The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-24
ANCHORITES.
An Old Clergyman and his Daughter
LlYe aa Her mlta for Twelve Wears.

The Chicago Post of Saturday lass says:-
The little hamlet of Turner Junction, about
thirty miles from Chicago, at the intersection OF
the c., b. O., the Freeport and Pacific Air LINE,
is worked up at present with frstcass sensa-
ton. The story is as follows. The reader may
make allowances for possible eXaggerations:-
An old man named X. A. Watkins, n Congre.
gational clergyman, and his daughter Elizabeth
are the subec;s. 1t is said that for twelve years
past they have lived in entire secluson on
farm not quite mile from the Junction, their
sole diet consisting of corn bread.
The old gentleman is we'll educated, having
graduated at MiddleburY College at TWENTY-FIVE.
moving TO this State in 1866 with his wife and
daughter, and buying the farm now occupied by
them. For over year the family mingled with
the villagers, the clergyman often preaching In
then about sixteen years old, played the melo-
deon. The old mans wife then died, and from
that time his whole life was changed. He was
seldom seen about the village, and his daughter
never. He came occasionally to town to obtain
sugar, tea, and alcohol, in exchange for butter
and eggs. Once only he bought shirt He
always appeared dirty, and wore heavy shawl
about his head at all seasons. For some
years no special notice was taken of this
strange conduct, until finally about two
years ago. the people became worked up"
pointed to investigate. They gained access to
the house with some little difficulty and found
the rooms in filthy state occupied by cats and
hens, IN the same apartment with the human
interfering, when they demonstrated on the
course OF lie the couple were pursuing, and
then retired. While this life continued the farm
was indebted to various parties, who were not
allowed to approach the house, nor was any
one else. About a fortnight ago, lad, in
passing the house, was called by the old man
aud told that they were sick and needed AID.
He alarmed the village, and many of the citizens
and physician went 10 their aid. The old man
was found to be one mass OF sores and filth, aud
was lying on a lounge covered with vermin;
on a most filthy bed lay the daughter. The
cats-twenty-tve in number, by count, were
thrown out, and the hens made to follow. The
people were taken to a smaller and cleaner
room, and an able bodied force at once set to
work cleaning up the house. All the clothing
was burned. The old mans clothes were re-
moved and his body found to be discolored and
covered with filth and running sores. The
daughter was in a less horrible condition, but
ber body was discolored in places. and had not
been washed, she said, for six years. Her under
clothing had been constantly worn for tour
months. The old man is nearly seventy, the
daughter perhaps twenty-cight. The former is
so reduced that he will scarcely live month.
The daughter it is thought possible to save with
proper medical care. She is accomplished and
educated and would still be an ornament to
society. The man is profound mathematician,
and his mind runs strongly TO figures and calcu-
latiOns.