Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-14
AFTER MANY DAYS.

from the Effects OF Exposure---The
Other Now Safe at Home.
Toledo (O.) Blade, 5th.
An interesting case of child-stealing,
which is equal to anything in that line
that has been heard of since the abduc-
ton of Charlie Ross, has just come to
light here, and has Great ed considerable
excitement in the circles where the full
facts are known. In this instance the
abductors. who committed the crime in
the hopes of obtaining large reward,
having been melted to the deed, no
doubt by the rewards offered for the
return of the Philadelphia boy, were
foiled in their little scheme. and were
obliged to seek refuge in flight to pro-
tect themselves from the anger of an in
dignant community.
James Forsythe, q wealthy farmer
living in Clay county, Kan. was the
father of two lovely girls, aged 8 and II
years. One day towards the close of
the warm weather in 1876, they were
out in the woods near their fathers
house searching for flowers. Straying
some distance from home, they discOy-
cred that they were lost, and knew not
how to return. While trying to get out
of the woods they met two men, who
said that they would show them the way
to their fathers house. Instead, how
ever of taking them home, the men
led them to camp they had establish
ed in an out of the way place, and then
told them they never could see their
parents again. Soon after this they
left that neighborhood and went to Hi
nois.
The feelings of the parents can be
imagined when, as the night came on,
their children did not return As it grew
late the neighborS were called, and q
thorough search was instituted, but
without avail. The next morning the
search was continued, but no trace of
the lost ones could be found.
Finally, Mr.. Forsythe heard that two
men, having in their care two little girls,
had passed through little town some
distance from his house. He immedi-
ately went to the village, made inquiries
Of the persons who had seen the tramps,
and soon learned enough to convince
himself that the two little girls were his
own daughters. He started after them
at once, but could not overtake them.
He would nearly reach them, when the
willy tramps would suddenly disappear
and would cover their tracks so skill
fully that it would be weeks before
trace could be obtained of them. For
months and months this chase cOntin-
ued, Mr.. Forsyth never despairing, but
prosecuting his search with all the Vi COR
that a loving father could command
Skilled detectives were employed, the
telegraph was brought into requisition.
could not be caught After following
them through Illinois, Indiana, and
Michigan, Mr.. Forsythe lost all track of
them, and after endeavoring for weeks
without success to get some clue to
them, was obliged to give up the search
and return to his desolate home without
his daughters.
Hoping that something would result
from it, Mr. Forsythe sent out as soon
as he returned home, a number of pos
tal-cards, giving an accurate description
Of the two girls. One of these cards
reached the postmaster at Oak Grove,
this county That gentleman became
convinced that two little children who
had come to the post Office for mail for
several itinerant, vagabondish families,
living III shanties near the canal, We're
really Mr.. Forsythe's children. A little
inquiry settled the matter, and, inform
ing the father, he at once took measures
to secure them. On approaching the
families with whom they lived, they
stated that the girls had been left with
them by two men, and they would not
part with them without heavy recon-
pense. In vain they were argued with.
They would not yield point. The
children were in their possession. they
had fed and cared for them, and would
keep them unless handsomely paid for
their trouble
The families finding that the where
abouts of the children had been discov-
cred, and fearing that they would be
taken away from them by officers of the
law, secreted them, and finally moved
away themselves, living for considera-
bic time in an old deserted canal boat
In the meantime, the older girl sickened
from exposure and died.
About two weeks ago Mr.. c. F. France,
of this city, was employed to secure, il
possible, the remaining child He went
to work skillfully and patiently, and
succeeded finally in compelling the
people to give her into his care. The
little girl was very bright, and told a
very sad story of her years travel with
the tramps She said that the trip
from Kansas to Ohio was made mostly
on foot, riding sometimes in farmers
wagons, and again stealing a ride on
freight trains. A great part of the time
they slept in the open air, sleeping in
fence corners, Or wherever they could.
During the winter the men made them
beg from house to house along the road,
while they stole whatever they could
Since living with the families near the
canal in this country, however, they had
Jared a little better. She didn't know
where the two men who had stolen her
had gone.
Last Thursday, Mr. France, having
provided her with complete outfit,
placed her on board a through Wabash
palace car for Kansas City, where her
father is to meet her, and ere this she