OUT OF THE WORLD.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1574, 15 July 1885, Page 3

OUT OF THE WORLD.

THI BKMAttKABLE BTOBY TOLD BY A HERMIT. A startling story is jnst reported from the wild mountainous section of Western Maryland. About twenty years ago Thomas Murphy, aged 20 years, son of a well-known and highly respected fanner of .Carroll County, sloped with Ellen Dinant, the sixteenyear Old daughter of a local preacher in the laffle County. No tidings wen* ever heard of the pair nntil a few days ago, when they wew* discovered by two gfcniMtt • named Henninghim and . Pheips, residing in a hut in an isolated portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Frederick Uounty. The young men, while hunting game, were startled by seeing a pretty girl, dad in rough garm3nCß, flee from their sight like a wild animal. They followed the girl and soon came upon a rude hut, almost concealed from view by the underbrush. A brawny man, with long, flowing heard, stood »t"th« entrance of th,e hnt with a j gun in his hand, and demanded of the intruders what they wanted. The fact ♦hat they w*re hnnting game in the mountains and aecidently happened upon the scene, wan mad* known, and after much trouble the story of the hermit and h»3 family was obtained from the man who was none other than ' Murphy. After the elopem«nt, Murphy says he endeavored to get work, bnt was unsuccessful, aud then resolved to kill his wife and himself. With this object in view, Murphy pursuaded the girl Ellen to accompany him to the mountains, where he intended to kill her and then blow out his own brains, but npon reaching th« scene of the proposed tragedy, his heart failed him, and he could not summon com age to* commit the deed. He and the your girl remained h«re until aft^r dark, and finding it impossible to reach the village tint ai?Hfc. t*»«y rem lined in thu mounting. The next' day a heavy hail utorm set in, and a temporary shelter was arranged out of branches and leaves. After pawing several days in this manner the girl was taken ill from exposure and cauae very near dying. Murphy killed small game, and the two subsisted on berries and birds for months. At length the girl gave birth to a female child, and was without an attendant, except Murphy. The next day Murphy went to the village to purchase a few articles, and since that time he declaies most positively that neither he nor his family, which consists of two children, aged 19 and' 11 years respectively, have ever seen a human being until they saw Henninghara and Phelps a few days ago. Four years ago a baby boy was born. A few months later it died, and was buried by Murphy and the woman. Two years latfr Ellen was injured by a falling tree, and died after ' •dJfering intensely for two weeks without medical assistance of any kind. Murphy said he dug a grave and buried her beside their child. Henningham and Phelps say they saw the graves of both. They also state that tlie young daughter of Murphy is a beautiful girl, hut pit*»ously ignorant. She does not know of such a thing at an alphabet, and has never l>een named since h««r birth. B.i* h-w only »m<»>i called "daughter." The boy, now 11 ywirs nld, i» penally illiterate He i« cm\\>!<l "•on;" Tta hnt in wmi.li Vw.V !ihvh Jifed io long is ina-1-- <) r " ""•'' "' " ; ' j UtitM covered wiljj mu \. \f n»n\ v ( . v * j ftus hat n« d«»iru to ii\u a>uoug uivui«:(J

people, and he is contented with his lot Action will be taken fiy the Frederick county authorities to care for the young girl and her brother.