The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-01-12
SO FAR AND no FATHER.

On summer afternoon tweuty-three years
ago, while a small party of Canadian school
boys, who, on their return from school, had
paused to take battle in the St. Lawrence
river, were resuming their attire. prowling
band of Mohawk Indians came suddenly
upon them. a sight of such iutFuders ell
the children fled. disn aged but one of the
number. a lad years old, whose name is
supposed to be Frank Leslie. stumbled after
few steps, and was captured. Sitting
their little cap'ive's cries of terror, the saw
ages hurried him into q canoe, and, before
rescue could be even attempted, had con~
veyed him across the river and plunged into
the wilderness on the southern shore Then
followed long march through the forest
an Indian carrying the terrified boy on his
shoulders. until the captors arrived near
Lake Superior. where they were met by
party of Chippewas, to whom the youthful
prize was sold. With the latter tribe Leslie
remained three years. and would have had
nothing but kind treatment to remember in
association with that period. had he not
been unfortunate as to shoot an Indian
boy accidentally with his arrow. For that
piece of boyish careless he was tied to a tree
and so cruelty beaten with sticks that his
life must have been sacrificed but for the hu-
name inteTpositiou OF an old sqUaw. This
squaw was from thence forth his protector
and friend but upon discovering that he
kept concealed in his clothing school book
which he had saved FROM his bathing exye-
rience, Insisted that he should surrender it
to the wise men of the tribe as a work Of
evil spirits, and fit only for the flames. BY
this time he had learned enough Of the Ian
guage of the Iudiaus to plead for the book as
the only reminder he had of his proper home.
and beg the red men to restore i'm to his
parents. The volume, however, was SOL
emnIy burned. and the captive was warned
by the Squaw TO say no more about his white
extraction. At the end Of his three years
with the Chippewas, Leslie, while out with
party of the tribe. strayei into the path Of
a Canadian Frenchmau, also hunting. 10
whom he appealed for help to escape from
his savage friends. As even then he had
forgotten the name Of the place where his
father lived, the white trapPer heSitated To
assume the peril Of aiding his desire. but
seeing that the forlorn lad persisted iu fol-
lowing him, finally took him under his pro-
lection. The Indian hunters were evaded
by little dexterous woodcraft, and the boy
went safely on with his new FREUD into MIN
nesOta, where, at ST. Paul, new danger
arose from the presence of over hundred Of
the older Chippewas on trading expedition.
To save Leslie from possible recaptue, the
trapper placed him in charge Of a friend,
another trapper going eastward. 1t was
the intention Of this man 10 ascertain where
the partially uncivilized waits father lived
in Canada. and effect a restoration if posi-
bic but, for some reason not given, their
course was ultimately to New York, where
they arrived in the summer Of 1850. After
a few days wandering about New York,
some street excitement separated the mau
and boy in dense crowd, and they never
saw each other again. A weary and fruit
less search for his lost guardian finally bro't
the haplesss wild boy amongst the shipping
by the river side. where his strange appear
ance and stranger story excited the compa3-
sion of two brothers, named Murphy who
were just starting for California By them,
under the kind impulse Of the moment, lie
was taken to the Golden State, as cabin boy
of their vessel and. for igo yeArs, shared
their career in the mines. At last the broth
ers were killed ia a gambling bruii, and
Leslie found himself once more 4 helpless,
friendless creature, alone in the wide world.
Going to the mines in Sierra county, he
worked there some months for bare living
and then. returning to San Francisco, went
from thence to Australia as soldier. Two
years of stormy and proftless adventure sue
ceede6, and then he was back again ia Gals
Frazer River excitement he tried his fortune
again miner, i'll British Columbia and
once more. later, was seeker of precious
ore in Washoe. After infinite yicissitudes.
he reached the Cottonwood district, just be-
yond Salt Lake City. only few montns ago.
designing to remain there but. meeting a
well-travelied Canadian recently on the |
Kansas City and St, Joseph Railroad. who, /
upon learning his name and story. believed !
that he could direct him to where his father /
is living, about sixty miles from Montreal /
the former captive Of the Mohawks aud /
Chippewas was recently at Detroit, on his +
way to the New Dominion, full OF hope that /.
he may at last regain the father and home {
not seen by him in tweuty>three years. y
travelling correspondent Of tie San Francisco
Examiner, Who has met him aad elected the
aboue story, describes him as a fine looking
young man Of so, and a most interesting
American version Of ''Japlot in Search Of a
Father"
s-s.NS