The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-13
The Development Theory Tested
in Wyoming County.
A FAMILY LIVING AS SAVAGES'
A Brother and Sister Who Naked
in the Forest Ran.
A LESSON TO HUMANITY.

county OF wyoming in this State, have been in a
dilemma over a that probably has parallel in
Jurisprudence and certainly none in morals and have
ut last been relieved responsibility in the matter
by the decision of Court ltnatico inqurendo The
case was that Of William Parkc, the 'wnd mute Of
Monroe township" who, conjunction with his sis
ter, Aelvina, also a "wld mute" murdered child
which was born to the latter, and to which crime
William subsequently, added that of the murder of the
sister and attempted murder OF his father Thomas
Wells Parke. The facts in this unparalleled family
history, CLEANED from official sources, ms fol
lows Their recital must awaken sensations of horror
IN the orthodox reader but the believer the theory
Of Darwin may find in them for graduation and
encouragement
Early in the fall Of 1871 party OF gentlemen were
bunting the mountains in the southern part OF
Wyoming county The section is wild and sparsey
populated there being villages within several miles,
and only occasional clearings While trayersing the
very deepest portion of this wilderness ope Of the
bunting party was startled to see a girl, entirely
naked, jump from clump of bushes near him and run
with great speed all tours, of into the woods and
disappear The hunter saw the strange being but
moment and curious TO learn something more in re-
gard 10 her il possible he called companion who
was near and relating TO him what he had seen the
two started in the direction the wild girl had taken
Amer proceeding about quarter Of a mile they came
10 a small clearing in the woods-a space covering
few acres-in the centre of which was miserable
barnlke hut Near the door OF this howell stood not
only the girl whose appearance In the woods had
startled the hunter, but another naked being IN the
person of boy nearly grown The two, the hunters
approached the hut and were discovered swiftly
away the woods, both utterng Wild harsh cries,
OF terror.
The two hunters looked in at the door OF the hut A
man was crouching down on the grouud-there was
hoor-apparently cooking something in a fire, which
was built in hole dug In the ground He arose at
once and came to the door. He was man about ffty
years OF age, thin and wry Long matted hair nearly
white, covered his head and face his clothing
scan and ragged and his hands and face had evidently
been long unwasned, To his inquiry to what the
visitors wanted, they made known what had drawn
them thither, and asked him if he knew anything
about the strange creatures they had The
answered, with laugh
''Why, they're my children, William and Melvina."
The very oquacous, and the hunters
entered his hut at his invitation and without much
curry on their part the following extraordinary family
history elected from HIM
STRANGE HISTORY
His name, he said, Thomas Wells Parke. He
was born IN the township OF Exeter Luzerne county,
In 1920 where he lived until he fifteen years old.
Since that time he had lived in the hut in the wilder
ness Of Wyoming county His father and mother both
died there, and Parke buried them in the woods with
his own hands. For twenty Yeas thereafter he lived
with his wife in the hut, having married at twentysx
q woman named Mary Seares, sicky woman of
twenty, subject TO spells OF insanity she lived with
him until March, 1871, when she ran Nwav To-
husband with the two thlldfe1 t6g SGSIts saI seen
farke sad the girl was twenty-five wears I'D snTfbS
COY 'Weny. lheir mother beng 100 delicate 10 ,,Ee
care o. them rom tho time they were old onongb 10
get about they had been Obliged * ~ 5nf for ibsm
felyes Up to the time IT, .rs calea nei,hero Of
aa ever had garment OF
- ,,nd on ,hair bo5+es The man said his
wife used to say that they didn't metz clothes ou mere
In the woods In the winter someilpes 80 ~Hul4
have cloth of some kind tied around their shouIGrfs
with strings and with other protection they roamed
the forest in the most rigorous weather Neither Of the
children had ever spoken ineligible word They
climbed the highest with and no sign OF Tear,
and lived the and fall on nuts roots berries,
&c, and the father had reason to know that they
hunted ground moles. field mice and other animals,
which they caught killed and ate raw Long sceas-
toned to digging for roots and hunting nuts they had
acquired the habit OF walking all fours and ran with
great speed that position, although they were equally
agile and fleet on foot alone.
EhfLoYMENTS
In the winter these bengs-human yet with all the
instincts OF the brute creaton-shared the daily meal
OF their father which consisted entirely OF potatoes and
other vegetables which he raised on his farm" But
not the deepest coolest weather could force
them 70 remain in house. they roamed the woods
eating whatever they could hnd aud digging with
erring instinct down through the snow for hidden
roots The girl was more yenturesome than the boy
and frequently remained days and nights in the woods
In the most rigorous weather. The boy had been
named William and the girl Mevina
While Parke relating the story OF his Wild chill
dren they had both returned cautiously from tho
woods and first peered steathily in the hut door;
but finally growing holder, they stepped in, all the
time uterng the strangcst cries and apparently talk
ing TO one another - haIsn glooer.sn ny alternate
coaxing and threats the father OF the 'mues" pre-
vailed them TO approach the hunters There was a
strong bance between the two Their faces we're
sharp and pnched, and had an old, worn expression.
The cheek bones were high, mouths large, noses prom
inent and ioreheads reccdlng. The eyes were small
aud restless but bright aud piercing The semi
characterized both COuntenaGCeS. and
broke not nfreQuently into harsh laugh. The head
OF each small for the body and was covered with
an abundance OF long yelowlsh white hair matted with
burrs and wig The girl was OF perfect physical devel-
Opment that her legs from the knees down were
caused their father said BY way they had of sitting
The ground With their legs bent up under them IN
peculiar Parke turned his pitiable offspring
about and exhibited them TO the strangers with the ut
nonchalance Their skins were discoored by ex-
posure and The palms Of Their hands and
bottoms OF Their feet were thick and bard
horn. Scars plenty their persons
the relics Of cuts and scratches received from sharp
brush and brars aud great seam IN the girls lett
breast barely healed had been inflicted by her brother
with an old knife 10 quarrel over potato. Parke
saId that "Billyn was OF a very ugly disposition and
got worse as he grew older His mother had given
that as her reason for leaving, as the boy had at
hisrcr were a syea, IRON hc 10 h,, IA ,hss re- 49,.
TO be afraid OF the boy himself when be away
nom home II the children could be caught he tied
them securely He AFRAID Billy might kill hls
sister during his absence. Melyna OF gentlcr
and dociIe disposition, he said, and the hunters
her father,s he talked evdencing affection in
the manner or dumb brute
A BIBLs STUDENT.
To add 10 the astonishmcn Of the hunters they dis.
covered that PaTke profound student Of the
Bible. was well versed history and on general top
les treated or In books but OF current history he was
ringularly ignorant He had also invented system Of
short hand which he said be was bringing TO pcrec-
ton He exhibited his skill IN writing u on small
slate he had taking down remarks OF his visitors,
which be did with surprising rapidly, In neat aud ev
IDENTIFY systematic characters which he read as easily
~ He ehn son
works OF penmanship which he had done, OF intricate
design and beautiful execution.
rnK FAMILY "BARNrMIzxp."
The hunters returned 10 Pittston and related the
story OF what they had Although occasiona. re.
ports % Wells Parkc's Wild children had been heard
In the noghoorhood The story Of the hunters was not
believed buta deepaton OF citizens VISITED the spot,
and the statements being verified measures were taken
70 ameorate the condition OF the unfortunate beings
large quantity Of provisions and suitable clothing
taken 70 Parkc's house Clothing had 20 be put