The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-04
lNDIA'S WOLF CHILDREN
CURIOUS But AUTHENTIC MARIA
TIvEs GIVEN ny OFFICIALS.
a Number OF Cases in which Young
Human Beings Have Been Cared
For by Animals OF the Forest.
- York Sun.

Ut is well known that the Hindoos as a
lace have strong aversion TO taking life
OF any kind. Strange as it may seem, the
wolf is regarded in some parts of India
with a peculiar superstitious reverence,
which makes the shedding of his blood
something iniquitous. As a consequence the
wolves are bold and numerous, especially in
districts where there is little or no European
influence. Children, also, arc numerous,
and the wolves having no scruples about
the sacredness of life. have on countless
occasions not only raided the village sheep
folds, but have carried off children. The
vast majority of the latter have been de-
vouTed but here and there poor victim
by the agency of some occult malign in
fiuence. has been reserved for d fate worse
than death.
In 1852 what was probably the first cir
cumstantial and authoritative account of
the wolf children of India was published
by Colonel Sleeman. a British officer es-
pecially distinguished for the leading part
he took in putting down the Thugs and Da-
colts. According to this authority, the first
authentic case of q wolf acting as foster
parent to a human child was discovered ac-
cidentally by a trooper who was riding
along the banks of the River Goemtee in
AAOELilefU 1luld. As the IdNtneS IN lNdL re-
gion were all infested by wolves. the SOL
der was not surprised at seeing a she wolf,
accompanied by three CUPS come out OF a
. covert and go down to the river to drink.
What surprised him very much, however,
was the presence of another creature which
had the appearance of a little boy, but
was evidently on the friendliest terms with
IFS brute companions and was treated APP
Of Mo
creature went on all fours and drank from
the stream like the others
The trooper tried. though unsuccessfully,
10 intercept the phenomenon before il es-
capped with the wolves into their den. He Sc
cured the help of some natives and dug
through several feet until the lair was al
most reached. The wolf family then made
bolt into the open. and it was only after a
stiff chase and something of a fight that the
wolf boy was captured. He seemed to be
between six and eight years of age.
LIKE A WILD ANIMAL.
They took the boy to the village" said
Colonel Sleeman, but had to tie him, for
he was very FESTIVE and struggled hard to
rush in every hole or den they came near.
They tried to make him speak but could get
nothing from him but an angry growl or
snarl. He was kept for several days at the
village and a large crowd assembled ey-
cry day to see him. When grown person
TO steal away, but when a child came near
he rushed at it with a fierce smart like that
OF q dog, and tried to bite it,
For about three years this being lived in
charge of a British officers servants. During
all that time, in every instinct and habit, he
remained wild animal. He was inoffensive
except when teaSed, and could never be in
ducCd to keep on any kind OF clothing even
IN the coolest weather Very rarely he was
known to walk in a semi-uprigkt position
but he always ran to his foo0 or all fours.
Raw meat he devoured greedily an would
often take as much as half a lamb at one
meal He was very fond of uncooks, bones
which he used to crunch and gnaw like a
dog, holding them on the ground under his
hands. just as d dog uses his forepaws He
would grOwl angrily if a human being came
near while he was eating. but seemed to
have no objections to a dog or jackal-ir
TACT he would sometimes share his meal
with such. He was never known to laugh
or even smile. and once only was h known
TO speak. This was just before his death.
He put his hands TO his head, complained
that 1t ached and asked for drink of water.
He drank the water and expired almos- inn
Another wolf boy had been carried off
from field where he had been placed while
was then about three years old. Nothing
was heard of him for six years. His mother
was by that time widow. She happened
to hear of a wild boy who had been cap
tured at a place several miles away while
entering den in company with wolves.
Curiosity drew her from her native village
to visit the place where the boy was kept.
She. recognized him by some indubtabie
birthmaTks as her los son and took him
home with her. She found him quite ire
months trial abandoned him TO the public
charity of the village.
He was fed on raw flesh hares birds.
etc. A favorite amusement OF the village
boys was to throw live frogs at him and
watch how greedily he would devour them.
Whenever q bullock died and was skinned
he would gorge himself on the carcass in
company with the dogs. During the day he
hung about the village FOR the SAKE OF what
ne could get TO eat; but every evening he
went of to the jungle and stayed there al
night. In the year 1850 while he was being
sent to Colonel Sleeman, he escaped into
the jungle and was never afterward heard
of.
WOLF BOY OF AGRA.
The wolf boy of Agra differed i'm no
material respect from either of the two al
ready described The strongest point of con-
trast between them was the length of time
he continued in captivity. He died several
years ago, of consumption, 1t is said and
had been in confinement for about twenty
years before that. The name given him was
Sanichar, and his home was the Secundra
Orphanage, in the famous old city of Agra.
He was discovered H. 1867, in the jungle
near Bulandohahr, in northwestern Pun
Jaub. Some natives who were hunting big
game surprised a stray wolf which they
followed to a little hillock. Out of this hill
lock rose a rock and on this rock, evidently
summing itself. sat a dark, curious looking
object To the establishment of the hunt
ers, this object turned out to have the
Semblance of a human being. When they
approached, II jumped from the rock. ran
on ali fOurs, and entered a cave along with
the wolf. The hunters smoked the cave
both the wolf and its human-lilxe companion
rushed out. After short, sharp struggle.
IN which several men were bitten. the latter
was captured.
On Feb. f. 1867. he was sent by the magis-
trate of the district In which he was taken
10 the SeCundfa Orphanage. and because
the day he arrived there happened to be on
time Of his capture Sanichar seemed TO be
about eight years old. He was entirely
nude but for the short thick hair which
covered his body. His behavior was alto
getner that of brute. and il was long be-
Tore ne could be induced to wear any cloth
ing whatever or in other ways conduct him
self like human being. He ate his fOcd
from the ground. putting his hands on il as
q dos does his torepawS. gnawing the flesh
from the bones and crunching the bones
themselves with ease and evident enjoy
ment. medical missionary has thus de-
scrfbed this creature:
His head is small his brew uncOmmonly
low and contracted. while his eyes in pro-
portion TO his head and face are large. They
are Of a grayish color, and squirting. He
has a small thin, wrinkled face. on which
are one or two large cicatTices. marks. no
doubt. of severe bites. On other parts of
his body also are evident signs of the rough
treatment to which he was subjected when
living in the cave with his unamiable COM