The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-12-19


The East Saginaw Courier Of December
18th says that on the previous evening a re-
porter interviewed gentleman named James
Mcdonald, who relates the following strange
story, which is given in the language of tn o
man:
My earliest reccollections of myself are
connected with 8 man who called him
self John johnson, and the place where was
as early as 1 can remember was called Flea
Greek, on the Red River, about forty miles
| Rom the Mississippi River. remained here
| until was ten years ofage, when we removed
| to Matamoras, Mexico, where had the priv
/ ilege Of going to school for three years. The
occupation Of johnson was that of hunter
and traper, and l was brought up to follow
the same business. On leaving Mexico we
/ went and Joined the Blackfeet Indians, and
remained as part of their tribe for five years,
| when the war commenced 1 left johnson
and entered the Confederate service under
| General Rogers, as scout, and after the bat
| tie of Corinth, where General Rogers was kill
ed, deserted and retured to my Indian friends
and found them at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Here remained, hunting and trapping, till the
| spring of 1870, passing all the time as the son
OF the man johnson. At that time johnson
and left the Indians, and started for Salt
| LdAO AAtlg eA4N Rtulc4 buCES III lSsb
| following the above profession. Here John
son was taken sick at Ogden, in Utah Terri
tory. He was man then of some 65 years Of
age, and was thoroughly broken down. He
called me to him, and said that he had secret
to impsrt to me. He stated that he had stolen
me from my friends when l was about four
| years of age. My friends lived in place call
ed Woodville, Sandusky County, Ohio. He
told me l would find my friends there, and
that my name was James Mcdonald. He
stated that he had a spite against my parents
and was determined to have revenge Accord
ing he made up his mind TO steal me; and fol
four days watched for an opportunity to ac-
complish his purpose. l was playing up and
down by y little creek when hs ssizsd me and
carried me OF into the woods. During the
| time I was with him he treated me well and
always did 80. We were always wandering
about and never six months in place, excspt
the three years we staid in Matamoras. He
gave me little trinket, evidently part of
lady's ear ring, Of gold, which he handed tC
me and told me to go to the place where hC
stated to have found me, and show it to lny
father, who would at once recognize it. 1 an
now Gu my way to my parents.
: The man who gave the above statement i
about 80 years OF age, light cemplexioned
stands feet 10 inches, weighs 18O pounds
and has slight impedimsnt in his speech
He can rSad, write and cipher with ease
His object in allowing this publicity is to caus
inquiry among the people of Woodville as t
whether any one lost child ab out the yea
lS47. The man was on his way to find his friend
and while waiting for the evening train hC
told portion of his story to gentleman con-
nected with the Railroad Company, and he
thinking it strange revelation, submitted i
to a reporter of the Courier who at once inter
viewed Mr.. Mcdonald with the foregoing re-
suit. If the man has reached WoodyiIle, anG
been recognized, we would be pleased to learn
further. VIII some of our readers at Wood
vile inform US.