The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-30
Z KWiED rAalIY,
A strangs Story Exon, the fR.uu, Ridge
..r.o,s. >, Mountains, at, iis,.i. I. 80; Ii,

FHSs: - ~ F3iF7ILI ltfti q g ~ y $1,000
BALTIMORE; Nd, April 81. IA start
ling story of.an'unnatnral family lifa9o o
hermitage Is lust reported from the wild
mountainous section of Western Mary
land. About twenty years ago Thoma
Murphy, aged twenty-five years, con OF 1
formes, weli.known aud highly respected
farmer. Of Carroll County, eloped will
Ellen Gerrett, the sixteen .year.oli
daughter Of local preacher 3f the aamt
County. No tldlngs were ever heard 81
the elopers untlla few days ago, whef
they were discovered by two eunnefs
named Henningham and Phelps, residinp
In hut ia an isolated portion OF thS
Blue Ridge mountains, In .Fredefict
County. The young men, While huntiue
were startled, on Tuesday last, by. seeing
a young aud pretty girl, clad in. roug6
garments, dee from their sights iite !
wild animal. They followed the girl
aud soon came upon a'rtitio hut. aifnosI
concealed ftora tiew by undefbsush. !. A
brawhy man, with iohst flowing whiskera
stood at The entrance Of enc htit. VIII
gun in hand, and demanded of che id
tsudera what they wanted. The fact thai
they were bunting game In the mountains,
and accidentally happened on the scene
was made known, aud, after much diff.
Guilty the story OF the hermit and hia
family was obtained from. the man, who
was none other than, Murphy. !zt93,I q.
After the elopement he says he endesv.
ored 70 get work, but was unsuccessful,
and then Tesolved 70 kill his wife and
himself. With this object In view,
Murphy persuaded the girl (Ellen) to
accompany him 70 the mountains, where
he Intended 70 kill her and then blow out
his own bra.hs: but upon reaching the
ocono of the proposed tragedy his heart
failed him, aud uhe could not summon
courage " commit the deed. BE and
the young girl remained In the mountain
that night. The next Gay O heavy rain
storm set In, anda temporary shelter was
arranged out of branches and leaves. ,.F
After passing several daye in this
manner the girl vaa taken Ill from as-
poaure, and came near dying. Murphy
killed small game, and the two snbslsted
upon berries and birds foi; rnonths. Al
length the girl gave birth to O female
child, and was without an attendant
except Murphy. The next day Murphy
we1t 70 the village to purchase afew ar.
tic'as, and nince that time he declares
mcJt poaitiyely be nor his family, which
consist of two children, eyed nineteen
and eleven years respectively, have ever
seen a human being until they saw
Henningham and Phelps on Tuesday
Inst. III. ,'-.. 3, -
Four years ago boy baby was born.
A few months later Il died, aud was
buried by Murphy aud the girl Ellen.
ABOUT two years later Ellen Was injured
By falling tres and died, after snfisrinE
intensely two weeks without medical
attendance of any kind. Murphy says
he dug Q grave and buried her beside
their child. Henningham and PheIps
say they saw tie graves of both. They
also state that The young daughter oi
Murphy ia g beautiful girl, but pfteously
ignorant. She does not know OF such q
thing as an alphabet. The boy, now
eleven years old, 10 equally illiterate.
ESe 10 called "Son." The hut in which
they have lived go long Is made Of
branches of trees covered with mud
Murphy aays he has no desire to live
among civilized people, and that he Ii
contented with his lot. Action will be
taken by the Frederick County authori.
ties to care for the young girl aud hel
brother. a&, - t::} .