Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-02
ALEXA. GAZETTE { VIRGINIA ADVERTISER,
Curious Question Of Identity.

New Orleans Times, ~Oct. 20.
1t is doubtless within the recollection of
many in this city that on the I'D of Scptcm-
Der, 1868, the steamboat Robert }. Campbell
bound to New Orleans from,St Louis was at,
tackled by guerrillas at Mken Bend, twenty
miles above Eicksburg, and burned about day.
light in the morning.
Among the passengers was Mrs. S. j.
Cooley "a widow, with her two chlldrcn,--a
ooy of eight and girl of six years of age-and
Il lady By the name Of HanSon, who also had
daughter of about the same age rs Mrs Cooley
and, singularly, also of the same name-Jcnnle.
As may we'll be imagined, when the fire
broke out all was CONSERVATION and confusion,
in the midst Of which both mothers were sep
arated from their children. In almost the
time it takes to tell it the victims were strug-
Cling in the water, where the mate OF the
steamer James O Brien, saw Captain BeardOn
trying to save woman and little girl, but
evidently unequal to the task y Brlen lm-
mediateIy relieved the Captain of the girl, and
swan with her to; ;the shore, where he resigned
her to the charge of Major Robinson, of the
Federal army stating that the mother had been
drowned
Mrs. Cooley was saved, but could lind no
trace Of her children, and after three days
search for their bodies left tor her home IN
New Orleans, in the belief that both were lost.
Major Robinson retained the child IN camp
several weeks, and then, on leave OF absence,
took her with him to his home in Ohio, where
he placed her under the care of his father aud
mother. On the Majors return to his rcgl-
ment the Rev. }. B. Finley, u Presbyterian
minister of Palmyra, Mo-, visited the 10
binsous, u Ohio, snd becoming Interested IN
the child, at length asked permission to adopt
her His request was granted, and IN Decem-
Der he departed for his home, taking the girl
with him. and since that time she has remain
ed member of DIR. Finley family.
In the year 1867 there was published IN a
Louisville paper history Of the child then
with Mr. Finley, at Palmyra, Missouri. which
was read by Mrs. Cooley, who meanwhile n9t
become Mrs Terry, and she with her husband
made trip from New Orleans TO Palmyra to
see the child, expecting to hnd the daughter
she had mourned as dead. The result OF that
visit was that she became satisfied 1t was not
her child, and returned home,
Early in September OF the present year
James O Brien, the steamer mate, OF whom
notbinp has been heard up to that time, met
and recognized Mrs. Terry on Canal street, 10
this city, when, speaking of this disaster, be
informed her that he was convinced that the
child he saved was her daughter. Inns lnteill-
sence, as may be conceived, was joyful news to
to Mrs. Terry, and without delay she determ,n-
ed to at once return to Palmyra and claim the
child in the possession Of Mr.. Finley.
To this end she left this city for Palmyra on
Sent, I6. accompanied by two sisters, with whom
she visited the reverend gentleman, and after
reciting the evidence of the man y Brlen, de-
manded the child 10 this demand Mr.. Finley
refused to accede without more convincing
proof, when Mrs. Terry left immediately Tor
ST. Louis, where, securing the legal services
of Col. Claiborne, who, after ascertamng the
facts of the case, accompanied Mrs. Terry 10
Palmyra, ;, :,
Arriving there, conference was held with
DIR. Finley. the result Of which was that com;
mittee of arbitration, to consist of three citizens
of the village, was selected, before whom the
whole evidence, pro and con, was presented.
After hearing the committee conceded that
if the testimony of the man O,Brien (who
swore point blank that it was Mrs. Cooleyts
child whom he had saved) was true, the girl
righttully belonged to Mrs. Terry, but they
inclined to the belief that his statement was not
to be relied on. and therefore adjudged that
Mrs. Terry had failed to make out her case.
Acting under advice from her consul, Mrs;
Terry then returned to st. Louis and applied
to the Supreme Court for the writ OF habeas
corpus for the recovery OF her daughter and the
matter is now pending before that tribunal.
The testimony adduced in the case is of an
interesting character, and will doubtless call for
the exercise OF a Solomon like wisdom on the
part of the Judges who are called on to decide.
THE BLIND. oh! what sympathy, and what
assistance, we, who possess and enjoy the bless
;ny of sight. owe to the blind Aud yet, how
usually vainis the appeal pity the dark man !
Remember though the sun rises In the morn