Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-01-24
A WILD HUMAN FAMILY,


wyoming Solhl9i @eilaJ faAi"i SHe4''''-N
William Parks, aged about twenty one
years, has been lodged in jail at Turk
hammock, Wyoming county, Pa, for re-
ueated attempts to take the life Of his
father, Stephen Wells Parks, Of the town
of Monroe, in that county.
In the fall Of 1871 a party from Luzerne
county were hunting in the mountains OF
Wyoming county. In wild, lonely spot,
miles from any hRbitatiou, one OF them,
hearing rustling in the leaves and
bushes on one side Of him, was astonished
TO see a young woman, perfectly nude,
digging among the leaves, apparently for
beech nuts. She was gu her hands aud
knees, and was not aware Of the hunters
presence for some time. Wien sue saw
him she uttered q harsh cry, and started
of like a deer through the woods, and
was soon out Of sight.
The party walked for about a mile
through the woods aud came to a small
clearing. In one corner of this clearing
was a miserable hoyel, built Of logs and
with roof Of straw. Before they
reached II the girl who had been seen by
their companion came out of the door,
and following after her was a boy, also
entirely naked. They jumped about the
door, as If playing, on all iours, picking
up something from the ground occasion
ally aud eating it.
Coming up to the door Of the hut, the
hunters looked in. On bench in the
middle of the room sat an old mau, read
ing from large book which rested on his
knees. HIS ol,thiug was scant aud
ragged, and evidently made by himself.
A long white beari reached nearly TO his
waist, anu, like his hair, matted and IN
kempt.
The old man said
Those are my children, William and
Melvina-brOther and sister. They ap
penr peculiar to strangers, no doubt, but
I'm used to 'em. Clothes are not much
account anyhow, here In the woods.
The old man without any hesitation
told the history of himself and his wild
children. His name, he said, was Stepher
Wells Parks. lie was b0rue In Luzern,
county, 2 l., and was fifty years OF age
When he was twenty. i've years Of aye h'
married, and moved, with his wife, TO The
farm where the hunters found him. llii
wife's health vas poor aud her mind very
weak. His daughter Mevina was borl
In 1850. William was born two year
afterwards. Parks and his wife believe,
that il was useless TO clotho their childlel
out in the wilderness where they lived
Neither OF the children ever spoke wor,
beyond their strange gibbersh, which the,
apparently understood. They ran viii
IN the woods, living on roots, beech nuts
berries, aud sometimes killing and ealin
snakes and toads. Walking so much o
their hands and knees, hunting their food
occasioned the distortion Of their legs
Melvina had always been Of docil'
gentle disposition and easily managed
William was quite the contrary. He wa
vicious and ugly from the time he coul
creep, and, at the time the hunters dl
covered the family, was getting quite ~
manageable.
When the news of the existence Of Il
"wild family" become known, Il
"farm" was besiegcd with callers, al
two enterprising individuals conceive
the idea OF securing the family aud e.
hlbiting the "wild mutes' about Il
country. Parks was willing to engal
In the enterprise, and leased his untOrt
nate offspring for the purpose. lie "a
companed the exhibition, " llctulinl
upon the Circumstances attending q
lives of his children aud himself II
"mutes' were taken about the count
for few weeks, but the speculate
proved failure, and they were return
to the wilderness. Removed from
stfaiut, they tOie to shreds the cothil
that had been placed upon the. as so
a. they reached home.
Parks, the father, says that attcr thi
return home from the exhibition tor
Bill became more aud more violent IN
temper. He made several deadly assau
upon both his sister aud father. A 4
months alter their return Melvma ~
birth to child. THIS child she and r
killed in the woods aud tore il to piec
Not long afterwards, BIN attacked
sister and Eiiitd her with au Old In
used TO cut mp pumpkins with. Pai
buried his daughter, and ever since Il
time he has lived in deadly fear of
son.
One day last week BIZ attacked I
father, knocking hun down With "A clt
The Old man g,L away from him, ho
ever, and came 10 this place for an gu
to arrest Lin. Two men went to Pai
place and succeeded. after ~ Struggle
capturing him. They pnt n suit eff cio
ing on him and brought him to- ruI
hammock aud dyed him To- Jail.
soou as he was placed in The cell be tore
his clothing. and Is now perfectly max
Hundreds have 1ockei to the jai! to
him. Parks returned home, and IL /
living outhely alone. The wild, MI
maniac son will, doGhtl,-s, be sent
the insane asylum 10 spcnd the res
his day.