Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-03-22


 Like to Have oatamouDt at His Table.
 So Fge wouldn't aIarry Her
 Mrs. 2. Miles. who died at Brook vile, Pa, 8 few days ago. had wonder fHl power over animals and readily mado pets If wild deer, bears. oata- mounts. foxes, snakes and fshes. Sho was native of Ireland and oame to this country in 1844 She rode from New York to Philadelphia on the rail. road, went to Williamsport on packet boat and walked thonce to Bald Eagle, where she passed several nights in the woods. Later she moved to Farrands- vile, where she made her home with l family in whose honor the Yillago was named. The woods in- tho vicinity of Farrendsyille were dense, and animals and reptiles were numerous in 1t. It was while in that neighborhood that she became aware of her strange power and began to practice II.
 Her maiden name was Amelia Jauss, and Henry Harrison, yet alive, was her loyer fer many years, but on account of her aneanny power over untamed ani- mals he never married her He didn fancy having to sit at tho table with a bear on either side of him, a eatamoun5 opposite, his wife at his left, fox run ming under his feet and black snake and rattlesnake ln boxes in the corner of the dining room. While he was her steady company" she had as pets the animals mentioned and two deer besides
 Harrison cared for her so much, how ever, that upon bidding her farewell he went to the woods, became q cook at 6 1 lumber camp and refused to have any thing whatever to do with women. He is now =78 years old, and for three years ] past has lived in San Jaeinto, Cal. On account of the death Of his former l sweetheart he came east to attend her funeral, and prior to starting for his 1 California home related the following story of the peeuliaritiea of the dead woman:
 Amelia was the dearest girl ever kuay. She was beautiful and had low ing disposition. Every seemed to fall in love with her. She possessed great strength and enjoyed q tramp 1 through tho woods She would often go alone. and it was while on such trips that she would capture the animals and snakes of which she made pets. often wondered how she did 1t. l often asked l her, but the subject was always instanf- ly changed. ] finally concluded that would learn Ut least portion of her secret # 1t took me all my life
 Ono day in 1854. as was coming down the road and saw Amelia, I hur- ried after her. She went to a stream and sang weird song. The words were such as l had never heard, and the appear l ance of Amelia was greatly changed Her voice seemed unnatural
 I was frightened. Presently Q few birds flew toward her, and several snakes orawled from their hiding places 4 1 deer also responded to the weird sounds She handled the snakes, oaressed the birds and stroked the deer. She remain i ed in this queer state about one hour. T5 was this right that made me firm in my determination to break away from her.
 ] had paid Amelia attention for four yearss but ceased my visits after that Amelia, during my time as her lover3 always had her two bears deer, cata- mount, fox and two snakes as pets. It was not unusual to see Amelia enjoying her dinner, supper or breakfast sur rounded by her pets Those that ate meat would get it off plate especially arranged.
 ''Fhe bears woro often hitched to q carriage. and sho would ride behind bhem Tho postoffice was some miles away, and among the sights each week was Amelia, accompanied by 4 bear and D deer. These pets were extremely fond of their owner and would allow nc one to molest her
 'Somo odd things happened. Amelia was finer than tbe other girls in tho vi- ein,ty Intellectually and was a general faverite. remember used to shudder at having her ugly catamouDt near us as we sat on the old settee. Then, too, it wasn t delightful to have big snake crawl over my leg as sat there talking sentiment to Amelia. Whom Amelia got cross, she would sit on the floor. sur round herself with her pets and laugh at me I was afraid of tho pets. and she knew l.
 All IA pAA051 hA4u4dlo WbIG bUuElb 10 10 various tricks, and ho matter when the word was given all ftots responded. recall the first timo ! ever attempted to kiss her As all country lovers 20 about if, began telling how Sim Jones over in the valley kissed Martha Hen niDger when walking along lonely road, and that Sarah Johnson says how she'd rather kiss than % t0 n corn hreig. in Amelia was on to me, but let mo get closer and allow my arm to go around her waist. Finally stroked her hair, and, with a sudden movement. pulled her head toward me and was about to take tho kiss. when from her throat came the magic word which made the bears jump toward me, the eatamount land on my bnck, the fex give q cry and the snakes stand in the air in front of mo ' &pas coaYoJ ,,aa,aJ.,