The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18
WILD WOMAN IN ALPINE WOODS.
All The Men or q French Commune Chase
Her for Three Days.

A story comes from Geneva OF a hunt
through Alpine forests lasting three days
for the purpose of capturing a wild woman
who, it appears. has been living alone the
life of an animal for eleven years but who
recently caused the authorities to take
notice Of her by plundering the farmyards
at night. The Mayor of the in
Upper Savoy, which has St. Julien-en-
Genevois, a village five miles southwest Of
Geneva. for its centre, vouches for the
facts.
He first heard on December IL last that a
woman totally without clothing had been
seen in the woods. He gave a general order
to keep a lookout for her and If possible
capture her, but as she was doing no par
ticular harm no particular effort was made
to run her down.
Then, after some weeks, complaints began
TO come in. Hen roosts we're robbed, fruit
and vegetables we're stolen. II nothing
else eatable could be found the troughs of
the swine were laid under contribution.
Nobody ever got near the woman. but she
was occasionally seen fleeing over the fields
in the gray light of the dawn and losing
herself in the woods.
At last the matter came to the ears of the
EItlCtt vi NBHtN poNVys hb at OItS
gave an order that the woman should be
caught and cared for. Then, about the
middle OF last month. q comprehensive
plan to beat all the woods for some miles
around was arranged.
The gendarmes we're ordered 10 lead
the operation, but all the men OF the farms
and villages took a few days on to help.
They tramped through forests and thickets,
over rocks and through valleys, OCCASION
ally seeing what seemed TO be signs OF her
presence. but never sighting the woman
herself until the third day. Then one Of
the parties came upon her suddenly, fast
asleep in a thicket, almost buried in a heap
Of leaves she had gathered 3 protection
from the chill air.
She was taken tl a nearby house by
force. II was necessary to lock her in a
room and keep guard day and night to
prevent her escaping until she could be
removed 70 the hospital at st. julien. She
presented the appearance OF a wild animal
and il was a couple OF days work 10 restore
her 10 something Of the semblance of
humanity by cutting and oombing her hair
and subjecting her 10 a series Of baths.
When the Mayor y ent to interview her
she seemed TO be partially demented. When
he asked her name however, she replied
hat il wa Eva.
This proved 70 be a fancy name adopted,
perhaps, when she first determined 20
lead the life Of a wild woman. Investiga-
ton resulted in her Identification as Maria
NicoIet. She had been the wife OF a pros-
porous business man in Agonnax, a con-
Siderable tow about twenty miles west
OF Geneva.
The woman had always been frantically
Jealous % her husband, and eleven years
ago she disappeared from her homo after
a scene Of dtsperats violence In which she
upbraidcd him for some fsnoied wrong.
No trace was over found of her aud the
doctors who have examined her express
the opinion that she has lived her wild life
in the woods for years. II not the whole time
since her disappearance, probably moving
from place TO place and thus escaping de-
lection.
Her husband died a few months aRo.
He never lost his affection for her and he
left his small estate in trust for her benefit
In case she should ever appear. II will be
sufficient to provide for her sustenanoe.