The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-11
Old Mag 0Oukling and her Relatives.


Old Mag 0Oukling and her Relatives.
A letter dated Mongaup Valley, Sulli-
van county, N. Y, Nov. 2s, to the New
York press, gives the following account Of
a demi-savage community in that region
which is almost beyond belief Nothing
to equal it can be found among the Tar
Heels Of North Carolina, or the deniSens
Of the Everglades of Florida. How can
northern civilization and refinement tole-
rate such blot upon its damask social
eseutcheon? The letter is as follows:
Three hunters from the western part of
Sullivan county were in town to-day, and
reported the finding of the body of an old
woman who had been missing from the
neighborhood of Mongaup Valley siuce the
irst week in November. Her death was
0 tragic one, and was a fitting end to
strange life. Her name was Margaret
Conkling, and she was known throughout
the county as "0ld Mag" She belonged
to a large family of half.savage people
known as the "De Groats, the aHlnkses, "
the "Henions," and the "Conklings."
This family numbers about 375 men, wo.
men and children, and more degraded
set of persons il would be difficult to find
in the United States. They dwell 10 small
eabius and caves 10 the wooded hills of
Orange and Sullivan counties, and their
living is made principally by stealing,
hunting and fishing. Some of them are
expert basket makers, and with huge back
loads of baskets, they often descend from
the mountains to the villages of Sparrow
bush, Port Jeryis, Monticello, Huguenot
aud Charlottesville, where they dispose Of
their wares and invest the proceeds in
whiskey and tobacco. On these trips they
plan robberies and every basket selling
tour is sure to be followed by raid. They
eau easily hide themselves in the noun
iains, and always manage to escape detec-
ton. They are of Indian descent, and
bear all the facial marks Of their ances-
tors, while their habits are even less de-
cent than those Of their savage progeni,
tors. They inter-marry exclusively, and
no divorce is needed to separate mau and
wife when they wish to be separated. The
result Of this is evident in the faces and
persons Of their children. Many Of them
arc idiotic, some Of them are born without
ears, some without hands, and there is one
singular being, now living in lonely hut
near pond on the western edge Of SulE-
van county, that would be an acquisition
to Barnum's show. This object-for il
can scarcely be called personals neith-
er nose, eyes, nor ears, and only two teeth
in its head. Its feet are clubbed, and its
hands are more like the fins Of fish than
human members. Yet this singular crea-
ture lives aud seems to enjoy itself. Dave
| Boyle, well-known hunter in that section
has seen il eat raw fish, raw potatoes and
raw skunk flesh with evident delight.
The mother Of this object is woman six
feet seven inches in height, aud her hus-
band is her own uncle. The mother has
heavy beard, and the father is hare-lip-
ped, hunehback dwarf, not quite four feet
in height.
Such is the family (Which "0ld Mag
belonged and among this savage tribe she
was regarded as a sort of queen. She was
said BY them TO be the seventh daughter
Of a seventh daughter" and was therefore
thought to be endowed with miraculous
powers Of curing and fortune-telling. She
was withered old bag of singular presence,
being nearly six feet nine inches il height
aud exceedingly slim. Her skin was vel
low, her hair long, black, and coarse, and
her chin was covered with beard about
three inches long, She dressed herself in
Indian style, and lived alone in her cabin
on the shore Of Big Pond, just 10 the edge
OF productive cranberry marsh. Here
she was visited last last summer by large
numbers Of New York and PHILADELPHIA
people who were spending the summer in
Sullivan county. She told their fortunes
and received presents of money from them.
"Old Mag would not allow human being
to sleep in her cabin, not even one of her
own tribe, and those Of the tribe who visit
ed her always went prepared to sleep out
Of doors. These family gatherings were
the widest orgies imaginable, aud more
than one member of the fraternity has
been missing after debauch in some lii.
tie log cabin in a remote glen on a bleak
mountain.
"Old Mag" was last seen alive in the
latter part Of October. At that time she
visited Mongaup Valley and Forestburg,
telling fortunes and laying in stock Of
tobacco and whiskey. She seemed ID be
as lively as ever One week after she was
seen at the Mongaup Valley postoffice a
halfwitted young man named Kinks, one
Of the tribe, appeared and said that isOld
Mag amt to hum no more, aud mebbe
she's dead" A hunter who heard Of her
disappearance made trip to her cabin and
found it deserted. On the earthen foor In
one corner Of the only room lay a half
bushel Of wAlnuts and chesinuts, and over
them hung large smoked ham, string
OF red peppers, and the decayed body Of i
fox With the skin still on. No signs q
"Old Mag could be discovered. Search
was made but no clue 10 her was found.
Last Wednesday the three hunters refer.
ed to--Sam Quick, member Of tho noted
Tom Quick family, John Wilson. aud
Dave Merrick--were chasing deer, and
we're led Into a swamp about two miles
from aOld Mag's" cabin. Rushing through
half hidden path, Quick stepped on wkss
ne at first took for a round sions. HIS
foot slipped from it, and be fell. He wsS
surprised q dnd that DO had stepped on /
human skull, which was sIilI covered y ish
fragments Of bloody fash and patches #
! hnir. He quickly called TiIson and Mer.