New Orleans Republican., 1872-10-03
The Loss of the II. j. CamDbell-Mother
and Daughter-A Romance in Court.


We copy the following from the St. Louis
Dispatch:
The following intensely interesting case
will soon be brought before the Supreme
Court of Missouri. The substance Of the
outline is taken from atfidavits now on file
In the court, and is only one of million
proofs that truth is much stranger than fc-
tiop:
On the twenty-third of September, 1868,
the steamboat Robert j. Campbell, bound
down to New Orleans was attacked by
guerillas at Milikens Bend, some twenty
miles above Vicksburg, and burned about
daylight in the morning. There was long
lisf of passengers on board, some forty or
fifty Of whom unhappily perished in the
flames or in the no less dark flowing river.
Among the passengers was a Mrs. s. j.
Cooley, widow, with her two beautiful,
intelligent children-a boy aged eight and
d girl aged six years. They had all become
fayorites with those on board, and when
the firing commenced from the Bend, II vas
remarked that none on board exhibited
greater heroism than the woman, even
TDbsn fine CONSERVATION was at its height.
An 6aybreak the r. j. Campbell caught
fra and in a few minutes was enYeloped in
consuming flames Mrs. Cooley, with great
Dresence OF mind, rushed from the cabin
dack down with her children to the fore
castle, and from that superior point OF safe
4v refused to move. At length the steam
nine exploded, and she either jumped into
fhe river or was forced in by the explosion
or the rush of people, wild with excitement,
seeking any means OF escape.
Among those grouped near her at the
time by the capstan were number of old
boatmen, including Captain Reardon, a
well known river man, who found himself
in the river swimming for life, and near to
him little Jennie Cooley, who had been re-
leased or torn from the grasp Of her mother
in the fearful struggle OF the preceding mo
ment. Captain ReardOn seized the child |
and boldly struck out for shore. A lady, the |
wife of a federal officer from Alton, Hi |
uois. at this moment threw herself on Cap
tain Reardon, who soon began to realize the
danger to all. In this emergency brave
mate named James O'Brien, seeing the cap
tain's danger, swan up, crying out, give
me the child. and save the woman ii you
can"
CAPTAIN Reardon at once surrendered the
child to O'Brien, who, after drifting for
mile and half, succeeded in making the
shore on the Mississippi side with his
charge. Here he resigned the child to Ma
or Robinson, Of the federal army, report
ng that he saw the mother and the other
child 90 down. He took passage on the
General Anderson, bound up the river and
tom LlfAU IiLn6 uuLll DCpGCLubG1 1CJ 1Cf q, |
O'Brien has not been heard OF.
Mrs Cooley was saved, but the boy forced
from her in the dreadful struggle for life
was drowned. She remained in the vicinity
If the wreck for three days, hoping, watch
ng for some tiding of her lost ones; but
lone came, and she went to Vicksburg
where, by the kindness of the Young Mems
Christian Association, she was supplied with
uitable clothing and provided with pas
age to New Orleans.
Major Robinson retained the child in
amp several weeks, and then on leave of
bsence, took Jennie with him to his home
n Ohio. where he placed her under the care
f his NEOther. On the majors return TO his
egiment Rev. j. b. Finley, Presbyterian
visited the RObinsOns in Ohio,
nd, becoming interested in the child, at
ength asked permission to adopt her. The
ppeal was granted, and Mr.. Finley took
title Jennie Cooley with him to his home in
'alnIyra, in this State, and in every way |
reated her with the love of an own child,
which has been as fondly returned by Jen-
lie as to parent. IN short, she had found
home, sweet home"
In the meantime, Mrs Cooley mourned
Or her children; but in the course of a year
rom that dreadful night she married DR..
'errT, one of the most prominent physicians
4 New Orleans, in which city she has ever
ince lived.
In last September James O'Brien met
Irs Terry in New Orleans, and recogniz- {
lg her from that night, spoke to her Of her
hid. O'Brien had aseertained the name !
nd residence of Major Robinson when he :
lrrendered the child. This information he
ave to Mrs. Terry, and, the clue taken,
re-. Terry went to Ohio, saw the Robin
ms, and from thence to Brookfeld, where q
le Rev. Mr. Finley now is, and where she
et her child after nine years of separation.
he child, now girl Of seventeen years, :
id not recognize the mother, but remem-
cred the circumstances of their separation 4
the water and described them with pain \
Il minuteness.
Mrs. Cooley demaded the child, whom
r. Finley refused to give up. Finding it
lpOssible under the circumstances to re- a
aim her daughter, Mrs. Cooley at once .
turned to ST. Louis with her sister, Mrs.
lrner, Of this city, and Mrs. Caspar Link,
Paris, Illinois, who had attended her for
G purpose of more thoroughly identifying
@ child. The case was placed in the /
lnds of Mr.. J. r. Claiborne, and a petition
T a writ of habeas corpus, accompanied
the necessary atfidavits, will be fled to-
" by him in the office of the clerk Of the =
preme Court, returnable in the coming
EEK, when all the witnesses will be pres
t and the case determined. ;,