Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-22
CHARLEY ROSS.
The Lost is Found - Charley Ross
Discovered on an Island IN Grant
County with Family of Halt
Breeds, Five Miles Below
McGregor. - Believed
to be the Identi.
Cal Boy.

Gregor on Tuesday, with y bright
looking, seven year old lad, who IN
many respects resembles the lost
| Charley Ross Mr.. Hartford, who is
u justice of the peace, was waited up
on by parties living in the vicinity of
Wyalusing on the 26Lh Of last month
by whom complaint was filed that
a white boy residing with family OF
half-breeds named Spencer, en- the
isis nd above Wyalusing, and below
the mouth of the Wisconsin river
that the boy was shamefully abused
aud maltreated. On this complaint
Mr.. Hartford proceeded to the island
with the intention of investigating
the matter, and it the statements of
the unwarantable abuse were found
TO be true, TO take steps for the re-
lease of the child aud for the punish
ment of the parties who had the boy
in charge. When he arrived at the
island be found the hut occupied by
the half-breeds, and from CONVEX
sation with them and the boy, who
was 10 pitiful condition to look at,
be discovered that the statements Of
the complainants were true in every
particular, but that the story of crue.-
W and wrong were not half told.
The query rose in the mind OF Mr..
Hartford How did the half breeds
become possessed of the child? He
has no Indian blood in his veins: is
a genuine American child, evidently
the child of native American parents
Before taking the child home, Mr..
Hartford proceeded to interrogate the
Spencer family and from them learn
ed the following story: The child,
they said, was given to them by a
sister of Mrs. Spencer, in November
last, half-breed woman who claim
ed to be the boys mother. This wo-
man has passed under the separate
names of Turner and Timbermad,
and when she was at Spencer's and
left the child, she was accompanied
by "pal' named Lee, whose name
she now bears They had with them
other children, of their own flesh and
blood, the oldest daughter being
named Mary, who was claimed to be
sister of the boy, but those who
have seen her declare it impossible.
The family left the Spencer's for up
river direction, but where they have
gone is not known. Further than
this there is no knowledge of the
boys parentage. He remembers the
girl, Mary, whom he supposes to be
bis sister, and has a slight remember
ance of the other children. The boy
saws be has the names, four in uDm-
Der. as follows: Charles Theodore
Turner, Charles Theodore Timber
man, Cbarl.s Theodore Lee, and
Charles Theodore Hartford, the latter
being the name of the gentleman with
whom he now resides.
Mr. Hartford satisfied that he could
get no satisfaction from the Spencers
az TO the parents of the boy, took
him to his home, and Immediately
set about making preparations for
the arrest OF the Spencera, but when
tho officers visited the island, and 10
and behold. the Spencers had packed
their little bags and left for parts un-
known.
MANY who had read the story Of
the loss of li.,le Charley Ross and
bad seen his picture so profusely
scattered throughout The west, tho't
there was some resemblance. The
picture was produced and striking
re blance proven, and from var
ious interviews with the child, the
catching Of word now and then,
the people about WyalusiDg were
more and more convinced that this
stray child was really the lost
Charley Rass. The description OF the
original Charley Ross was carefully
read and every comparison made
which only increased the ardor OF
the people that their conclusions as
to the identity of tho child was cor
rect On Tueeday he was brought
to this city and photograph taken
of him to be sent to the Ross family
in Philadelphia, Already Messrs
Harforl and Ball have written to the
governor of Pennsylvania, the may
or OF Philadelphia, and Mr.. Ross, eS-
planning the circumstances OF the
boy being uud with the hslt.breeds
and their statemen of how they OBJ
tanned possession, as well as min
ute description of his features and
marked resemblance he bears to the
picture published of the lost boy.
While IN the city Mr.. Hartford and
Mr.. Ball brought the boy to our Of
fee, and from them we CLEAN the
above facta. Neither of these gen.
tIemen pretend that this boy is in
fact the genuine Charley Ross who
was kidnapped in Philadelphia about
three years ago, yet the resemblance
is so perfect that no harm can come
from an investigation. Many of our
citizens who examined the boy are
convinced of the identity, and think
Mr.. Hartford is performing a noble
act 10 endeavoring to find the boys
parents. His exertions are for the
child's good, and will probably prove
rich blessing to some family who
are perhaps mourning over the loss
of beloved child The boy is smart
and intelligent, and but for the
rough treatment be has received at
the hands of the half-breeds would
doubtless be able TO tell moro of him
self. He is about seven or eight
years old his hair is of brown col
or and if twisted round the finger
eurls as handsomely as one could
wish ; tho eyes are an exact counter.
part of the Charley Ross description
He tells of having seer cities by de-
seribing streets of big houses, high
up, great steeples, ETC., and remem-
bers TO have seen an elephant under
a big tent 10 the city. His memory
is cloIded, perhaps from the cruel
treatment be has received. The
neighbors tell of bis having been
hung up by his heals to tree, and
also by his wrists. On the back OF
Il a