The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-08-04
CATAROULA'S SENSATION.
The Alleged Lost Chiid-A Probable
Creature OF the Imagination.
correspondence of the Picayunc.l

SNN 1AOolS ", |
Catahoula Parish, July Is, 1888.
AS there has been SO much said, writ.
ten and published relative to the lost
girl of Caiahoula L propose to give my
candid opinion OF the matter TO the pub
lie through your columns.
do not believe Il word OF any such
ridiculous fabrics, based upon the fol-
lowing reasons: l am personally ace
quaiuted with all parties concerned.
The little girl who first said she saw
such child lives within two miles of
me ard is Il niece of my wife, about 10
or l2 years Old. Upon her statement
the whole neighborhnod searched and
researchcd al! the country near, but to
no effect except to see tracks after the
same little girl had found them and
never very far from the house Of her
father, Mr.. J. c. Francis.
OF course all this excited neighhOr
after neishbor aud on all sides would
come some unreasonable story, such as
men seeing and chasing on horseback,
dogs running it, tracks all over tic
woods for miles away, child seen al
gates in snow storms, etc, every one OF
them resembling in possibilities. Where
it is said the child WAS first seen there
! is absolutely nothing TO subsist on AT
!ha. time, fall and winter. The club
foot signifies that the little waif had lost
foot during its wanderings. What an
absurdity! 1t is all we can do to make
! a living in this country with all the ad
vantage of our little civilization aud
| both feet, with houses and clothes and
! parental care added.
Some curious ladies, who from their
hear!s verify believed that there was a
lost child, and that myself and others
| were cruei not to believe, repaired to
| the house of Mr.. F., and in company
| with Lou, as she is commonly called,
| went in search for signs, etc, but 70 DC
| effect, until near noon, when all the
parties retired to the house for dinner.
There being no wood, the little girl and
her sister were sent for wood, but soon
came back and reported fresh tracks.
Upon this news one Of the ladies, Mrs
| CockerhaIp, had her faith shaken and
went out in pretended search again,
but was on the alert watching Lou, and
finally saw her step one foot down into
IA little ravine or muddy place and
make a track, then turning to the par
lies behind said: "Aunt Emily, I have
found another track ~ The truthful.
ness of this statement can be verified
by Mrs. Cockerham's oath. Stree this
nothing more has been seen or heard
Of the lost child.
/ do not pretend TO say but that Mr.
J. G. Francis honestly believes his child
saw a wild girl. Mr.. f, and l are per
sonal friends, and i would bavc expo.
sed and set the public right ere this bu
did not care to offend his feelings.
am also personally acquainted with tho
circumstance and woman who is suppo
scd to have cast off the child. Her name
is Duck, she had some two or three
children, and has them yet, 1 reckon
as she passed my place often, before
and since the rumor has gotten out.
am acquainted with Capt, M. Dempsey
VINO wrote in coloring hues the seogra
phicui aud graphic description OF Fun
ny Louis urging the people TO turn on
on the 1th day of July, 1887, with CRU.
and general camp equipaSe TO hunt th'
unfortunate nude. lie is a nice man
of a generous Irish heart, but has bee,
caught in this trap.
a Mr.. II. Randlp, brother Of Mrs
Swi!Iy, told me that the Swil!y famil,
never saw anything but heard some
thing, and was too timid 10 find ou
what il was, hence the rumor got ou
that the lost girl was at SwiIly's; ant
then the story was exaggerated, ant
iracks seen, etc, until Mr.. Jay Ellis
brother Of Judge Cary Ellis, got hoi,
OF what was last seen in the Cstahoul}
News. l have been so dissuStCd will
this stuff fcci it my duty to writ
whnt I have written. If any desire ref
erencc as to my character for truthful
ness, etc, l will! gladly furnish man,
names in this parish, Now Orleans ant
elsewhere.
J. r. ADAMS.