The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-02-13
THE WANDERING JEW.
AN OLD MAN SEARCHES 25 YEARS FOR HIS
LOST LOVE.
From the Denver Tribune.

The author of the little book known as
"Ths Ute War" relates very interesting
story, which Is given as an incident brought
to light during the march of Merrett's COM
mand from the Notifications at Milk river
to White River Agency:
Signs of the work of the savages met the
command at every turn after they left the
scene of the siege. They left behind them
the dead bodies Of comrades in arms to
find the corpses of the unfortunate men
who had tried to serve the government in
different capacity. The road was literally
strewn with the nude and decaying remains
Of white men whom chance had thrown in
the way Of the savages.
The soldiers had marched but few
miles when the advance guard came upon
body, the remains Of q white man, when, as
the story was told to Tribune correspond
ent who was on the ground, q conversation,
Of which the following is report, occur
red:
"What have we here?' asked one SOL
dier Of comrade.
at looks like the body Of man and it
is"
"It's white man, too"
ITO be sure 1t is, and terribly mangled
and mutilated. The red devils have got in
their work on some unfortunate fellow"
Investigation revealed the fact that the
body was that of Isaac Goldstein, an Isra-
elite, who was called "The Jew," and
whose proper name was known to very few.
Fortunately there was one soldier in the
command to whom the old man had conf
ded the secrets of his heart, and among
others the great secret, the history of his
own life. which, though containing material
for volume, may be related here in few
words, and without marring this narrative,
indeed, as properly part of It.
Old Isaac was between fifty and sixty
years old, but lie looked to be seventy. He
was ever sad and uncommunicative, seem
ing to bear about him burden which,
while 1t weighed him down, he did not care
to share with others. But, becoming friend
ly with this soldier, private in General
Merrett's ranks, he gradually confded the
secret of his romantic career to him. In
his early manhood Isaac Goldsteip had
loved fair daughter of Israel as he loved
not his own life. They lived in an Eastern
city and few months promised TO see them
united as man and wife. This young lady
had brother who had gone to California
among the first who were attracted to the
gold coast. At first he prospered and was
cheerful and hopeful in his letters. At last
he lost his health and was low spirited and
despondent. His sister, whose name was
Rebecca, determined at once to go to her
brother to comfort, and, II possible, to cure
him. She had an opportunity to and did
join the unfortunate party in its overland
trip which perished at Mountain Meadows
at the hands OF the Mormons and the In
dians combined. Isaac waited long, long
time for tidings Of his love. At last the
sad news of the massacre came. He al
once went west to investigate the matter
and has remained here since. He was new
| or convinced chat his Rebecca had beer
killed, but believed her to have been made
q captive by the indians. He determined
to seek her and for many long years he hat
been searching in vain for her, going from
tribe to tribe and gaining the confidence o
the Indians that he might the more success
fully prosecute the search. That the Utes
now Of Colorado, took part in the Noun
tain Meadows affair is established almos
beyond dispute. And thus, according Il
the story told by the soldier over the re
mains of tho long, gray bearded old ma
as they lay on the hard stones Of the bot
tom of Milk River Canon, came "Th
Jew" to be trading with Douglas Indians
The few auditors who gathered around tn
surviving friend Of the old Jew listene
with interest and attention to the story
It was received with sigh by al and dt
risiou by none. A moments more and th
remains of "The Wandering Jew" wer
hidden away in q trench dug for the pul
pose, and covered with earth, and the TO
lowing legend appears on the simple ston
grave mark:
ISAAC GoLDsTEIS,
Killed by Indians
September 30, 1879.