San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-11-23
u U7id Man Of the Woods.

Huc fu ---t~-iu 'filg
The Wild man broughtto the city yes
tertlay by DIR. O. {. Bnylor, Of Sparta,
Tennessee, is. truly mysterious and
wonderful creature. He will ba exhib.
tied throughout the country by Mama
ger Whallen, of the. Metropolitan, who
is third owner in this remarkable be-
ing, who promises to successfully battle
all scientists who desire to .giyea salts
factory explanation of his unnatural
appearance. Before entering into the
details Of his capture, which form quite
a thrilling and interesting episode,
description of the curiosity, which prom
Uses to excite more attention than Bar
NUNS "what is it?" will be given. At
a distance the general outline Of his
figure would indicate that he is only m
ordinary man. Close inspection shows
that his whole body is covered with
layer of fish scales, which drop off ut
regular periods, IN the spring and fall,
| like the skin of rnttlesnake. He has
q heavy, growth of hair on his head and
"a dark reddish beard about six inches
long. His eyes present q frightful APP
pearance, being at least twice the size
of the average sized eye. Some of his
toes are formed together which give
his feet a strange appearance, and his
height, when standing perfectly erect
is about six feet five inches. A nervous
twitching of his muscles shows desire
to escape, and he is constantly looking
in the direction Of the door through
which he entered. His entire body
must be wet at intervals, and should
this be neglected he begins Immediate
ly to manifest great uneasiness, his flesh
becomes feverish, and his sufferings can
not be alleviatcd until the water is APP
piled. At times he IL dangerous, and
yesterday morning, when Mr.. Whallen
attempted to place him in a wagon, in
which he intended to bring him to the
theatre, it occupied some time. The
strange creature acted in the most mys-
FERROUS manner, refusing obstinately for
some time to get into the wagon. He
has quite sharp appetite, having eaten
a meal yesterday morning that would
have fully satisfied at least four men.
With the exception of fish, his meats
are all prepared in the ordinary way,
/ but the fish is eaten raw. DR.. Broyler
says that when alone he will sometimes
mutter an unintelligible jargon, which
it would be impossible for any one to
understand, but that, in the presence Of
visitors, he remains perfectly silent.
Yesterday afternoon, from one to four,
private exhibition was given, and a
number of physicians were present,
amongthem Drs. Brady and Gary Black
burn, who said that he was great curl
osity. DR.. Blackburn said that his scaly
condition could not be attributed to any
skin disease, but undoubtedly he was
born in that condition. He will be on
exhibition in one of the private rooms
of the Metropolitan Theatre this after
noon and tomorrow between the hours
of one and four o'clock. Only physi-
clans and those specially invited will be
allowed admission. His exact age is
not known, but for the past eighteen
years he has been running wild in the
Cumberland mountains in Tennessee,
near the Caney Fork and Big Bone
creek. He has been the constant terror
of the community, although he was new
err known to attack any one until the
day of his capture. DR.. O. G.. Broyler,
of Sparta. Tennessee, says that since
the surrender of the Confederate army
I it has been his intention to capture this
creature and exhibit him throughout
the country. The doctor says the. pa,
rents of the wild man are respectable
citizens of North Carolina named Cros-
lin. That their son is unquestionably
a mysterious freak of nature. They did
not deny, but they did not account for
his scaly skin. At the tender age of five
years, having always been possessed
with rowing disposition, he left home
and plunged Immediately into the
mountainous region of Tennessee.
/ Here he lived as best he could. subsist-