National Republican., 1886-12-18
KEPT CAPTIVE IN A GAVE.
A Wild Girl Discovered in the Idaho
Mountains.
Now York Express ]
A.

Now York Expressl
WASHINGTON, IDAHO, Nov. 26.-Local
papers published an account two months
ago Of the discovery OF wild girl In the
mountains forty miles from this place. G..
N. Holbrook, Of Denver, Col, read the re-
ports and recognized the "wild girl" as his
own daughter. After being mourned as
dead for nine years she comes forth as
from the grave and is restored to her father.
A hunter, while wandering in the depths
OF the Salmon river mountains far from the
habltations OF man, saw before him beau
tiful lake in the grandest, widest, natural
settings--giant cedars, with pendant fes::
toons Of moss and towering columns OF
granite A fair girl, unadorned, unclothed,
except by q feecy wealth Of golden hair,
stood waist deep In the water. She looked
with nervous stare that betrayed wild
nature. She sprang from the water and
disappeared in q black, yawning cavern.
The man Of the chase was not romantic.
There might be such a thing as mermaid,
but he did not believe In ghosts.
He hastened to the camp. 1t was dark
when he found his comrades by the log fire.
They were old hunters, and knew not fear.
The story OF a young girl In that gloomy
solitude was related. The ilickering flame
cast shadows more weird. When the owl
hooted and the echoes died away the still
ness seemed oppressive, The three MIN
rods visited. the lake the next morning.
The same fair creature was standing at the
foot Of the cliff beyond the water. She
was clothed in the skins of wild animals;
her hair was blown by the light breeze In
fluffy ringlets about her shoulders. She
was startled, looked for a moment, and
fed. The explorers did not trespass upon
the strange lady'ss acred precincts.
When they returned to the valley their
story was widely circulated, and the news
paper correspondent, accompanied by some
daring cowboys, decided TO trace the rumor
to the fountain head. They found a beau.
tiful, untrodden, grassy valley Of an area
OF 100 acres around two sides OF what is
known on the surveyors map as Moose
lake. Few white men have ever passed
through the dense forests and rugged
depths TO look down into the shell
tered dell. No sign OF life was ap-
parent when the uurlppled water, reflected
back the gray, moss covered wall OF rocks
that stood so nearly perpendicular on the
border. The entrance TO the cave could be
seen, but only the black sides aud arches
marked the home of the object of the
search. The. Investigators passed up the un-
even, worn stone steps 10 the door OF the
| subterranean domicile of the appartlon or
angel.
They paused, they peered, but all was
hidden In the heavy shadow. They hallooed;
an echo answered as from WELL A stir in
the passage and frightful visage was seen,
with tangled strings OF gray hair dangling,
with blinking, watery, red eyes glaring, as
| q feeble, trembling Indian tottered for
ward. His attitude was that OF defiance as
he placed himself In the door of his dungeon,
but the withered form and palsied arm were
miserable carcature Of the warrior of
| fifty years ago. He was pushed aside. The
reckless men rushed forward, guided by a
torch, through winding tunnel into q
| great cave, with many angular recesses aud
uneven roof and walls. Corners and col
umns divided the vast interior apartments.
One OF these divisions was the wild girls
| bOudOir.
Seated on n robe, In convulsions OF fright,
was q well-deveoped maiden OF l2 years
The torch daZzled her sight. She turned
her face from the lntruders and bowed her
head and sobbed pitifully. They did moi
approach her, but turned away and passed
from her presence, filled with sorrow and
melted with sympathy, which her intense
emotion seemed TO communicate To even
these thoughtless young men of the
plains The withered old guardian
was found to be drunk. When adj
dressed in the Nez Perces Indian Ian
guage, he could understand, but replied
only with signs. These facts were pub
lished when the party returned TO civlllza-
tion, and Mr.. Holbrook, In his far oil Col
orado home, read them several weeks attel
the discovery. He Travelled with all posi-
BILE speed to the Salmon river valley, hi
former home, aud soon organized party
TO assist In the rescue, including two Of thu