Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-25
A WILD WOMAN OF THE WOODS
Terror Inspired i'm North Carolina by
Baby-cating Negrcss-Attcmpts 10
Capture Her.

From Special Dispatch to the Philadelphia Times
from Charlotte. n. c.
For months past there have been rumors of a
terrible appartion which has frightened all the
women and children in Clear Creek township.
The women say that for two weeks they have
been subject to terrifying visits, in the absence
OF their husbands, from a creature like shiny
black negress, with long hair and cleaning
eyes. She asks in hardly distinguishable glib
berish for baby to eat, and makes efforts to get
hold of the children. The men. getting tired OF
the fears OF their wives determined to try to catch
the creature, and for the last week crowds of
farmers have been daily and nightly chasing
her, without success. The first effort to catch
her was made week ago by John Roberts, a
blacksmith. The wild creature had appeared
several times at fire, which it was the habit of
Corey Moore, cOlOred, Of the neghbOrhOOd. to
light after dark i'm the yard of his house
for the preparation of his meals. Roberts was
put there to watch for her and she appeared
even before the flames were we'll kindled. She
presented such a wild look i'm the half light and
asked for food in such wild fashion that Rob-
erts was demOraliZed. He recovered. however
made an Outcry and attempted to seize the wO-
man. but she slipped through his hands and dis
appeared in the dark shadows of the wood.
Tuesday morning Mannar Steven Cawell caught
sight of the creature and chased her across an
open field. He was badly hurt in his efforts to
keep up with her and reported that che Outran
a buck and cleared four corn rows at leap
That same night she was again enticed from
the gloom of the woods by the kindling of fire
and was chased by thirty men without success
Capt. Marsh Allen later in the day met her in
the neghbOrhOod. with her face torn and bleed
ing and long, bloody knife in her hand. The
creature was naked and SO unearthly and terri
BILE looking to him that he says he Is not sure It
Is human being. Her hair reached almost to
her feet, but was kinky, like that of the African.
1t is not mere fright which has caused the country
people to organize in their attempts to catch the
creature. which has been living in the forest and
swamps Tor year or more Some months ago, It
is reported an infant was spirited away from it's
and was never heard from, and tlfe disappear
ance was from that section of the county In
which the wild woman has been seen, and
mothers, white and black. are in terror for fear
their little ones may also become food for the
caunibal negress. Yesterday the farmers, some
mounted and others on foot. assembled for the
purpose of surrounding swamp In which the
hundred men banded together for the chase.
At first it was attempted to run her down with
bloodhOunds, but they refused to chase her,
which deepened the superstiti0us feeling with
which the men as well as the women of the COM
munity began to regard her. The men then
made the attempt to catch her, but without
success. The excitement among the negroes
and simple country folks IL intense By the
more Intelligent farmers from that section the
hah-witted woman. who has been % long hunted
down that she lives In terror Of oil human b.
ings, and therefore lives like IN animal in OR.
ests, her necessities having forced her 10 e.
ANYTHING che en- get, including eveA human
aesh.