Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-11-07

of Messrs. Samuel T. Everhart, F'rak
Beaver, and Tbos.. B. Gist, of this city.
Doubtless we shall hear of its rapid
spread throughout this county. The
eases; SO far, are not very serious.
A STRANGE STORY.
1t is doubtless within the recollection
Of many in this city that Oh the 23d OF
September, 1863, the steamboat Robert
J. Campbell, bound to New Orleans
from ST. Louis, was attacked by guer-
rillas at Milliken's Bend, twenty miles
above Vicksburg, and burned about
daylight in the morning.
= Among the passengers was Mrs. S.
~. Cooley "a widow, with her two
Children boy of eight and girl OF
six years of age-and a lady by the
name of Hanson, who also had daugh-
ter Of about the same age as Mrs. Coo
ley's, and, singularly, also Of the same
name-Jennie.
As may well be imagined, when the
fire broke out alIWas CONSERVATION and
confusion, in the midst of which both
mothers were separated from their chill
dren. In almost the time it takes to tell
it the victims were struggling in the
| water, where the mate Of the steamer,
James O'Brien, saw Captain Reardon
trying to save woman and little girl,
but evidently unequal to the task.
O'Brien Immediately relieved the Cap
tain 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 find
no trace Of her children, and after three
days search for their bodies left for
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 and mother:
On the Majors return to his regiment
the Rev. J. B. Finley, Presbyterian
minister Of Palmyra, Mo, visited the
Robinsons, in Ohio, and becoming in
terested in the child, at length asked
PERMISSION to adopt her. His request
was granted, land in December he depart
ed for his home, taking the girl with
him, and since that time she has remain
ed member of Dr. Finley's family.
In the year 1867 there was published
in a Louisville paper history Of Che
child then with Mr. Finley, at Palmyra,
Missouri. which was red by Mrs. Cody,
who meanwhile had become Mrs. Terry,
and she with her husband made trip
from New Orleans to Palmyra to see
the child, expecting to find the dangh-
ter she had mollrned as dead. The re
suit of that visit was that she became
satisfied it was not her child, and re-
turned home.
Early in September of the present
year James O'Brien, the steamers mate,
of whom nothing has 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 he was convinced that the
child he saved was her daughter. This
intelligence, as may be conceived, was
joyful news to Mrs. Terry, and without
delay she determined 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 September l6, accompanied
by two sisters, with whom she visited
the reverend gentleman, and after re-
citing the evidence Of the man OBrien,
demanded the child. To this demand
Mr. Finley refused to accede without
more convincing proof, when Mrs
Terry left Immediately for St. Louis,
where, securing the legal services Of
Colonel. Claiborne, who, after ascer-
tanning the facts of the case, accompani-
ed Mrs. Terry to Palmyra.
Arriving there, a conference was held
with DR.: Finley, the result Of which
was that committee 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 OBrien
who swore point blank that it was Mrs.
Cooley's child whom he had saved
were true, the girl rightfully belonged
to Mrs. Terry, but they inclined to the
belief that his statement was not to bere-
lied an, and therefore adjudged that
Mrs. Terry had failed to make out her
case
Acting #ssder 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.
Loss OF A STEAMER.-The steamer
Missouri from New York to Havana,
a