Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-03-22
CASES OF HUMAN BEINGS
CARED FOR BY ANIMALS,

''' va any klnu. Strange As
!, may seem, the wolf is regarded in
some parts of India with "A oecnli,r
superstltlous reverence, VIII ch makes
tue shedding of his blood something
'nlqultous, says the New York Even.
'"S Hnn. AS consequence the
wolves are bold AID numerous. es
pecIally in districts where there is
little or no European influence. Chll-
uren, also, are numerous. and TN.
wolves, having no scruples about the
sacredness of life, have on countless
occasions not only raided the village
sheeptolds. but have carried off chill
dIen. The vast majority of the lat
ter have been devourrd, but here and
there poor victim. bv the agency of
some occult malign influence. has
been reserved for IA fate of worse
than death.
In 1862 what was probably the
hrst circumstantial and authoritative
account of the "wolf children" of
India was published toy Colonel Slee
man, British officer especially dis
tingnished for the leading part he
took IN putting down the Thugs and
Dacoits. According To this author
lty. the first authentic case of wolf
acting AS foster paren, to "a human
child was discovered accidentally hv
II trooper who was riding along the
banks of the River Goomtee. In
Northern india. rs the rayimes in
that region were all Infested bv
wolves, the soldier was not surprised
at seeing she wolf, accompanied bv
three cubs, come ont of covert aud
go down To the river TO drink. What
surprised him very much, however.
was the presence of another creature.
which had the appearance of II little
boy. but was evidently on the friend
hest terms with its brute companions,
and was treated apparently just like
one of the family" The creature
went on all fourS and drank from
the stream like the others.
The TROOPER tried, though unsuc
cessfulIy, to intercept the phenome.
non before it escaped with the
wolves into their den. He secured
the help of some natives and dug
through several feet until tn lair
was almost reached. The wolf fam
ily then made a bolt into the open,
aud it was only after stiff chase
aud something of a fight that the
"wolf boy" was captured. He seem
ed to be between six and eight years
of age.
They took the boy to the village"
said Colonel Sleeman, "bnt had TO
tie him, for he was very restive, and
struggled hard to rush into 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 every day t.
See him. When a grown person came
near him he became alarmed and
tried to steal away. but when "A child
came near he rushed at il with Il
fierce smart, like that of dog, and
tried To bite it."
For about three years this being
lived IN charge of British officers
servant During all that time, IN
every instinct and habit, he remained
wild animal. He was inofIens,e
except when teased, and conld never
be induced to keep on any kind of
clothing. even in the coolest weather.
Very rarely he was known to walk in
IA semi uprish hit position; but he al
ways ran to his food on all fOurs.
Raw meat he devoured greedily; and
would often take as much as half
lamb at one meal. He was very fond
of uncooked bones, which he used to
crunch and gnaw like dog, holding
them on the ground under his hands
just as dog uses his forepaws. He
would growI angrily if a human he
ing came near him while he was eat
ing. but seemed to have no objections
to u dog or Il jackal; in fact, he would
sometimes share his meal with such.
He WAS never known to laugh or even
smile, and once only was he known
to speak. This was just before his
death. He put his hands to his
head. complained that 1t ached, and