The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-09
AN INDIAN woLF-MAN.
Story of Sanichar. a Boy Caught
Among Wolves.



JEYPoRE, INDIA, March Wilhelm
Japan friend, who spent several years in
India, spoke to me of the wolf-boy who
was caught some years ago in one of the
northwest provinces Of the country, and
urged me on my arrival in Agra to call at
the Secundra Orphanage, near the city,
and see this human curiosity. As this
strange creature has never, as far as 1 am
aware, been mentioned by tourists, and as
| have secured reliable information about
him from DR.. c. S. Valentine, principal of
the Agra Medical Missionary Training In
stitute, | desire to give these facts to your
readers
In the spring of 1867 a number of
natives in search of game in the unfre-
quented jungles of Bulandshahr, situated
in Northwestern India, surprised a stray
wolf, which they followed to hillock, ont
Of which rose rock, and on this rock, APP
parently summing itself, sat dark, curious
looking object which, to their great aston
ishment, turned out to be human being,
who, on seeing the hunters, sprang from
the rock, and, running on all fours,
entered cave with the pursued wolf
The frightened natives returned immedi-
ately to Bulandshahr, and, having related
what they saw to the magistrate of the
place, they were advised to kindle fire at
the mouth of the cave and smoke the thing
from its den This was DONE The
strange creature rushed out, and after a
struggle, during which several of the ma
tives were bitten, it was overpowered and
captured.
THE woLF-BoY.
Here in the wild jungles, running on all
fours, covered with fifth and vermin, his
face partially hidden by long, matted hair,
and having no companion but the wolf,
was boy, who at the time when he was
found could not have been more than seven
or eight years of age. As one listens to
DR. Valentine telling the story he is tempted
to believe in the ancient fable of Romulus
and Remus.
A few weeks after he was caught the
wolf-boy was sent by the magistrate to the
Secundra Orphanage, and as he entered
the institution on Saturday he was named
Sanichar. For long time after he came
to the orphanage it was impossible to get
him to act as a human being He per-
sisted in eating his food from the ground,
picking up vegetables with his lips and
gnawing flesh from bones with his teeth,
like carniverous animal, and the clothes
with which he was supplied he tore into
shreds and cast them away as encum-
brances. BY degrees he grew more docile,
and, although he has never spoken a word,
he gradually conformed somewhat to his
surroundings, but he insists upon eating
with his fingers.
1t is thought that he is now about thirty
six or seven years old, although he looks
much older.
HIS APPEARANCE AND TRAINING.
His head is small his brow uncommonly
low and contracted, while his eyes are of a
grayish color, restless and squirting. He
has a small, thin, wrinkled face, or which
are two large cicatrices, marks, doubtless,
of severe bites that were received by him.
On other parts of his body are found scars
and other signs Of rough treatment to which
he was subjected no doubt while living in
the cave with his wild companions
When he stands erect he is five feet and
two inches in height; in walking he lifts
his feet as if he was wading through wet
grass, and when he moves along all the
muscles of his body seem to be undergoing
a series of jerks, while his arms are thrown
about in such manner as to convey the
impression that they must greatly assist
him in his grogress.
His head is continually in motion, turn
ing from side to side with great rapidity,
while his eyes, which at all times have
hungry appearance, glare as if he expected
an attack from some unseen enemy. When
viewed from behind as he walks, or when
he stands in front of you with his head
hanging on one side, flashing his sharp eyes
and beating his stomach to show that he is
hungry, while he utters inarticulate sounds,
he presents strange appearance indeed.
He has evidently been totally deaf and
dumb since his capture, and although all
attempts to teach him to speak have failed,
by signs those who care for him can get
him to sit, stand and run.
If poor Sanichar, the wolf-boy, had re
ceiyed the same care that was bestowed
upon the afflicted Laura Bridgeman, it is
possible that his faculties might have been
sufficiently developed to enable him to i'm
part at least something concerning the first
years of his life, which must now always
remain an unsolyed mystery,