The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-15
GIRL IN
CHAINS FOR
SIX YEARS
Slightly Damsntsd Margaret
Ryan fastsned to Wall in Lit.
Ito Prison Room by Mothsr.

New York, Sept. 15-Chained TO the
floor OF a room In her home. within thirty
miles OF this city. young woman has
lived a captive OF her own mother for
six long, weary years During all that
time she has but once been beyond the
confnes OF that one little room that
serves as her prison, and that was one
day four years ago when she made her
escape for few hours.
The girls liberty is limited 20 the
length OF clanking chain. and that
measures just two and a half feet from
the point where II is padlocked around
her body 10 the end that Is fastened to
the 1oor with heavy iron staples. In all
nothing Of the world beyond the little
gimpses that may be had from two small
windows Of her prison room.
From dawn till dark she sits on a stout
oaken chair. For six years she has had
no other, and the thick wooden legs tell
a pathetic story Of the captives longing
for liberty. for they have been worn down
to stubby points by being pushed back
and forth over the floor. The girls mother
said yesterday that probably two inches
had been worn Off those chair legs in the
last six years.
WORE FLOOR AWAY
Within a radius OF that two-and-ahalt
feet Of chair the floor Of the room Is
deeply furrowed by the legs of the oaken
psnk ns nd Set hese 9r RsaSy Sye oaS
less than a quarter Of an inch in depth.
cut In there by the thousands and thou
sands OF Journeys taken in that chair
from the wall TO the limit OF the chain.
The captive woman II Margaret Ryan.
and her mother Is Ann Ryan. Their home
IL little frame house In steep hillside,
just north Of Croton lake. There the fam
lily has lived almost from the time they
came to this country from Ireland more
than "a years ago.
Margaret is now 80 years old. but cap
tivity has dealt unkindly with her. and
she might easily he mistaken for twice
that age. About seven years ago she
displayed sym2toms OF mild insanity
Her father. John RYAN. a contractor in
westchester county. had died several
years before. leaving the little farm and
some money TO the widow and daughter
After HIS death the two lived In the little
cottage at the mouth OF Dismal Hol-
low
CHAIN AND LOCK WEIGH N POUNDS
For the nrst wear after the girls mind
became affected she gave her mother no
trouble. but finally she got into the habit
OF running away from home n was then
that the chain was brought into the use.
Mrs. Ryan had II forged at smithy
nearby. and bought a big paddock with
which TO fssten IL 10 the girls body.
Chain and lock together weigh nearly
twenty pounds. one end Of the chain wa.
securediy fastened 10 the oak foor. just
where II meets the wall. Around the girl =
waist the mother put a heavy piece Of
leather with an iron ring In the middle.
and 10 this the other end OF the chain
was locked
For several years the neighbors have
been taking about taking some step 20
put the girl in pablic institution. but no
one has had the courage 20 take the init
laiive. so ~ no one interferes Margaret
Ryan NAV spend the rest of her days
within the limits of the chain that holds
her 20 the floor of that room in the Dis
mat Hollow" collage.