Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-08-28
THE STORY OF CHARLEY ROSS
THAT WINS THE SYMPATHY OF
EVERY PARENT IN TIE l. AND.
The SentinePs Philadelphia Representa-
tive Calls ON MI. Ross and Has the
Story Told Him
Social Corrsspsndsncs of the Sentinel.

Story Told Kim
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.
PuILADELPHIA, Aug. 25.-Taking
for granted that the SESTINEL's read
ers would be interested in an account
of the abduction of little Charlie Ross,
got q North Carolina friend of mine
who Is acquainted With the family to
carry me to see the ROSES.
While we waited i'll the parlor |
stood before picture, the life-size por-
trait of lovely, laughing child. The
face was that of boy of four years.
fair and dimpled, with little rosy
mouth Just made for kissing, large
clear, brown eyes, through which a
happy little soul shone brightly, and
soft, 1axen curls shading a broad,
white brow, and falling about round,
white neck.
"That ia Charlie, my little Charlie"
said the master of the house sadly a
few moments after we had been intro
duced, and, looking from his care
worn, nervous face to the cherub WIS.,
ion on the wall, for the first time an
understanding of the tragedy of Char
lie Ross dawned upon me, and for the
benefit of the new generation and
those to whom the tiny hero of a
mournful tale has been but newspa-
per myth, am going to takn up the
freshest threads of a well-worn story,
as related to me by Mr.. Ross in view
of the green lane where his little boy
WAS stolen from him.
The house itself is situated at the end
of broad and beautiful thorough fares
in Germantown, called East Washing
ton lane. On both sides of it are
handsome, substantial mansions of
gray granite, such as PennsylvaRians
love; and built far back from the road
in the midst of spreading lawns, sha-
ded by fine trees, and sprinkled with
beds fgay flowers. More peaceful
and beautiful surrounding one could
hardly find, and a miniature farm of
few acres now dotted with sweet
smelling haycocks next to Mr.. Ross
place even suggested the country.
The house of Mr.. Ross is a spacious
double one, built of stone, and sur
mounted by a cupola. 1t stands on
the summit of a great slope, and with
its broad piaZzas covered With ollinb-
ing honeysuckles and roses, its huge
baskets of plants and terms, and its
friendly elms and oaks, looks secure
and pleasant retreat from the noise
and turmoil, the dust and confusion
of the world.
Sitting On the front veranda, re-
marked how thoroughly the great
hedge of fir trees at the foot of the
lawn cut off the view of the street.
"Yss," said Mr.. Ross, 'too thor
oughly, for it helped the wretches who
stole my children to escape with them.
Ten years ago the first of July, he
continued, "my little Charley, Just
four years old, and still in petticoats
was playing in the road with his broth
or Walter, two years older than him
self While they were frolicking
about two men came along in a wag-
gon drawn by one horse 1t ssems
that they had seen the children before
and had given them candy. That day
they invited the boys to get in for q
little ride, promising them frecrack-
ers and candy. They, fearing nothing
complied, and were seen, as we found
later, by some of the neighbors.
when / got home at 6 o'clock, to
tea, Mrs. Ross and my eldest daugh-
being at Atlantic City for their health
the children had not returned The
neighborhood was secured in vain,
and at o'clock on my way to the
Central Office to telegraph the police
stations, we met Walter returning
home with Mr.. Peacock, friend of
the family, who had found him crying
bitterly on street corner in the North
ern part of Philadelphia, just seven
miles from home.
The boy was nearly paralyzed will
fright, but managed to relate how
these men promised to take them te
Aunt Susie's to buy sweets and fire
crackers that they had lifted him
out OF the wagon and sent him into a
shop to get them, and when he camc
out they had disappeared with Char
ley. The police thought that the men
were on drunken frolic, and when
sobered would be alarmed at what
they did and turn Charley adrift.
"The theory proved false. On the
third of July we advertised for hin
with reward, and the next day W,
received an anonymous letter in dis
guised writing, the first of a series OF
twenty three, which said that the cililo
was safe, but that no living powe
could discover him, and his father
would have to pay big cent to get
him back The next letter demand
ed a ransom of $4,000, from which
sum the kidnappers never abated &
jot, with the alternative of putting the
child to DEATH"
It is impossible in a letter to de
scribe the methods used for the recoy
cry ofthe child and the capture of hi,
jailers, who demanded that the none,
should be paid in advance of the re
turn of the boy. While negot iation
were pending 10000 photographs
of little Charley were distributed
throughout the land, and tons of pos
ters, handbills, and Autographs sowr
broadcast. The citizens of Philadel
aphia offered reward of $4,000 fo
the kidnappers, of which reward the
police offered to claim no part, ant
other large sums were offered from
public and private sources, while tn
pressure put on Mr.. Ross not to jeop