Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-06-05


In the middle of the night he saw a figure ap-
preaching that seemed to him to be Canaan
che, and he lay close and at full length on the
ground. The figure approached, walking
briskly, and passing within twenty yards Of
him entered the thlcket and be saw by the
moonlight that it was no Indian, but a young
white woman, dressed in a robe of skins. He
was amazed beyond conception, and told his
companion of his discovery, but they hooted
at the idea, and contended that be had seen a
Camanche. ard that they would no longer be
safe in that locality, and SO next day they pack
ed thu ir mules and hurried off for Texas, in
spite of entreaties They were al green in
the lore of backwoodsmen, but he had spent
twenty years on the frontiers, and knew whp'
he was about
So strong au impression did this incident
make on his mind, that late this winter he en-
listed half dozen hardy fellows to accompany
him and set forth on a trip 10 the Wachita Noun
Trims, on hunt after the wild woman. So
many difficulties were encountered, and the
weather was so severe that all his companions
but one backed out.
He pressed forward, however, and early 10
March reached the encampment where he had
seen the woman enter the tbicket. The first
thing. in order was to search the thicket, and
they were not long in finding kind Of den, a
little cave; or rather long and narrow aper.
ture among the rocks. which he was continued
must be her hiding place, With this cOnvc'
ton, be watched and waited for her two days
. and two nights, when she came forth, He
SAYS that he had been afraid to enter the den,
!, and that now his FIRST care was to stop up the
;, mouth of it, and wait for her to come back
After few hours she returned. and took a
arm on observing that her door 10 the rocks
was closed against her. He had two dogs
which he set upon her. and after running a
:, bout one hundrad and fifty yards, she turnet
about, as if confused in her fight, fled towart
the cave. He ran to meet her with lasso il
\ his hand. and as she approached, worried By
-. the dogs, he threw it over her neck and C'llet
of the dogs, and She giving a spring, jerke'
him to the ground, and at the second leap threw
: herself the moose having by that time fastene'
about her throat and choked her, He theI
tied her, during which operation she utteret
such horrid screams that the hair stood upo
his heal and he had the most singular and aw
!, full feelings he ever experienced. After secur
;, ing the gll, he entered her den, and foun
- - there large quantities of nuts and berries an
- roots, such as could be gathered and digge
: : in that vicinity, The principal fruit was kin
= Of large red haws. which were thereabou
~ very abuhdsnt, and she had kind Of nest
sleep in, while every thing indicated hel ute
~ solitude. The garment which she wore was
u" skins, queerly tied together, with bits of leatl
~ er, and also wish kind Of grass. The Skin
'' were those Of large animal, neither bear nj
y buffalo. Mr.. Northcott says, and the hunter
us could not tell exactly from what manner
- bsast they we've eaken.
''s 1t was his opinion that she had found an a
ny imal dead, or that she might have been attac
Uu ed by and having mastered come beast. b
ny there is an air of improbabIlity about this tn
the strange and almost terrible reality of
l'n woman herself does not quite dispel; and
Ses have not room here and now to argue u
her o;nt Tho oorrarto waya 50 strong "a
MI ny Mr., N, that they protected the female fir
MI the teeth of his dogs, For five days after
res capture bis pet refused to taste food, but tn
axe partook of red haws She was taken the th
lave hundred miles intervening between her I
lem ard the nearest civilized settlements in CTR
cu' son county, Texas, with rope about her Wa
mar the ends of which we're ia the hands of h
y self and his comra1e, while the dogs fOllo'
'okS' after AS soon as be could procure it. ne hs
ance hack so fixed as to make Of the body kind
Inc cage, in which he confined her, and cOnve
Ahce' her safely. until he finally gother on ste
sraa' boat. She arrived here on the steamer
II ex- man. For time she rejected all prep
W oi food but now she will eat almost anyt
ming that is offered, that is not very salt or
Nurse sweet. Mr., Northcott says his great O
# her ,':..;,;.o hor r. learn her to talk, a
neSe hear her story, for he thinks he is sure
u,ine she has talked at some day, and that she
/, " dim notion Of having long ago been with
,er -. similar to those she now finds herself WI
er in. He is impressed from observing her thai
the fact, and thinks that the presence OF
lied faces, and being in houses, &C., DC:
" Mr., caused dormant memories family TO reVl