The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-26
WHOLE NO. I'll.

the little square hole with its sliding shutter
and the shelf underneath it where the food
was placed, and the stove pipe that came up
from the kitchen stove.
THE TRUSTEES DISAGREED
as to the Improvements that should be
made to ameliorate the unfortunate crea-
lures condition, one of them maintaining
that she should remain In the condition her
father had kept her. The more humane
men, fearing that she would freeze to death,
consulted DIR. Corbus, who, in his capacity
as commissioner of lunacy and public chari-
ties, visited her in company with DIR. Cook.
and ordered her clothing bed, and a hard
coal stove, and the room to be kept st a
temperature of 20 degrees. Your CORES
pondent applied to the humane trustees for
permission tn see their charge in the inter
est OF the Tribune, that the public may get
true statement of the existing state of
things in connection with the sad case
After some reluctance they kindly consented,
and appointed the day and hour. After
anything but pleasant drive through snow
drifts, deep ruts and plowed fields. / got to the
house in time to see the tTus ees leave with
out being able to gain admission themselves
They told me that as Mary, the custodian,
was absent at a wedding there was no posi-
billy OF my accomplishing my object that
day; that thev could do nothing for me, be-
ing refused admission themselves, and that
/ should have to defer il until some day
Wncn MARY WOulu De DdCk. Ola not H[l
for another such drive. and SO determined 10
try my eloquence on the inmates in charge
After an hour OF parIey and a score or more
OF rebuffs they finally yielded, and was con-
Quoted up narrow stairs and through q
bedroom that communicated by q door with
the room in which Margaret Reck
HAD SPENT sINTEES YEARS.
A bed was on the floor just by the door,
and looked into ii. My conductors motto
ing me, said: why, she amt there; she is
lying in that corner yonder." approached
the indicated spot. There in the northeast
corner of the room, close as she could crawl
to the walls, on the bare, cold boards, with
the limbs drawn closely up to the body. in a
comatose state, lay form covered with an
old army blanket which did not seem as large
as a two year-old child.
STOPPING down. / took that pale emaciated
hand in mine. II was cold not exceeding
temperature of Is. The pulse was about 65.
Tie body was quite warm, the temperature
being between 9s and 102. The contour of
the head is shapeiy, the forehead high, broad
and suggestive of intelligence rather than
denlentia or frenzied insanity. The eyes,
that were once large, blue and expressive.
are now suDken in their sockets and have
lost their luster forever. The lids are re-
laxed; the function, OF the optic nerve seem
to have been destroyed. The skin is sill
SOFT white and delicate looking though the
morbid condition of the nerves will be ap-
paTeut ifoiu Tue lacs lnaI
PIN CAN BE STUCK INTO II
Quite deep without any evidence OF pain.
The lover limbs are much contracted. and
devoid of muscular power. The feet are
much deformed, and bent back as If by mus
cular contraction, acquired through long ac-
customed crawling. When told by the in
mates that she had been like that for years;
that she crawls three times day as regular
~ as clock-work, to the shelf for her food:
fhof uf oacb uoa1l,-
quantity of sopped bread, milk and coffee,
and sometimes meat: that she is strong and
would tear off any clothing put on her, and
teat she is quite lively at night, one has TO
be credulous indeed not TO doubt it, for she
| did not look as ii she could tear tissue paper
''She won't stay in that bed" SAID her half
sister; "sbe is Just as obstinate as she can be;
she viii era nj out of it. as ii it did not feel
| good 20 her. and go into the corner where
she is now; she always goes there; she likes
| the cold boards best
| She was visited yesterday by Drs Corbus
and Cook for the purpose of clothing her
and administering to her comforts. Size
/ resisted the process of dressing with all the
| force she could command. She was then
| placed in the bed, and remained quiet while
| they were in the room, but scarcsjy had they
.adjourned to the next room when she
crawled TO the northeast corner OF the foot
of the bed-similar to her accustomed posi-
| ton on the iioor-gettiDg underneath. and
| drawing the tick and clothing over her from
the head as she instinc;iyeiy draws her ac-
customed blanket. Not seemingly liking
that position. she did not stay so long. but,
gliding over the side rail, she wriggled dag
onally across the floor, got into her old cor
ner, pulled her dress off By getting il over
her head in an instant, drew the old blanket
around her and settled down in her usual
wey. Or. Corbus describes her manner of
moving rs that of wriggling or shufiiing
gait at the hips propelled by the feet. the
hands taking little or no part. He has left
orders that she Is to be dressed several tim es
a day until she becomes accustomed TO
clothing, and that the bed be so constructed
that she can not get out. The doctor
| speaks of her case as being not only the
worst he ever saw, but the worst he ever
heard of. How long she has been kept IN q
nude condition no one can ascertain. II il
thought by some that she was divested oi
clothing at the time she was first confined,
lest she would make her escape through the
window. The bars that are there would Ger.
tainly not have prevented her, for child
could tear them down as they now are.
HOW SHE HAS STOOD THE COLD OF wISTgR
is mystery in itself that is difficult tc
solve, for even allowing that q fire might
have been kept in the kitchen both dag and
| night-which Is very improbable-the stove
pipe coming from il could not throw of suf
ficient heat to warm the room, and mos
assuredly the cold has been often sufficiently
intense TO freeze pail of water solid But
. how she has survived that, and why her rel
aiivss have not called attention to her con
fneInent, knowing. rs they must, that she
should, If insane, have been ssnt to an asy
lum. is one of those questions into which. In
all probability, the proper authorities vii
, feel called upon to inquire.
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