The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-27
Il STOLEN CHILD.

REMARKABLE STORY FROM OMAHA-sCEEE IN
TELEGRAPH orrIcE-MR. ross TALKS WITH
THE CHILD OVER THE wIREs-A SINGULAR
COINCIDENCE.
From the Omaha Herald, August 22.1
A great deal OF interest created In and around
tho Western Union Telegraph headq on Sunday
afternoon by Justice Hale Sheriff hurley and several
others bringing up little boy be identified through
tho medium of the telegraph, by Mr.. Ross. In Phila-
dophia his stolen child, Charley Tho supposed
Charley a little bright Dyed, curly headed boy
about years old light complexion and the
Of child used to better treatment than that which
falls TO the lot OF the common offspring OF humanity
He was discovered by Mrs. BUSHNELL who lives near
Prospect Hill Cemetery, and living at the time
darby family named Coley. Mrs. Bushnell, who
lives bot fcw doors IRON the place. had frequently
observed the little haxsn-hared boy playing
with tho dusky scons OF colored royalty, and
became interested in tho matter enough to
question him. She learned that he was
making hts homo with the coored family and that he
had no parents He could not give very cloar
OF how he camo where she discovered him, put told
about once living In great city. She became still
more Interested, ami questioned him further, and
learned enough to convince her that he was stolen
child aud to lead her TO strongly suspect that he
the long lost and universally mOurned Charley Ross.
The prospect of 500 600 reward led her mmo-
date steps tho matter, and sho consulted Justice
Hale the two, with he assistance OF General srck
land, procured ali the necessary Information concern
ing Charley Ross including photograph OF the penu
inc boy and Oh Sunday ATTIC took tie
hands OF the colored family anu put him IN the custody
OF sheriff Burley, ana took him into tho Western
Union Telegraph oiicc and M instant alter
of Mr. Ross IN Philadelphia with tho startling
announcement that, "iour boy Is hcrel" Mr Ross
evidently lives very near telegraph oico
boy at last found lent him the speed oil burri-
cane, tor but very few moments elapsed until an an
swcr flashed back IN the form Of question ad-
dressed 10 the little wandercr:-
whats your namey"
The operator interpreted the message TO the little
follow. ana he instantly replied -
Eddie Ross, SIR. i"
.iiaye you any brothers and sistcrss" the next
query IRON rhiiadc.pbia
Answer-Yei, SIR. l have two brothers, but |
haven't got any sistors
Qucstion--what arc the names Of your brothers and
Answcr-Hcnry Ross and Gus Ross They wcro
bigger than ! an.
rect, anu the operators were asked compare tho
photograph OF Charley, taken when no was three
years old. and the present appearance OF the ,o boy,
and the gentlemen forced telegraph the Tact
that there was "a remarkable resemblance. The same
curly, hsxcn hair, large, expressive eyes and broad
hign forehead anu intellectual appearance we're
NON, both IN the picture ana the boy who stood at tho
Operators elbow Mr. Ross was evidently deeply inter
csted the lines seemed TO treL1bc they bore
the query "What - the cosor OF hts eycss"
The operator lett the matter TO tho crowd, and they
decided they dark blush gray Tins cJor,
Mr. Ross dc e.red, did not corr spond with tho
Cnariey's eyes, which were lght hazel All or his
children (six Bumber) had the same colorcd eyes,
and Il was noted tho older they grew darker
their eyes became that Charicys eyes at present
should Dc OF a dark hazel color
Whatever hopes the answers Of tho little wait had
raised The breast OF Mr. Ross they seemed have
been dashed to the ground and he sadly ordered the
sheriff 10 discharge tho boy from custody after pro-
iusey thanking HIM, Mr.. Hale and Mr. Knight, the !
Gu icf operator, tor their kindness
The eager crowd piled The little boy with q fearful
array Of questions. He remembered being carried /
away once by man IN buggy while he playing |
with bis little brothers lie aso remembered OF going
In buggy to the cars and gong another big city
where Gays he saw tho big ships that came across
the Upon being asked how long IL took him TO 20
New YORK, which he afterwards said the place
where he saw the big ships he replied that II took
week. which, II tho child really Charley Ross,
would DO 10 opposition to the theory that he
directly TO New York IRON Philadelphia Hc rcmcm-
bcrs The people whom he stayed New York. and
whom he calls hls parents very we'll lie sayg his
fathcr was cabinet maker, and remembers how lie
used 10 mend chars and make tables the shop that
near the house. lie was brought out here from
New York bv n German family, with whom he has
lived un,il recently. lie says the family whipped and
abused him and would not givc him enough TO
that he away and the hou-e OF tho coored
man, whose name Is Smith Coney.
The boy is very quiet, manly little fellow, more
than ordinarily iutei,gcnt, with something about him.
ia manner and language, that will convince person
in moment that no not born in She common walk
Of humanity, and Is, without doab,. lost or
stolen child He corresponds precisely Ia age
with Charley Ross, as little Charley was
three years old when be WAS stolea, aud
three more years have elapsed since tina, event
In his wsnderings the little fellow has had the painful
misfortune 10 have had ms broken and In tho
ducon Of the fracture bad piece OF surgery was per
formed Several VI our citizens have been interested
10 tho bright, manly htic wa'f among them General
StrcEland who yesterday informed US that he IN
tended to adopt him aud Int hm Immediately from hs
Drssert path OF lilo.