Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-25
LOVERS IN THE WOODS.
Startling Story of Hermitage Life in tho
Blue Ridge Mountains.

BALTIMORE, April ia startling
story of an unnatural family lite of her.
mitage is just reported from the wild
mountainous section of Western Mary
land. About twenty years ago, Thomas
Murphy, aged % years, son of a former
well-known and highly respected farmer of
Carroll county, eloped with Ellen Garnett,
the 16-year-Old daughter of a local
preacher of the same county. No tidings
was ever had of the clippers until a few
days ago, when they were discovered by
two gunners named Henningham and
Phelps residing in hut in an isolated
portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in
Frederick county.
The young men while hunting game
were surprised ON Tuesday last while see
ing young aud pretty girl, clad in rough
garments, flee from their sight like wild
animal. They followed the girl and soon
came upon rude hut almost concealed
from view by underbrush. A brawny man
with long flowing whiskers stood at the
entrance of the hut with gun in hand, and
demanded of the intruders what they
wanted. The fact that they were hunting
game on the mountains and accidentally
happened upon the scene was made
known, and after much difficulty the story
of the hermit and his family was obtained
from the man, who was none other than
Murphy.
After the elopement he saws he endeav-
ored to get work. but was unsuccessful.
and then resolved to kill his wife and him
self. With this object IN view Murphy
persuaded the girl Ellen to accompany
him to the mountains, where he intended
to kill her and then blow out his own
brains, but upon reaching the scene of the
proposed tragedy his heart failed him, and
he could not summon courage to commit
the deed. He and the young girl remained
in the mountains until after dark, and find
ing it imm0ssible to reach the village that
night they remained in the mountains.
The next day a heavy rainstOrm set in,
and temporary shelter was arranged out
of branches and leaves. After passing
several days in this manner the girl was
taken i'll from exposure and came near
dying. Murphy killed small game, and
the two subsisted upon berries and birds
for months. At length the girl gave birth
to female child and was without an at
tendant except Murphy. The next day
Murphy went to the village to purchase a
few articles, and since that time,
he declares most positively, he nor
his family, which now consists of two
children, aged 10 and 10 years respective
", have never seen a human being until
they saw Henningham and Phelps on
was born. A few months later { died and
was buried by Murphy and the girl Ellen.
About two years later Ellen was injured
by falling tree and died, after suffering
intensely two weeks without medical at
tendance of any kind. Murphy saws he
dug grave and buried her beside their
child.
Henningham and Phelps say they saw
the graves of both. They also state the
young daughter Of Murphy is beautiful
girl, but plteOusly ignorant. She does not
know of such a thing as an alphabet and
hos never been named. Since her birth
she has only been called daughter. The
boy, n W 10 years old, is equally Hitter
ate. He is called son. The hut in which
they have lived so long is made of branches
of trees covered with mad
Murphy says he has no desire to i've
among civilized people, and that he is
contented with his lot. 1t is probable
some action will he taken by the Fred
erick county authorities to care for the
Young Girl and her brother