The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-03
SOME QUEER HUMAN BEINGS.
PEOPLE VINO LIVE ON SNAKES, OWLS,
CROWS AND POLECATS.
Likewise on Brook Trout. Rear Meat. Horse,
Mule, aud venison-Where Lawyers aud
Litigation are Unknowp The Saugers

Litigation are unsnovn The Jaugcrs.
LYNcHBURd. Va. Jan. 3O.-Having bust
ness away up IN West Virginia some months ago
was warned to look out for n singular race Of
beings. called Saugers.' They arc found
among the mountains In sparscly settled tracts.
and are certainly great curiosities. had heard
Of them when II boy living in the Roanoke
district. but supposed their existence purely
problematlcal. They were represented as a
race Of Tom Thumbs. and many nursery sto-
res were told concerning them. Plantation
hands said that they had seen them lurking
in the spurs OF the Alleghenics and the Blue
Ridge. Their achievements were said to rival
those Of Bcansak Jack. and my young blood
was curded by tales Of their cruelty. Darkey
infants were broed ut their feasts. and the
bodies shared with enormous eagles that how
cred above them and awaited a division Of the
spoils. They were described ~ chunky little
rascas who lived In the crevces OF the rocks.
fed on roots, berries. and babies, and roamed
over the mountains like foxes and weases.
During my Journey kept u bright lookout
for "SauRcrs." and found the genuine tribe In
Nicholas. Pendleton. Greenbriar. and Webster
counties. There are scattering communities In
other parts Of the State. bu, In these four coun-
ties they seem to attain absolute perfection.
They live ON wooded slopes or in mountain
gorges. miles from post roads and township
settlements They keep entirely TO themselves.
and physically and mentally are far above the
Digger Indians. They earn n livelihood by dig
ging and selling the ginseng root which grows
wild in all parts Of the country. and Is super
abundant in the mountain Businesses. This
root is bought by country storekeepers. for
warded TO Cincinnati and other cities. and
shipped to China. where 1t commands a high
price.
The origin Of the SAUCER is unknown. He
existed long before the war and his ranks were
largely recruited from the deserters and camp
followers Of the Confederate army. Many OF
these recruits came from North Carolina regi-
ments and the cross between the real Tar,
breed unique in texture and Of extraordinary
mental pabuum. Their fccundity is remarka-
blc. In some communities marriage Is UNI
known. Polygamy. however. is not allowed.
The children begin to care for themselves at all
early age and are never sentto school. Lawyers
are tabooed. The people live by themselves.
and are law unto themselves. They make no
wills aud hayc no disputes over the property OF
| dead men. But few OF them vote and they have
They are shy OF strangers. and like partrldges
preach n settlement Those who do So enter it
with stealthy tread. ne though fearing an am
some country store with a backload of ginseng
| roots. and exchange IL for whiskey. salt, sugar
and occasionally powder and shot. With the
exception of "A little bacon and corn meal. they
| buy nothing more. The women drink tea made
| from sassafrus and the roots Of the golden rod
| They raise their own tobacco, and use corn-coO
| pipes. All their fresh meat Is caught in traps
| Raccoons. opossums. groundhogs, squirrels
pinnated grouse and similar game never come
amiss. In the W inter- there - plentiful supply
| Of bear meat and venson. During the spring
and summer delicious brook trout are in season
meal are the main staple. hear however that
| they have many edible curiosities. such rat
cats. They recognized the Virtue OF horse and
mule meat long before the siege OF Paris and
say that 1t y exceedingly wholesome. They
| told that fried grasshoppers are not despised
| BY them.
Persons living in the mountainous regions o..
West Virginia detect a Sanger" at glance
| The specimens seen by me were as tough as
! knots and as active ~ cats. They had u starved.
! IN grotesuue rags. rode ten miles on horse
back over a road Il ON which no habitation was
| visible. and two OF them kept abreast Of me on
foo,4 The horse was fast traveller but the
Sain<ers loped along. showing no sign VI
! fatigue and think they could have Kept II up
all day. They were strangers. but had no fear.
| for they bore no arms. am told that not one
| IN twenty owns aEun or pistol. Nirginians tell
me that they are very cowariy and never
! touch man unless they IAN do i ~ overwhelm-
! ing odds. This may l~' So. hut from what | saw
ofihcm should say that they are prudent and
canno, call them an agricultural people. for
they seem To have AN nntpathy 10 farming and
gardening. few attempt tp raise q little corn.
but twenty out Of thirty trade ginseng
| roots for corn meal. and never touch u hoe.
| They live In log huis. with mud chimneys.
| one room serves for all PURPOSES. With roar
| ing fire On the hearth they pass the coolest
| winters apparently happy IN their squnlOr and
| poverty. without u thought Of the outside world.
! They sleep upon the floor covered with woollen
| blankets, with their feet turned toward the hot
Goals. They say that warm feet keeps the body
I warm. and 50 long as their toes are warm. they
nare pui ius Ior SosIring' Snsn
NV en- right smarter stretch" &C.. are com
| mon. and they sDea'. in dialect so quaint and
/ drawing that one might fancy them an offshOot
! from the griddl-- footed Yankee
Take him altogether. hoofs and horns. the
! SAUCER is strange being. worthy IL close
study. for the longer we live III" older We get.
and the more We see the more We learn.
). I. Ii.