Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-24
nWILD ROSE.n
The interesting But Revolving Story Of the Life
of a "Freak."

The following interesting story,
which we copy from Baltimore paper,
refers to wild Rose, the idiot-like girl
who was exhibited at Morgan Grove
last September. She will be remem-
bered by hundreds of persons who paid
ten cents to see the "Wild Girl from
Yucatan.
Rose, the Wild Girl, is the name
of a freak who has just been rescued
from a shocking condition of danger
and servitude in Springfield, Mo, and
is now safe in the home of her guar
dian, Mrs. Laura Baldwin, 72l East
Baltimore street, Baltimore Mrs.
Baldwin tells tale of cruelty to this
poor wretched thing of life that Dor
ders on barbarism. "Rose, the Wild
Girl, has been protege Of hers for
about ten years, and during that time
a great bond of affection, she says, has
sprung up between them. The freak,
for such Rose really is, has been ex-
hibited in all the principal cities OF
the country, and under the watchful
care of Mrs. Baldwin has always re-
ceived the best of attention, and cared
for as if she were one of her own chill
dren. She said: Last October |
made a contract with certain show
men to exhibit Rose for year. Our
troubles began after the third week
out. The show became stranded, and
for five weeks was compelled to sleep
oil straw strewn on floor We finally
reached Missouri, but all this exposure
had made me sick. Business was good,
and thinking Rose would be kindly
cared for, l came home. Three weeks
ago returned to Missouri and | never
saw thing in human form in such
plight. I found the girl sleeping on
wet carpet in the cellar of the museum,
and the clothes she had on were simply
terrible. The worst of it was that she
was attended by a big, burly colored
man. expostulated with the mana
ger, and he told me | could 90 to
hotter climate. | demanded, in the
name of humanity, that he give me
the girl, but still he remained obsti-
nate. l then became desperate and
used more persuasive means, by get
ting out a writ of habeas corpus.
The whole town became interested
in my behalf when the case was made
public, and the Judge turned the girl
over to my keeping, without paying
the slightest attention to the attorneys
of the other side. Rose and | have
Just returned from our scene Of trouble,
and here we are.
The reporter had an opportunity to
see Rose. She was in the dining-room,
playing with Mrs. Baldwins younger
children, and when Mrs. Baldwin
spoke to her few words of French,
she came bounding in. The freak has
a diminutive head that tapers almost
to an apex. The face is quite full, and
of a natural size, and she has dark
brown eyes that have a very tender
expression. Rose is about four feet
tall, and although twenty-four years
Old, is dressed like a child of about
ten. Her entire outfit was clean and
tidy, and although she could not speak,
uttering only few cultural sounds,
she seemed to show her appreciation
Of the newspaper mans visit, by run
ming up to him, squeezing his hand
in a most pleased manner.
The history of this strange girl is
more like a bit of fiction. She was
borne in the Piney woods Of Hancock
county. Miss, and from the time she
could crawl was allowed to roam nude
through the forest Her parents
name is Labuene. When ten years
old she became a burden to her people,
and whenever she came near the house
she was driven off like some beast.
The forest became her home, and she
lived and thriyed like an animal. \
man by the name of Buegure, who was
an uncle of the girl learned Of the
treatment she was receiving, and he
made it his business to rescue her and
place her in an institution in New
Orleans. BY this time the girl had
lost all instincts of human, and was
yeritable wild beast. She refused to
sleep in bed, or remain in a house,
and tore in shreds the clothes that
were placed on her. Her condition
was such that no institution in the
Crescent City would receive her, and
Buegure, knowing of Mrs. Baldwin,
who lived in New Orleans, sought her
out. and finally, in 1884, Mrs. Baldwin
became greatly attached to the strange
girl. and ADOPTED her. 1t took great
amount of patience and kindness to
subdue the savage nature of the child
but finally this was accomplished, and
today Rose. the Wild Girl, sleeps
abed with Mrs. Baldwin, and looks
up to her as mother.
A Pointer for Travellers.
Will, NJ ~ D;cba,- Of Altopa