New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-28
A Whit,

As soon as the West Point train reached
the city yesterday afternoon, there was a
buzz OF talk among the bystandeIs in the
depot and the incoming passengers in re-
gard to little girl some five or six years of
age that was by some said to be q case OF
kidnapping, by others a case OF child
being lost. Each one had his theory, and
Charley Ross" was mentioned quite fire..
quently, as if at last Atlanta had her
episode in the annals Of the los, in case
similar to that now of world wide fame.
1t appears that the conductor, Mr.. James
Bell, everywhere noted for his trustw orthy
and business like qualities, as well as his
tenderness Of heat, had brought bright
little beauty Of a child on his train, for
whose care there was no responsible party
at hand, and in regard to whom he had no
instructions that were sufficiently definite
to act upon.
Hearing OF the circumstances, Herald
reporter went ont to conductor Bells
house, where he found the child and OBJ
tanned from that gentleman the facts of the
case. Between West Point and Atlanta a
lady passenger, giving her name as Mrs.
Catharine R0wls, of New Orleans, gave the
child in charge to Mr. Bell, saying she had
NO authority to take it any further than
Atlanta. She showed him a written paper
which read as follows:
"Put Emmie Douglass in charge of con-
ductor Of the sleeping car from Mont.
gomery to Augusta. At Augusta, let him
place her in charge OF the conductor on the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta railroad.
to be put off at Pine House station, for Mrs,
Lucy X. StrOther, who will meet her there"
On another slip Of paper was the name,
Thomas Douglass, Lowndsboro, Alabama
The child was not on the sleeping car; the
conductor from Montgomery had said moth
ing to Conductor Bell, and he fearing either
that the child had been kidnapped from her
parents, or that she might not arrive safe at
the destination intended, if these were bona
fde papers, determined to take her to his
own house, and take care of her until he
could hear more of the matter. He will
probably telegraph this msrning and ascer.
tain the full facts.
The little girl is handsomely dressed, and
smiles very sweetly when she answers q
question, but her answers are unsatisfac-
her papa lived with Uncle Tom" in an
swen TO question to that effect. On being
asked if she knew "Aunt Lucy" she az,
sented. When asked if she wished to 90
and see Aunt Lucy" she answered also in
the affirmative. Ali her answers were in
the shape of ''yes" or mo-" indicated by
shaking or noddiDg the head and smiling,
an4 someumes pronouncing the words
One question, however, she answered of
herself, aud with seriousness and childish
sweetness. On being asked where her
mamma was, she said, Mammals in
heaven"
Conductor Bell seems to have won the
little girps heart completely. She. was
sitting Ut his knee when we entered The
room, and when moved she would follow
him with her eyes. When he came to the
door In answer to our ring, she arose to fol
low him out Of the sitting room into the
hall. She was eating some cake or candy.
and very sweet look of content and ssfety
was on her fair little face - she sat there.
We could not help feeling that Mr.. Bell
hsd done the right thing to take care of
lives are living. sad all 10 e. it l. rep,s
seDted TO be On the papers, they will be
thankful to him for taking care Of her e BE-
hes done. Ars. Bell treats her - tenderIy
- If she were her own child, end in thas
homo during her brief sojourp.
nothing will be lacking tn eontributo 70 her
safety sad haPpiness.-AaGntG Herald.