The West Virginia News (Ronceverte, W. Va.), April 20th 1907
Wild Woman Found.
Living in a supposed haunted cavern in the rock-ribbed cliffs of the Kentucky river, near Beuna Vista, Ky., evidently subsisting on roots which she digs from the earth with her hands, wearing the garb of nature along, is a wild woman, who was seen for the first time Saturday.
While Tim Peters, who works for A. D. Scott, postmaster of Beuna Vista, a small station on the C. & O. west of Greenup, was cutting wood on the cliffs above the river, he became imbued with that indescribable feeling so familiar to us all, a sense that he was not alone in the woods. Looking up from his work he saw the strangest sight that ever mortal mountaineer looked for.
Advancing rapidly towards where he stood, with the noiseless tread of a wild animal, came a woman, utterly innocent of clothing, her long brown hair hanging about her like a veil, her finger-nails long and curved, her features drawn and haggard, her long hair tangled and unkept, and a wild, haunted light in her eyes.
As she advanced toward him Peters stood speechless with amazement, and the woman came on without perceiving him, glancing furtively from side to side as she approached. As she drew nearer the affrighted man called out to her to halt, she stood looking at him in surprise for a moment and turning, dashed into the woods.
Peter trailed the woman with the aid of a hound, and found that her trail led to a cave in the cliffs long reported as haunted, and on this account never explored. Having run his quarry to earth, Peters hastened to Beuna Vista, where he told the thrilling tale. Though most incredulous, his hearers went to the cave, where they found the imprint of the woman’s feet in the soft earth at the entrance.
This discovery has alarmed the entire neighborhood, and mothers will not even permit their children to leave their home to attend school. The cave, in which the wild woman has made her home, has never been explored.
Peters and Scott have secured the promise of a large number of persons who, with guns, axes, ropes and lanterns, have decided to enter the cave and find the wild woman in her home, and if possible capture her.
Several theories have been advanced about the woman; some think she is a lunatic, and others that it is some woman who has taken refuge in the cave to spend the remainder of her life on account of some great crime that she has committed. Others say that Peters was mistaken and the being was a man, and possibly a murderer.
Disclaimer: This 1907 newspaper article was published prior to 1931. Under United States copyright law (specifically the 95-year rule), this work has entered the public domain and is thus free to use or republish. It is presented here as an interesting and folkloric newspaper oddity.
Context: “Wild Men” or “Wild People” were purportedly “feral” people who lived in the wilderness in European folklore, representing nature. They were often depicted as tall and hair-covered. In the 1800’s and early 1900’s, stories of encounters with people in or from the wilderness including hermits, houseless people, or people going through a mental health crisis, were often reported in American newspress and labeled “Wild Men” as a popular newspaper curiosity genre.
Source(s): https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85059663/1907-04-20/ed-1/?sp=6
Categories: Newspapers, Wild People, Kentucky (KY)