The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-30
A WILD FAMILY.
A Strange Story From the Blue Ridge
Mountains.

BALTIMORE, Md, April 21.-A start
ling story of an unnatural family life O
hermitage Is Just reported from the wild
mountainous section of Western Mary
land. About twenty years ago Thomas
Murphy, aged twenty-five years, son of 8
former well.known and highly respected
farmer Of Carroll County, eloped with
Ellen Gerrett, the sixteen-year.ole
daughter of local preacheref the same
County. No tidings were ever heard o.
the elopers until few days ago, wher
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
were startled, on Tuesday last, by seeing
q young and pretty girl, clad in rough
garments, flee from their sights like q
wild animal. They followed the girl
and soon came upon ride hut, almost
concealed from view by undefbrush. A
brawny man, with long, flowing whiskers,
stood at the entrance of the hut, with
gun in hand, and demanded of the in.
truders what they wanted. The fact that
they were hunting game in the mountains,
and accidentally happened on the scene,
was made known, and, after much diff.
Guilty the story of the hermit and his
family was obtained from the man, who
was none other than Murphy. isig. /:
After the elopement he says he endeav.
ored to get work, but was unsuccessful,
and then resolved to kill his wife and
himself. 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 mountain
that night. The next day heavy rain
storm set in, and.a temporary shelter was
arranged out of branches and leaves.
After passing several days in this
manner the girl WAS taken i'll from ex-
posure, 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 attendant
except Murphy. The next day Murphy
went to the village to purchase afew ar.
ticles, and since that time he declares
most positively he nor his family, which
consist of two children, aged nineteen
and eleven years respectively, have ever
seen human being until they saw
RenniDgham and Phelps on Tuesday
last.
Four years ago boy baby was born.
A few months later it died, and was
buried by Murphy aud the girl Ellen:
About two years later Ellen was injured
by falling tree and died, after suffering
intensely two weeks without medical
attendance of any kind. Murphy says
he dug a grave and buried her beside
their child. Henningham and Phelps
say they saw the graves of both. They
also state that the young daughter of
Murphy is a beautiful girl, but piteously
ignorant. She does not know of such q
thing as an alphabet. The boy, now
eleven years old, is equally illiterate.
BE is called "Son." The hut in which
they have lived so long is made of
branches of trees covered with mud.
Murphy says he has no desire to live
among civilized people, and that he is
contented with his lot. Action will be
taken by the Frederick County authori.
ties to care for the young girl and her
brother.