A Wild Boy.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1964, 7 February 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Wild Boy.

A " Wimj boy has, according to the Monitor llepublirano of Mexico, bepn latily captured in the Santa Rosa M-unta'n", m the vicinity of TancanhuiU, and «etmi6<, by all Recounts, to bd a mn3t unpleasaut acquisition. He was, when caught, carried to the town, and put for security in a well fenced girder, *ne>e he greedily consumed fru.t, kttuce, roses ami the roots of several pianU He retained a remarkable taciturnity, never speaking to any one or appearing to notice the many persons who went to sec him. Tie was considered to be perfectly harmless ; and if he had continued Bimply to hold his tongue and confine mmself to a vegetable diet, nn fault would h«ne been found with him. The other da>, hoover, he showed a deoid^d tendency to cannibalism, and behaved in such a manner a < to call forth geDrral anxiety and reprehension. A little child, only three years old, happening to come into the garden, he immediately pounced upon it and began to eat it. The child's crieß attracted attention, but before tseistance reached the spot the wild boy had devoured the flesh of the right arm of the infant and pait of iti face. On seeing that hia prey was about to be taken from him he squeezed it to death m his arms, giving utterance at the same time to a horrible noiee— something between a howl and a laugh. The untamable youth is now chained up; but his captors are at a loss to know what to do with him, and sincerely wish they had left him <tlone in the mountains.