The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-11-02
A WILD WOMAN.

A special dispatch to the ST, louis
Globe Demo crat from Gu 4 otte, N. G.,
says. For months past there have been
rumors of terrible apparition which
has terrorized all the women and chill
lren in Clear Greek township. The
woman say that for two weeks they have
been subject to terrifying visits in the
absence of thetr husbands from crea-
ture Ikea shiny black negress, with
long hair and cleaning eyes. She asks
~ hardly distinguishable gibberish for a
baby to eat, and makes efforts to get
hold of the children. The men getting
tired Of the fears Of their wives, ,determin-
ed to try TO catch tile creature, aud for
the last week crowds Of farmers have
been daily aud ni9ntly chasing her
without success. The first eifDrt to catch
her was made week ago by John
Roberta, blacksmith. The wild erea-
fnre had appeared several times NJ fire
which it was the habit of Gary Moore,
c0lored, of the neighborlood, 90 light
after darl; in the yard of his house for
the preparation Of his meals. Roberts
was put there to watch for ber, aud she
appeared even before the flames we're
well kindled. Sue presented fnch Il
Wild look in the half light aud asked for
food IN such wild fashion that Roberts
was demoralized. he recovered, how
ever, made an outcry and attempted to
seize tue woman, but she slipped through
his hands and dsdisappeared in the dark
shadows Of the woods. On Tuesday
morning Major Steven Cowell caught
sight of the creature and chased her
across mn open field. He was badly hurt
in his efforts to keep up with her, and
reported that she outran buck and
cleared four corn rows at q leap. That
same night she was agnin euticed from
the gloom Of the woods by tile kiudliug
of a fire, and was chased by thirty men
without success. Capt. Marsh Allen
utter IN the day met her
in the neignborhood with ber face
torn and bleeding and long bloody
kuife in llev hand. The creature was
naked, and so nuearihly and terribe-
looking TO hlm that he is not sure it is Il
bumnn being, Her hair reached almost
to her feet, but was linky like that Of
tile African.
1t Is not mere fright which has eansed
the county people to organize in their
attempt to catch the creature, who has
been LIVING in the forest aud swamp
businesses for year or more. Scme
mouths ago 1t is reported that an infant
was spirited away from its parents
yard while they were in the corn fell
tnd was never heard from, and tile dis
appearance was.from the section Of the
cunntry in which the Wild woman has
been seen, and mothers. white aud black,
IRE in terror for fear their little ones
may also become food for the cannibal
neeress.
Yesterday the frmers, some mounted
md Others on foot. assembled for the
purpose OF surrounding swamp 10
which the creature is known to be hid.
There were 400 men banded togetherfor
the chate. At fiSst it was attempted to
run her down with bloodhouuds, but
they refused to chase her, which deep
ened the superstitions feeling with
whioh the men MS well rs the women Of
the community began to regard her.
Tue men then made the attempt 10 catch
her, but without success. The excite
ment among the negroes and simple
country folks Is intense. BY the more
intelligent farmers from that section the
theory is advanced that the creature is
some half-witted woman who has been SO
hunted down that she lives in terror of
all human beings, aud. therefore, lives
like an animal in the forest, her necessi
ties having forced her to eat anything
she can get, including even hu mat
flesh.