The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-29
"A Strange story "Reminiscences OF the
Late civil war--Seyri0us Question of
Identity Of r. Child Supposed to have
been Lost Mine Wears ago.
TScw Orleans Tiiucs. October -. /

Identity Oh r. 6BlsG supposed I'D EnS9
been Lost Mine Wears ago.
INcw orleans Timcs, October ?a.j
1t is doubtless within the recollection Of
many in this city that OH the 23d of Scpteni-
Ter. lSj3. the steamboat Robert J. Campbell.
bound to New Orleans from Il. Louis, was
attacked hy suerri!!as at Miltikcn's Bend.
twenty miles above NickSburs, and burned
about daylight III the morning.
Among the passengers WAS Il Mrs. 5. J.
Cooley e. widow, with her two chillrcn,-a
boy OF "Igiit aud Il girl Of six years of age
and Il lady by the name Of Hanson, who also
Ind Il daughter OF about the same arc IL Mrs.
Coolcy'>. and Singulal'ly, also Of the same
nanc-.ICln!c.
AS rl;;y we'll be imagined, wien the fire
broke out ali WAS CONSERVATION and conitI-
sion. in the midst OF which both mothers
were separated from their children. In al
mast the time il takes TO tell it the victims
we're >lrugglin" i'll the water. Wiicr" the
mate OF III" steamer, James O'DIcn, saw
Cartain R"arClon trying 10 save Il WoInan and
little gii. but evidently ur21lial 10 the task
O'Er;cn Immediately relieved the Captain OF
the "ir,. ana SWAN with her to the shore.
where he resigned her to the charge o.! Major
Robinson. Of the Federal army, stating that
The mother lad been drowned.
Mrs, Cooley WAS saved, hui could find no
trace of her children, and after three day
search for lhciG bodies lei for her home. in
New Orleans. in the belief that both Were
lo,i.
Maipr Robinson ret III ID the Child III camp
several WC.'l;% and then. On leave .! ah>cave
tY9,; ilur with ll!n - lis home in Chio, where
he placed hcr Under the cure OF lis !a!hcr
ana mol hey. On the Nn"i'. return TO his
L cincnf the Rev. J. b. finlcy, Il Prc>bytc-
II II minister Of Palmyra. No.. visited tac
K, lin>on<. in Ohio. and becoming interested
In the child. at length asked permission to
adopt her. HIS request was granted, aud Ill
December he departed for lis home. taking
the "iri with him. and since that time she
has remained Il member OF DR.. FinIey's
fnmiy.
In the wear lS,;1 there was published in 4
Louisville ra!!cr Il history OF the child then
VITA Air. Finley. Ill Palmyra, Missouri, which
was read hy Mrs. Cooley, who meanwhile
had become Mrs. Terry, and she with her
| husband made a trip from New Orleans to
Palmyra TO see the child. expecting TO find
the daughter she ind molTncd Is dead. The
result OF that visit WAS that she became salts
| lied il was not her child, and returned home.
Early in September of the present year
| .!uinr- O'5riea. tie steamers mate, OF whom
| nothing ila$ been heard up to that time. met
and recognized Mrs. Terry on Canal street,
in this city. when. speaking Of this disaster,
he informed her that lie was convinced that
the child he saved was her daughter. This
intelligence, us may be conceived, was joyful
news 10 Mrs. Terry. and without delay she
| determined TO ut once return TO Palmyra
and claim the child in the possession Of Mr.
Finley.
| To this end she left this city for PALMYRA.
on snn,npber II. accompapied by two sis-
ters. with whom she visited the reverend
,,nntlemnn and after reciting the evidence Of
tho man 0.Rrien, demanded the child, TO
thie demand Mr.. Finley refused TO accede