Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-02-27
WILD in THE WOODS.
A Hermit Family Which Knows Nothing
Of Civilization.
they Have No Power Of Speech, Dwell In
Caves, Live on Raw Food, Wear no Raj
msnt and Fight All Who Would Hinder.

menh ana riBnt AL VINO Wouio nihooL
The Globc-Dcmocrat correspondent
writing from Wilkesbarre, Pa, an-
nounces the death OF Thomas wells
Parks. the aged hermit at Beaumont,
Wyoming county. Parks was man
Of fair education, but was insane on
the one subject freedom, believing
that man should not be pcnned up
within the bounds OF so-called civlliza-
ton. but should roam at will. He was
born In the wilds OF Monroe county.
At the age OF 81 his father died, leav-
Ing n valuable farm to him. Young
Parks sold the farm shortly afterward
and moved with his family into
cave In tho forest far away
from civilization. In the course OF
time four sons were born. They we're
Al! mutes, and ono died nj M early ago.
The other three are still living. They
inhabit the came cave rs their father.
IL Is twenty-throe miles distant from
railroad station, and old Parks died
without ever seeing n railroad locomo-
live. nor have tho sons seen anything
OF civilization. The young Parks do
not look like human beings at nil.
From head TO foot their bodies are
covered with a rough coat OF hair. All
tho clothing they wear Is u bearskin
covering the hips They do not seem
10 mind the coolest weather They
have their own sign language, which
Is not the regular mute alphabet The
men are over feet tall and very
slim. They have never been TO any
settlement The nearest house TO the
'dug-out In seven miles. and to reach
the cave you have to 60 through thick
forest OF pine. The woods arc as
dense rs they we're 200 years ago.
The wild men did not seem To DO wor-
ricd much about the death OF their
father. Two days later they laid his
body TO rest under big rock near tho
cave. The bones OF the vito and
mother repose In the Same spot was
warned before started for the woods
that must not attempt TO enter tho
cave. Tho wild mon were never
known TO hurt the hair on the head Of
q single white man when they met In
The woods, but II was certain death TO
anyone who tried TO force their wny
into the cave. Farmer Payson IL tho
only man who ever had dealings with
The wild mon OF the woods. They look
upon the farmer us mighty being be.
cause no is very corpulent, while they
are all very slim.
] went In search OF Farmer Payson,
and induced him TO go with tho white
mems party TO the cave Tho party
arrived there about noon, and dlscov-
cred the wild mon were up big tree
summing themselves. As soon as they
saw our party they few around like
they were on the ground. In another
minute they were In their cave.
Father Payson said no would go In
and have u silent" Tux with the
.'hairy men," He left and disappeared
in the cave. In half an hour he re-
turned with one OF the wild men, with
PERMISSION TO enter II we would take
on the best part OF our clothing. After
each one had disrobed until nothing
remained but the underclothing, Mr..
PAyson led the way into the cave. IL
was not cold. On the contrary. II was
quite warm inside. The cave extends
about a quarter Of mile. The further
the party advanced tho warmer II got
The entrance to the cave Is n natural
Que, but after travelling about 100 feet
mans work is plainly visible. The re-
mainder OF the hallway" until the
end OF the journey Is reached. is like n
Yangway In n coal mine. Tho earth
has been excavated and carried out.
Farmer Payson says the work was
started when old Parks first took up
his abode In the cave. and II has been
s1cavated In n zig-zag fashion, and
there are about fifty corners TO turn
and steps TO climb.
The wild meu make their home In IA
room l0xl4. Here they sleep, eat and
converse. Their food consists OF game,
nuts and berries They don't know
Y hat cooked meat is. The wild men
yere very bashful when they cnnght
.ght OF the party. Farmer Payson
sarried u lantern In his hand. He show
ed the party around the place.
Tho only thing in shape OF fire
around here" said Farmer Payson, lis
candle. About once year my
hired man exchanges candles with
tho wild men for game. A dozen can
dies will last them all the year; they
only use the light for eating pur-
poses" There was no dishes or cook
ing utensils OF any kind about the
room.
At night the men slept on bunk
made Of sprigs OF trees. All three
slept on one bunk. At sunrise they
are up and In the woods. At sunset
they are back In their quarters again.
They never leave each others sight.
Farmer Payson says from what be can
learn from the men they have never
had sick day in their lives. They
have never seen woman since their
mother died, and that was so long ago
and while they were so young they
had no recollection OF how she looked.
The men refused TO talk by signs
while the visitors were present When
the party took Its departure the wild
men got down on their knees and
kissed Mr. Payson's hand in turn.