The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-08-24

further, and said slie had no particular
point to which she was going, She
gave her name as Mrs. Wilson, and
said she had been deserted by her
husband at Jersey, City, where they
had been living for some months lie
was an employee of the Erie Railway
Company, and had eloped with the
daughter of the lady with whom they
boarded. Mrs. Wilson said that she
was the daughter of highly, respe eta
bic parents named Perry, of Lynn,
Mass, and that she had run away from
home with and married James w Wilson,
her parents having opposed the match.
The station agent and others at Basket
kindly offered TO make up purse for
the unfortunate woman, ana send her
back to her parents, but she declined
the offer, saying tl:at she was ashamed
to meet them, and did not wish them
to know of her whereabouts. She
was in feeble health, and, fearing that
she might become |. burden on strahg-
er:, she went to Delhi and entered the
poOrhouse. .us ..,.-. ...,..., tsa,,.. an
Lucy Ann Slater was still an inmate
ofthe almshouse,an a singular attach
ment sprang up between her and the
new conner, Mrs. Wilson, probably
owing to the similarity Of the causes
which had forced them to become pau
pers, The following year both OF
them left the county house, and moth
ing was heard of either of them for
two years. In the summer Of 1868 a
a party of fishermen discovered two
strange persons living in cave in
Barrett township, Monroe county, Pa.
They were man and woman. Soon
thereafter there appeared in one of the
villages tall, gaunt man, carrying a
rifle and leading a half grown bear
cub by string tied about his neck.
The man was bare-headed, and his
clothing was torn and dirty. Accom-
panying him was woman about
twenty live years old, shabbily dress.
ed, but giving evidence of more intel
ligcnce than the man, who called him
self the Rev. Joseph DObdell, and
said that the woman was his wife. AS
they walked about the man delivered
noisy and meaningless "sernons," dc.
claring that he was a prophet OF the
new dispcmsatioB, aud that the bear
had been sent him by the Lord To
guard him III the wilderness. For
two years these yagrants wandered
about that part OF the country, living
in caves and subsisting on roots, ber.
ries. and game killed by the man. Al
last they were arrested and lodged i'll
Jail at StrOudsburg, where they were
kept several weeks. While in Jail the
discovery was made that they were
both women. Subsequently the auth
critics learned that they belonged; to
Delaware county, N. y and thither
they were cent. This pretended man
and wife were Lucy Ann Slater and
Mrs. Wilson, who had been leading
this vagabOnd life for four years.
In the meantime Mary Ann Slater,
the daughter OF Lucy Ann, who y, had
been taken from the Delhi alnshOuse
in 1859 Or 1850, had found an excellent
home, and had grown up to be an in
telligent and attractive young woman.
A young man named Stone lived near
by with his widowed mother, whom
he supported He loved Mary Ann,
and being worthy and promising
youth, the foster father OF the girl saw
no reason to oppose match between
her and the widows son. The widow,
however, was so strongly set against
her son marrying the young lady that
the whole neighborhoOd wondered.
A number of young men in the neigh
borhood were Jealous OF Stone, and
one dark night they waylaid' Mary
Ann. The outrage drove her almost
insane, but Stones affection was un-
He still pressed his claim
forher hand. At length, when their
marriage seemed certain, Mrs. Stone
revealed a state of affairs which fully
accounted. for her opposition. She
told her son that she was not widow,
and that Henry Slater was his father
as well as the father of Mary Ann.
Lucy Ann Slater, and Mrs. Wilson
again left the Delhi poor house, and
have ever since been living in caves
and cabins in the woods. The former
is at times entirely deranged. All last
winte: they lived in cave ten miles
from Honesdale. but they divide their
time between Monroe county. and this.
Lucy Ann wandered into this village
the other day, and out of common de-
cency she was arrested. h"" 'iuE a'.l
4l.Hf HE. '-ttfGE iN-H aitf iIatfs4.
-...---- .guiE
WONDERFUL CAREER OF "A CHIPPLE