The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-30
WILD BILL OF MISSISSIPPI.
A Deserted Child Who Lived Alone I'm
swamps Till Manhood.
lsouthern Exchanged

wild man in the Antelope range of noun
tains in this State recalls to memory the
capture of a wild white human being in the
swamps bordering the great river OF the
West below the city of hatcher. in the State
of Mississippi, IN the year 1924, who had
grown from childhood up TO mans
estate without seeing a single person
of his own species until he was found by his
captors. Believing that the incidents of the
story will prove of interest TO the readers of
the Examiner, they are herewith given In
Wilkinson County, in the State above
named, just above the old town OF Fort
Adams, there is a strip of country known as
| Old River, which was seldom visited by the
pioneer settlers OF that region, and then
only Tor the purposes of fishing and hunt
ing, as both game and fish were to be found
In abundance. In that year q party
OF hunters, to their establishment,
discovered the naked footprints of human
being leading through the mud into the
water Of the old bed Of the river. Their
curiosity was the more strangely excited
from the fact that no one resided in the inn
mediate vicinity OF that place, and the set
tied portions were but sparsely populated.
To discover who il was that made the foot
print they hunted several days in succession
with their dogs, and finally brought to bay
IN DROVE OF WILD HOGS,
a tall, sinewy human being in a state OF
perfect nudity. He brandished in his hand
a stout stick, with which he defended him
self against the dogs, the hogs rallying
around him, seemingly for his protection.
He gave utterances to no ineligible sounds,
only yeils of rage and screeches. They
bound and carried him TO the town OF
Moodyllle the scat of justice OF
the County, some twenty miles distant.
He was in every respect veritable
human being, with good coating of hair
over his body, which, il is TO be inferred,
Nature furnishes all her creatures other
wise unprotected, to shield them from the
elements. He had lost the power of speech,
which indicated that he mad been left to
himself when very young. BY kind treat
ment he soon became domesticated, his
faculty OF speech was restored, and he gave
this account of himself When quite
a boy-supposed some six or seven
years-his father presumably came
down the Mississippi River from some
OF the Western States or Territories
in fatboat with his mother his elder sis
ter and himself, and landed at the mouth OF
Old River, near where the town of Fort
Adams now stands, where they remained
for several days One day the father killed
his mother and sister with an AK. lnsti-
gated by fear, the boy ranand concealed him.
self in hollow log. His father hunted him
calling him BILLY" but be remained quiet
in his place of concealment. Being unable
to find the boy, he loOsened the fatbOat
from its fasteniEgs, and floated down the
river, rs was supposed to NewOrleans.
LEFr ALONE
At so tender an age, in wild, uninhabited
section, the law of necessity became to him
the law Of existence. The climate being
mild made il favorable TO him. He selected
magnolia, or bay tree, hollow at the base,
which, in that section, grew to great size,
and made himself bed Of leaves and moss,
where he stayed at night and took shelter
when it rained. For food, he sub
sisted on frogs, tadpoles, such fish rs he
could catch, and the Wild fruit that grew
there in summer. Thus be managed to live
until the time of his capture. The habits OF
this unfortunate being, and the changes
which took place in him from the time his
intellect began TO develop by coming in con-
tact with civilization. Is Interesting TO con.
template. At first, the emotions of shame he
knew nothing of, and Il was difficult TO
make him wear clothing when the weather
was warm. Whenever hunger pinched
him, and he could obtain nothing
else TO satisfy his appetite he would return
to his original diet Of frogs. raw fish, etc. An
amusing instance OF this kind occurred on
one occasion. IL was the fortune OF the
writer OF this TO live in the family who had
wild Bill" in charge. On one Saturday
he, with Bill, each on horse with bag OF
corn, were sent TO mill some miles ia the
, country Being detained by the miller until
evening, Bill became hungry. Returning
home, he heard
FROG CRoAKING IN LAGOON
by the wayside. Instantly he sprang from
his horse and cautiously waded into the
water STOPPING until 1t reached his chin, sc
so as not TO alarm the frog. Guided by H.
croaking on the opposite bank. he moved
slowly until he came within reach OF il, ant
darting forth his hand, he seized the frog
and taking il by the legs he tore then
asunder and ate IL with relish. For long
time he was irresponsible, and required
10 be In charge OF some one TO keep him on
OF mischief and trouble. On one notabl,
occasion Mrs. Hammett, his guardian
wished To pay visit TO some OF her lady
friends in the town OF Woodville, and he
son, who was generally charged with tn,
task of looking after Bill being absent, sh,
D locked him up inside the house. Her re
turn being delayed until evening, Bill found
the atmosphere of the room oppressive, anC
! denuded himself of his clothing. BeinJ
hungry, he concluded TO do his own cook
( ing, and endeavOring to do what he haC
: seen others do IN this line, he put into 1
skillet little of every kind OF food h,
could find in the house-hog's lard anC
ground coffee mixed inland puttingit OF
: the fire, stirred il until he thought IL wa
{ sufficiently cooked. When Mrs. Haml~nt
: returned, accompanied by some of her lad.
) neighbors, and unlocked the door. she foun'
} Bill seated on the floor near the hearth will
, the skillet before him, lifting its content
r with both hands TO his mouth; and expect
, ing chastisement, he backed into a corner
: licking his lips with his tongue. He wa
( exceedingly
POND on SWEET THINGS,
and particularly of strong drinks IL the
! were sweetened For drink OF sweetene
whisky he would attempt anything A
one time he was promised glass of whisk
y and sugar il he would whip General Jooi
! who, in full feather, was mastering tn
: County Militia according to the old manne
J, of doing such things annually. To obtai
y the promised glass, Bill stealthIly came u
y behind him, took him by the hair OF tn
. head and bore him into tn
!, dust OH the street. Finding himsel
y thus assailed, General Joor drew his swor
y and pierced Bill through the thigh Fror
ID this wound he never fairly recovered. III
was very agile and fast Of foot He coul
climb a tree with surprising quckness, swIr
and manage horse with dexterity. IL wa
with him as with child. From the tim
,r OF his capture he knew not right from wron
n actions until he was taught, and until III
" intellect expanded and he began to compr'
II bend his true position in society, he so
, rowed over the reflection. He sickened an
Hiab in Nayu Orls IN, 4ka xayhtl