her own language, be skick-
ed about as she went from house to house
begging and entreating for something to APP
pease her hunger. Months passed on in this
way, and the time had nearly come, when, with
her constitution shattered by exposure and
hardships, it seemed unable much longer to
bear up under its load of anguish and suffer-
ing. just at this time, when her powers of
endurance, which had miraculousy preserved
her, were about to fail--when she had endured
all and suffered all, both in body and mind,
which it was possible for her young and ten
der frame to Withstand, a glean of sunshine,
o1,oI Al ~.
bright oasis in her desert life appeared to her
in the person Of her deliverer.
As she wandered one day along the back
streets of Virginia City, seeking among the
filth of the street for some morsel of food to
appease her appetite, she attracted the atten-
tion Of a family living in the vicinity, to whom
upon their request, she related the sad tale OF
her sufferings. Her detected appearance, her
apparent innocence and the straightforward
ness with which she related her story, touch
ed the hearts of these goodpeople who agreed
to take her in and adopt her as one of their
own family. While she remained with her
new parents her treatment was kind in the
extreme. Nothing, she says, that they could
afford to get for her was denied to her; indeed,
it was, in every sense, a home for her, and she
says ii it had not been for the fact that she re-
membered of another home far away in Min
nesota, where she had another living whom
she could not forget, she would have been CON-
tented. But as it was, there was no content
ment for her there. In April last, after she
had been in her new home some months, she
chanced to hear of a party Of emigrants who
were about to leave Virginia City for the
States, and having ascertained that by accom-
panying this party she could return to her
home in st. Paul, and having found out some
of the party, and obtaining their permission
to go with them, she accordingly stole away
from her new protectors and on the 21st day
of April last, bade adieu to Virginia City.
This party consisted ofabout forty-five teams
and were about two weeks in reaching Fort
Benton on the Upper Missouri River. Moth
ing of Importance occurred on their trip to
Fort Benton. When within days travel of
the Fort they saw party Of three or four
hundred Indians at a great distance but were
not molested by them. Upon arriving at Fort
Benton, the party with whom she had been
travelling gave up the notion of returning to
the States and concluded to stop at new
place Just being laid out on the Upper Missouri
River called Moria. Emily, who still tondly
cherished the idea of returning to her home,
and who accordingly declined the invitation OF
her travelling companions to remain with
them, was again left alone, and still long dis
tance from her destination. As good luck
would have it, the steamer Yellow Stone had
just arrived from below, and being about to
Emily was allowed to take passage on her for
st. Joseph, Missouri.
Only one incident worthy of note occurred
on their trip down the Missouri, which was an
attack by party of Indians.
The Indians fired their arrows into the boat,
but without injuring any one. Upon dis
charge being fired from a cannon which they
had on BOARD, the Indians took to their heels,
leaving horses and everything else behind
Such SOUND tney were unaccustomed to hear,
and supposed oi course, that it must have
emanated tom tne Evil Spirit himself The
Yellow Stone was lour weeks on her tip down
to st. Joseph, having laid up every night, it
travel after dark Upon arriving At 81. To.
seph Emily took the cars for CHICAGO. from
whence she came to this CITY ria La Crosse
and is now with her mother, Mrs. Paddock
who resides on Pearl Street
The facts as we have related them are
just as we have received them Hom the little
girl herself, and from the PLAIN ana simple
manner in which she told her story, we have
no doubt whatever of its truthfulnesS. Th
history itself is certainly one of the most re
markable on record. That one so young an
tender could endure so much and travel SO Ia
entirely unprotected, is certainly miracle
She is smart, intelligent girl of her age, an
seems proud of the fact that she is the creates
youthful adSenturer known to history. w
were glad to see her feel so, as she certainly
entitled to do as part compensation for th
privations, hardships and sufferings which sh
has undergone. May she long live to tell he
wonderful story.
You blundering scoundrel,n said the owne
OF croclxery store to one of his assistant
what did you knock over that china set for
hrw~r IL