Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-06
A CHEROKEE ROMANCE.
Search of the Indians for a Stolen Child.
Oc0nee fGa.l Tidefte.


OcOnes fGG.) Vtdefte.
/ will endeavar to write you little
story. 1t is the true history of little
Indian girl, who was about l year old at
the time, according to my recollection.
In 1898. when the Cherokee Indians
were being removed from what was known
as Cherokee, Ga, to some territory Whlch
had just been given them by our govern
meut. a Young white MAN named James
Vaugbt. living in that country, had mar
ried a half-breed Indian. The mother hav
ing TO 20 West with her tribe. the father,
not wishing to accompany them, stole
their little girl Josephine, from its
mother. and for some days hid in the
woods with it, The alarm was given, and
our soldiers. who were to conduct the IN
dams. secured the country for the lost
child, but to no avail. The father made
bis escape on horseback. with his dear
little child on pillow before him, which
some friend had kindly given him. and
carried his little darling TO his auntS,
Mrs. David Grier, in Washington county,
three and half miles from where | lived
then and now He left the child with
his aunt, and. going away, requested
her not to give 1t up 10 any one With
out his consent. The child remained with
Mrs. Grier several montns-we all saw it.
1t was pretty quarter Indian child. Mr..
and Mrs. Grier lived on the public road,
and often entertained travellers for the
night 4 few months after the child was
left there a stranger stopped for the night,
and seeing the child, inquired how ii
came there. He proved to be from the
Cherokee country, and on his return
he reported TO some of the family the
whereabouts Of the child. A few weeks
after this a party consisting of several
women and tall, tre-lOoking man, half
breed Indian, arrived in the neighbOrhOod.
Mrs. Grier. hearing of It, sent the child to
their plantation. The party called on
Mrs. G.. and one OF the women asked her
to take walk and said:
Mrs. Grier, l learn that my child is
here, and / have come all the way from
Cherokee Nation for it. Please give her
TO me-"
Mrs. G., feeling much sympathy for the
distressed mother, said to her: Your
child is not far of, but l am not author
lied to give her up. / made my nephew
a solemn promise not to give her to any
one without his consent. The way may
be omen 10 YOU to get your child. l would
not return home too sOOn." The party
then went to Milledgeville, fourteen miles,
and consulted with Governor Gilmer in
regard to what steps should be taken
to procure the lost child. The Gov
ernOr advised hem to be quiet few days,
and upon inquiry learned that Mr.. Harper
Tucker owned negro man named Pom
pev. whose wife lived on Mr.. Grier's plan
tatiun. With the assistance of Mr.. Tucker
POmpey was Oribed to find out where the
child was hidden. He reported that the
child was locked up in the plantation
house OF Mr.. Grier. With this informa-
ton a seach warrant was obtained from the
proper officer and placed IN the hands OF the
/ Sheriff Mr.. Cbas. Ennis, grandfather OfOur
present Sheriff, who, in company with the
mau Of the party, proceeded to the place
designated, and found the child. The In
dian sprang forward and pressed the child
to his bosom. saying: "Fll die by this
child before l give it up He carried the
child to MilledgeYilIe and delivered it to
its mother, who rejoiced exceedingly
the lost was found. There was much
sympathy for the mother, and the peO-
1 pie generally were glad when 1t was re-
| stored to her. Governor Gilmer men
ti0ns this incident IN his book, and said
his wife and other ladies' made suitable
clothing tor the child, and the glad
mother and her party went on their way
rejoicing. The father returned in few
weeks To look after his precious child, and
his disappointment was great when ne
found that his little Josephine had been
carried away to the Cherokee Nation by
its mother. He could attach, however,
no blame to his aunt, Mrs. Grier. She
was one of Gods noblest women, and
lived to be about 80 years of age, and died
last spring at the old homestead. She
often expressed herself as ready and wait
ing to be taken to her God whom she had
served so long.