Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-06-02
From the Pittsburg Chronicle.
THE WILD WOMAN.


II will perhaps be recollected that about year
ana hnf ago, the ST. Louis papers gave an ac
count OF woman who had been discovered in
Inc woods, near that city, almost naked, and APP
parenlly quite wild. 1t appears that she had lived
IN this manner until lately, when the severity of
me winter drove her to a human habitation, and
mere, being much exhausted for want of food,
and badly frost-bitten, she expired.
PREVIOUS to her death she became quite RATIONAL
ana gave the following account of herself, which
we condense from the ST. Louis Organ:
she was born in New Jersey, whence with her
parents she removed to Cincinnati where they
ilVed until she grew up to womanhood. A young
man whom her father did not like, paid his adj
dresses to her, and they eIoped for St. Louis. At
Louisville he persuaded her TO take lodgings with
hm as his wife, promising TO go with her to
clergyman and get married in the morning. lie
lett her in the morning, to go for minister, and
never returned. All day she remained almost
distracted with fear for the safety OF her lover
whom she could not think had abandoned her /;
but flhally she learned that he had taken Il boat
going down the river in the morning. The shock
to her feelings was great, that she tainted, and
leu IN the street. She was taken up by some kind
Iyiisposed person who soon as she recovered,
pad her passa- e back to Cincinnati.
Her hear almost failed her as she approached
her home She could see her fathers residence,
as Tie boat passed along up The river and it was
her Intention to 20 directly home aud throw her
sell upon the mercy OF her father and mother,
ANA tell them how she had been deceived. On
approaching the dwelling, there appeared to be
an unusual hustle in the house, aud Oh entering
she saw her mher lying dead upon the floor. -
lie OLD man had heard which way she had gone
ana took passage on the unfortunate steamboat
MoseIe, which blew up AT Cincinnati, and being
one OF the unfortunate sufferers, the body had Just
been recovered, and brought home As soon MS
me mother saw !Ier, Iheie," said she, I" there is
your murdered fmler!" She ran from the house
/ but not before her molher's curse was upon her.
She said 1t rang in her ears for many long tlay
ana night, ms she wandered through the woods
II was then summer, aud ct times severe hun
ger would induce her to go near the Indications
Of The people, as she wandered along through the
country aud at one time, she slipped in, and took
the hoe cake from The fire. while The farmers wife
Wasgohe 10 HE spring at other times she caught
the fowls from The fence aud devoured them raw
How she lived so long, she is unable to tell but
berries, nuts, fruit, aud such game MS she was en-
able 10 CATCH have been her food and for TWO
winters she lived in an old deserted cabin on the
banks OF the Missouri. She filed it nearly full of
dried leaves, - the fall, and would creep into them
III cold weather Somebody burnt down the cab.
in last fall, with some little stores Of nuts aud dried
ruit, she had laid up for winter; since which time,
she has been sleeping in large hollow tree
She says" My clothing being almost entirely
gone, the cold was very severe, md | thought
would come to n house and get them TO bury me.
How have suffered no human tongue can tell.
but had made up my mind to die in the wild
woods, ana never again to suffer human being to
speak TO me; but my resolution failed, and am
| indebted TO the Kindness of this poor family. for
what little comfort they could afford me on my
death bed"