Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-04
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
A Father, after the lapse of Fourteen
Years, Discovers his Child, a Love-
" Young Girl, and Rescues her
from DesDaIriEg and Affect
Poverty.

A Marion, South Carolina, correspondent
of the Charleston Ne3s and Courier, tells
the following story: During the late war
there lived at Waynesboro', the county
seat Of Burke county, Georgia,
Mr.. and Mrs. Holland, the happy pa
rents of two little children, boy and girl.
Mr.. Holland was a practicing lawyer and
man of standing and intelligence IN the COM
munity. Mrs. Holland was of a respectable
family, and lady of education and good so.
cial standing. During the war Mr..
Holland volunteered, and was a good
soldier till the surrender. About
the year 1896, a man by the name
OF Laud Haithcock appeared in that part Of
Georgia. He passed himself off as horse
trader and a gentleman of wealth, but In re-
ality was horse-thief. He appeared to have
plenty of money, drove fine horses, smoked
6ne cigars, dressed well, and was received
into the best society. During Mr.. Hollands
absence in the war ne lnRratlated himself
into the good graces of Mrs. Holland. A
criminal intimacy sprang up between then,
and when Mr.. Holland returned home, in
April, 1865, the fruits of that intimacy could
no longer be concealed. In few days after
Mr.. Hollands return, aud while waiting an
opportunity to take summary vengeance on
Haitheock, his wife suddenly left with Hath
cock, carrying with her his little daughter
only three years old. From that day to this
they have never been seen IN that part of the
State About the time of their sudden de-
parture horse and buggy mysteriously dis
appeared, which Is supposed to have been
| stolen by Haithcock, and with which they
made their way to Brownsville, Marlboro
county, in this State, where H&ithcock was
born and brought up. From that time till
three weeks ago Mr.. Holland never heard
| anything of the Whereabouts OF his wife and
child. He, however, did not despair. Dur
ing the past fourteen years he has been con-
stantiy engaged, whenever he could spare
the time from his business, in prosecuting
the search for his child. He travelled over
the greater part of Georgia, and portions of
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and this
State, but could never obtain the slightest
clue as to where she was. He tried adver-
Using in the newspapers, offering large re-
wards for her recovery, but nothing came of
it but heavy bills and grlevous disappoint-
ments. He finally concluded to stay at
home and write to the county officials of
every county throughout the country. After
pursuing this plan for 3 long time, he was
finally informed by one of the county officials
of Marlboro county that Laud Haithcock
lived In the Brownsville section OF that
county with a woman who answered to the
description of Mr.. Hollands wife; that this
woman had a young girl with her, not
Haithcock's child, whose age and general
appearance pointed to her as the long-lost
daughter. 1t was frat proposed that the
girl should run away from her mother and
go to Georgia. but to make assurance doubly
sure, Mr.. Holland was advised to come him.
self as he alone could identify the mother as
his former wife. He accordingly came by
rail to Pee-Dee bridge, on the Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta railroad. Leaving
The railroad at that point, he walked to MIR.
James g. Haseldea's, who lives
few miles from the station, arriving
there about dark on the fourth in
II J
that night. After making known his GRAND,
Mr.. Haselden's sympathies were so thorough
ly aroused that he carried him In his buggy,
the next day, to where Haithcock live. For
tunateiy, perhaps, Haithcock, who is said to
be lodging from the revenue officers for re-
failing whisky contrary to law, was not
home. On arriving at his cabin, Mr.. Hol-
land pushed open the door, which was partly
ajar, and there sat mis- former wife, sur
rounded by her three Haithcock children and
his own daughter. He spoke to his wife
Familiarity, saying, ''Howdy, Polly Amp" In
great surprise, she replied, why, howdy,
WHIP" After shaking hands with her, he
asked, pointing to a handsome young girl, if
that was Emma. She answered it was. He
took the girls hands, and, with tears IN his
eyes, told her he was her father; that she
had been taken from him when she was only
three years old, and that he had been search
ing for her for the last fourteen years; that,
thank God, he had found her at last, and that
he had come to take her to a comfortable
home, and from the poverty and misery IN
which she had been raised. He asked her if
she was willing to go with him. She replied
abe was. Upon this. the old woman and the
other children set up a great lamentation,
and said she should never go. They seized
hold of her, but, by some exertion, Holland,
with her assistance, succeeded in releasing
her, and getting her away from tie house.
They went to the nelghbor's where the girl
was hired out as an ordinary field hand, and
got the few articles Of wearing apparel that
she DOsgesseQ