The Wild Man of the Woods
by Robin Montgomery
During the days of the Texas Republic, the jurisdiction of the court in Montgomery reached to the area of present Grimes County. One of the more captivating cases before that court was Evans vs. Lott, et al. The plaintiff in the case, Moses Evans, claimed that the defendants were poaching his prized timber around Washington-on-the-Brazos. This was exciting because Evans was known as “The Wild Man of the Woods.”
With his flaming red beard and rattlesnake vest, Moses Evans was a striking figure. He had served Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto, but real fame came from his alleged association with the “Wild Woman of the Navidad.”
In the swamps and timbers of Lavaca and Jackson counties, the wild woman roamed. For years, only glimpses of her graceful figure gliding through the wilderness were reported. Polite, but crafty, it was claimed that she could charm even guard dogs. But the so-called “Nymph of the Navidad” was eccentric. She would do such things as passing up gold watches and silverware, to make off with a pitcher of cream. Then at a
later date, she would return the pitcher, washed. Never would she steal a whole loaf of bread, only a half loaf.
Somehow, word spread to newspapers that Moses Evans was romantically inclined toward the Lady of the Navidad. For instance, the lady reportedly once wrote to him the following: “I’m weary, my darling, of being alone; Come and take the Wild Woman, as your own. Like the dove from the ark, her heart longs to rest, And would gladly repose on your rattlesnake vest.”
Sources vary as to whether the wild man ever personally encountered the wild woman. However, if he did, he was certainly surprised. For when she was finally captured it was revealed that she was a he, an African-American run- away slave.
What fun it must have been to sit in a courtroom and witness the antics of the “Wild Man of the Woods.”
Robin Montgomery may be reached atzippoboo@aol.com
During the days of the Texas Republic, the jurisdiction of the court in Montgomery reached to the area of present Grimes County. One of the more captivating cases before that court was Evans vs. Lott, et al. The plaintiff in the case, Moses Evans, claimed that the defendants were poaching his prized timber around Washington-on-the-Brazos. This was exciting because Evans was known as “The Wild Man of the Woods.”
With his flaming red beard and rattlesnake vest, Moses Evans was a striking figure. He had served Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto, but real fame came from his alleged association with the “Wild Woman of the Navidad.”
In the swamps and timbers of Lavaca and Jackson counties, the wild woman roamed. For years, only glimpses of her graceful figure gliding through the wilderness were reported. Polite, but crafty, it was claimed that she could charm even guard dogs. But the so-called “Nymph of the Navidad” was eccentric. She would do such things as passing up gold watches and silverware, to make off with a pitcher of cream. Then at a
later date, she would return the pitcher, washed. Never would she steal a whole loaf of bread, only a half loaf.
Somehow, word spread to newspapers that Moses Evans was romantically inclined toward the Lady of the Navidad. For instance, the lady reportedly once wrote to him the following: “I’m weary, my darling, of being alone; Come and take the Wild Woman, as your own. Like the dove from the ark, her heart longs to rest, And would gladly repose on your rattlesnake vest.”
Sources vary as to whether the wild man ever personally encountered the wild woman. However, if he did, he was certainly surprised. For when she was finally captured it was revealed that she was a he, an African-American run- away slave.
What fun it must have been to sit in a courtroom and witness the antics of the “Wild Man of the Woods.”
Robin Montgomery may be reached atzippoboo@aol.com