Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-18
A Strange Story In Real Life.

school, had paused to take bath in tbs
| St. Lawrence River, were resuming their
attire, prowling company of Mohawk
Indians came suddenly upon them. At
sight Of such intruders all the children
fed dismayed; but one of their nun, Der,
lad seven wears old. whose nam" il
supposed to be Frank Leslie, stumbled
after few steps and was captured -
Sitting their captive's cries Of terror, the
savages hurried him into canoe, aud
before rescue could be even attempted.
had conveyed him across the river and
plunged into the wilderness on the south
ern shore.
Then followed long march through
the forest; an Indian carrying the lerrfi
ed boy on his shoulders, until the captors
arrived near Lake Superior. where they
were met by a party of Chippewas, TO
whom the youthful prize was sold.
With the latter tribe Les lie remained
a prisoner three years and would have
had nothing but kind treatment to r.
member in ASSOCIATION with that period
bad he not been 40 unfortunate as 10
shoot 50 Indian boy accidentally with an
arrow. Fer that piece of rud', boyish.
carelessness he was tied TO tree, and SD
cruelty beaten with sticks that his life
must have been sacrificed but for the hu-
name interposi,ion of au old squaw.
The squAw was from thenceforth his
protector and friend; but upon discover
ING that he kept concealed in his clothing
school book which he bad saved from
his bathing experience. insisted that he
should surrender it to the wise men nf
the tribe as work of evil spirits. and BIT
only for the flames By this time be hsd
learned enough Of the language of the
Indians to plead for the book rs the only
reminder he had of his proper home, ard
beg the red man TO restore him to bis
parents. The volume. however. WAS sob
smnly burned, and the captive was warn
ed 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
bunting psrty of the tribe. one day. stray
ed into the path of Canadian French
man, also hunting, to whom he appealed
for help to escape from his savage friends.
As, even then, he had forgotten the
name of the pIacs where his father lived,
the white trapper hesitated to assume the
peril of aiding his desire, but seeing that
the forlorn lad persisted in following him
finally took him under his protection.
The Indian hunters were evaded by a
AL nn
went safely on with his new friend into
Minnesota, where, at st. Paul, new
danger srose from the presence of over
hundred of the older Chippewas on
trading expedition. To save Leslie from
probable recspturc the trapper placed
him in charge of friend, another trap
per going eastward. 1t was the inten
ton of this man to ascertain where the
partially uncyilized waits father lived in
Canada, and effect restoration if posi-
BILE; but, for some reason not given. their
course was ultimately TO New York, =
whittier they arrived in the summer of
1850.
After few days wandering about
New York, some stract excitement sep
arated the man and boy in dense crowd.
and they never found each other again.
A weary and fruitless search for the lost
guardian finally brought the lapless wild
boy amongst the shipping by the river
aide where his strange appearance and
stranger story excited the compassion of
two brothers, named Murphy. who were
just starting for California. By them.
under tho kind impulse of the moment.
he was taken to the Golden State, as cab
in boy of their vessel; and, for two years.
shared their career in the mines. At
last the brothers were killed in gsmb
ling broil, and Leslie found himself once
more 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 Fran
cisco, went foom thence to Austral ia "a
sailor. Two years of stormy and prof
itless adventure succeeded, and then he
was back agsin in California. living as be
might. During the Frazer River excite
ment be tried his fortune again as q mi
ner, in British Columbia; and once mors,
later, was a seeker of precious ore 10
Wasboe.
After infinite vicissitudes, he reached
the Cottonwood district, just beyond Salt
Lake City, only a few months ago. de-
signing to remain there; but, meeting a
well travelled Canadian recently on the
Kansas City and ST. Joseph Railroad.
who, upon being informed Of his name
aud story, believed that he could direct
him TO where his father was living. about
sixty miles from Montreal. The former
captive os the Mohawks and Chippewns
in now at Detroit, on his way TO the
New Dominion. full of hope that he may
at last regain the father aud home not
seen by him 10 twenty three years.
A travelling correspondent Of the San
Francisco Examiner, who has met him
and elected the above story. decribes him
as fine looking young man of 80. and
a most interesting American version of
"Japhet In Search of Father.
Two San francisco BARRIERS, engaged
to fight duel. agreed to start and walk
around block, and when they got with
in sight Of each other to blaze away