West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-09-27
a Wild Man.

Ncwiicld has come TO the front with "A
hairy wild man, 80 awful mysterious, and
formidable that hc opens up u new field for
thought and investigation. He has been
seen 10y some of the most unimpcachablc
residents Of, and visitors to, South Section.
He is described as over six feet tall, clad
in rough and scanty attire, and wearing
grizzly beard that reaches almost TO his
knees Although hc has chased several
fisherman who have invaded his secluded
domain in quest of brook trout, and shot a
pcaccablc farmer near Newfcld station, no
active steps have been made toward his
capture, and hc yet roams at large His
latest and most daring exploit occurred
about a week ago, when he left the gloom
OF the forest and actually entered an unOc-
cupied dwelling in the broad light Of day.
Large and heavy rs the wild man is, lac
glidcs so swiftly and silently that ne fro
qucntly is at hand before his coming has
been observed. In this silent, ghost-likc
manner he is said TO have hoatcd into the
house of a farmer named Payne. The far
mcr and three companions were engaged in
AN interesting game Of cuchre and were not
aware OF the wild untian's compmany
Payne felt something bushy touching the
back part Of his head, when, looking up,
he found il 10 be the great beard Of the
strange hermit. Payne jumped 20 his feet,
and would have struck the silent visitor
with "a chair, but hc avoided the blow, and
with mysterious steps made his way 10 am
adjoining room and stretched himself upon
u bed. Payne followed him and again
raised the chair TO strike him, but again he
seemed TO glide from beneath il, and this
time hc made his exist through the window
by a gliding snakc-lko motion, but as ST.
lcntly as a wreath Of smoke asccnds to the
blue ether The farmer watched him and
saw HIM leave his premises ana enter "a
patch Of woods near by, and supposed he
had disappeared for good, but during the
evening Of That same day hc returned and
was seen standing under tree near the
house 0s though dclibcuting whether ~ en-
ter the hOus' After standing there "a short
time De turned around suddenly and ran
rapidly back tD the woods. Next day ono
Of the farmers cows siaycd away and Doe
started of tO look for &c. Shortly after hc
left the house his family heard lhe sharp
report of % rifle, ard boz "a few minutes back
came Payne pale and brcathlcss, and well.
nigh done Cor. As soon as hc could set the
machinery of speech boz motion Doc described
in graphic language the cause Of his excite
mcnt. 10 was an encounter with the wild
man. lie said hc was walking through a
small clearing calling 'ko boss, ko boss, 80
when without warming hc heard rifle dis
charged close by and felt the wind Of "a bull
lct as it whis,Icd over his forehead through
the rim of bis fclt hat and through bis erect
hair. lie fell flat Upon the ground, par
TALLY stunned, and it was well Doc did, for
the wild man, thinking his first shot had
proved fatal, ,shouldcrcd hispiccc and strobe
OF into the undcrbush. Tbi strange cpis-
ode is "a present the theme uppcruost al
through South Section, and 10 is said that "a
posse OF hunters are preparing 90 track the
wild man, and If possible effect his capture
alive or dead.