Year: 1872

A fow months ago We published
the story of two wild children being
discovered in the forests of Pennsyl-
vania back Of Pittston, and Of their
subsequent exhibition in Scranton,
by an itinerant Snowman. Fresh rev.
elations haVe been made, verified by
the Pittston, Comet, embodying the
following facts


1t appears that upon the discovery
of these children, the good people of
Pittston convey TO their home Il wa
gon load of provisions. Immediately
after they were kidnapped and taken
upon showing tour by one Robin
son, represented M n scurrilous chap.
Whilst with this Snowman. they lived
in constant fear of his abuse, as was
evidenced by their shrinking demean
or whenever he approached. The
projectors of the show lost what lit
tie they had, and being condemned
by the people, and often threatened
with violence if they did not leave
town they then returned tho chill
dren TO the forest home from which
they were abducted. The provisions
left them by the Pittston people
had been removed, and the father
and wild mutes depended upon herbs
for nourishment. Now and then tho
father would go out among the citi
zens and get food for their tempora
ry necessities, but through the cold
winter months they lived without n
stitch of clothing, and without even
n fire to shake and tremble by They
were next taken under the "humani-
tartan care of Frank Phelps, an FL
mira shoman, but were again re
turned to their native woods in the
coldest of winter. A third party
then attempted toexpibit them, but
Billy, the boy, about twenty-five
years of age, was so ugly they were
compelled to return them. How they
survived the winter is incomprehen-
sible. In the Spring they eat the
moles Of the field, this food being
their support from actual starvation.
With this food their temperaments
have become more ugly and irrecon-
cilable. They have frequently at
tackled their almost helpless father,
who has been the only witness OF
their demoniac violence. But the
girl, Melvina, being well formed,
strong, athletic, and swift as q deer,
has generally eluded the final result.
But the boys temper eventually bo-
came desperate indeed, and one day
last week while in a fit of murderous
paroxism he stabbed Mt her vitals,
but she suddenly shrank back from
her assailant-her wild mute brother,
and was in the act of turning round
to run, when he stabbed at her again,
this time cutting her knee badly,
from the effects OF which she died
and was buried on Sunday.


The family is still domiciled in
their mountainous home, destitute
and starving. The mother is some
what respectfully connect ed, and has
absented herself from her home now
for about year. The family is com
possd of nine children, seven oi
which are quite intelligent. These
two mutes are the oldest and We
understand the younger the children
the brighter the intellect. The faith
er has written plaintive letter to
the editor of the Pittston Comet, ask
ing information Of his wife, who he
states is q victim to fits of temporary
insanity, unable at those times tc
appreciate her friends or recognize
her duties as a wife or mother, ever
denying her husband. He also re
lates the tragical fate of his daughter
stating that he was absent from home
at the time of the assault the CIR
caught cold in the knee which caus
ed it to swell and rot inwardly, an(
almost literally to rot away.