Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-01-29
HOPING AGAINST HOPE.

HOPING AGAINST HOPE.
The Long Search for the Abducted IAtsI
Boy..Will he Ever be Found.
A friend OF Mr.. Christian X. Ros
o contributes to the Boston Globe an in
0 teresting letter describing some of tn
Q efforts that gentleman has made to dis
. cover his lost boy, Charlie. The write
, says:
r Letters arrive by the dozen, some O
, some simply ridiculous. A letter ar
, rived (Which the writer of this articl,
saw written in German, from an appar
emily intelligent man, stating that il Mr.
Ross would take young hen that hat
never laid an egg, and cut it in foul
pieces with knife that was new; lay the
four pieces of chicken upon q newly.
planed board at midnight; walk three
times around the board repeating the
words inclosed three times, he would
have Charlie returned to him the next
day. As Mr.. Ross is the most courteous
of men, these letters are all answered.
Letters of sympathy from England,
Germany, and in fact from oil over the
world, have been received. Soon after
the disappearance of Charlie, letter
would be received from, say Wisconsin
-"Come on at once, Mr.. Ross, we
have found Charlie. There is no mis-
take," etc. Mr.. Ross would start by the
next train. Upon his arrival, he would
find boy with red hair, blue eyes, or
perhaps he would have an unmistakably
| Celtic cast Of countenance.
The writer saw photographs of over
twenty different boys who had been
looked up in this manner. Mr.. Ross is
now obliged to do the Identification
business by telegraph, and decides the
matter by few questions. At the tea
table the writer met little Walter, an ex-
ceedingly bright and knowing boy, who
was taken with Charlie and left on the
road, eight miles from home. Poor lit
tie Charlie was a quiet, sensitive little
fellow, who was the good boy of the
family, full of affection and kindness.
How he must have greived his poor lit
tie life away among the brutal men with
whom he was surrounded. The mother
informs me that she feels that he is
alive, and that God will not fail to an
swer the many prayers that have been
offered for his safe return. Little Wal
ter has always persisted in saying that
the horse used by the abductors would
turn around and laugh at them. Re-
peated reprimands would not cause him
to vary his statement.
horse wandered into Newark, N. j., cov-
cred with burrs, emaciated and Woe
begone; he was carried to a stable and
Mr.. Ross notified. Upon the arrival of
Mr.. Ross the horse was harnessed to
the same kind of buggy used in stealing
the children, and little Walter was in
vited to ride. Upon being touched by
the whip the animal turned around to
his driver, dropped his underlip, puck
cred up his upper lip, and showed his
teeth, while Walter 'clapped his hands
and shouted: "There, papa, didn't L
tell you he laughed2" The best detcc-
tive talent of this country has been ell
gagged for six months without success in
tracing that horse and buggy from Ger
to Newark. The writer saw
the original letters written by the ab-
ductors to Mr.. Ross. Imagine the feel
ings of kind father when he reads
&c Charlie has been secreted in place
not fit for human being to live in. The
light of the sun has not shone on him
for six months, and if any of your de- ,
tectives discover the place Of his con-
that will be the signal for his
instant death. We have it so arranged
hat his body will disappear and nothing
oe left to criminate u.s." Mr.. Ross is a E
gentleman Of high social standing in {
Philadelphia, was never fast man,"
las no enemies, has noble Christian {
woman for wife, and as interesting and Q
q family of children as the s
writer ever met, and the public may I
est assured that Charlie was stolen, and 6
tolen for the sole purpose of extorting t
ransom Of $40, 900. {
Mr.. Ross has made and is now max. t
ng every effort to recover his boy. He I
nee, by direction of the abductors, rode &
t midnight from the Philadelphia de- c
ot to New York on the rear platform of t
he rear Car, and from New York to r
llbany in the same manner, with s
vhite carpet bag in his hand, ready to c
brow it on the track upon the display n
q red torch and white flag by the alb a
uctors. They had agreed to return O
'harlie to some house near German a
own, within five hours after Mr.. Ross t
lrew them the money. The signal was n
OF displayed, and Mr.. Boss returned to
sick bed with brain fever. Fearing
have trespassed too much upon your
olumns will close by saying that there v