Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-10-13
STORY OF A WILD MAN.

SIOhI OF a WILD NAN.
A letter from New Castle, Pa, to
the Pittsburgh Leader, contains the
following:
In the year 1s- there moved to
this country from Germany a couple
man and wife, by the name of Harrier,
who took up their abode in the east
ern part of the State.
They had several children born to
them while in the east, and in the
year 1920, they moved with their chill
dren to this county and settled on a
farm in the northern part. where one
of their children, James, who is now
eighty years old, resides. About three
months ago the mother died at the ex-
treme age of los years The family be-
ing of German decent, speak very lit
tie English At the time of the death
of the old lady, many of the neighbors,
taking advantage of the opportunity
offered, visited the place, more through
curiosity than from an honest sympa-
thetic motive, and many stories were
current of the popularity of the family
at large.
The husband of Mrs. Harrier died
some years ago at the age of los
years, willie his father, whc lived in
Germany reached the age of lis
years
The eldest son is 80 years of age,
and wields the axe and handles the
plow with as much vigor as any man
in the neighborhood with but half the
number of years His hours of labor
are from the rising of the sun to the
going down of the same William, the
younger brother, is wonderfully
strange being The story of this per-
son, which l shall reproduce, was re.
lated by one who had made special in
inquiry concerning him of one of the
members of the family, to the
writer.
While living in the East, William,
whose age is not exactly known, was
a mere child just learning to walk,
when an old woman who was non
compos mentis, angered by the insults
of other persons raised heavy club
and struck him on the head, from
which time he was never known to ut
ter an intelligent word. When the
Harriers moved to this county Will
liam was yet small boy, although he
could be managed, and was compelled
to wear clothing, and he ran about en-
gaging in simple sports. He gradually
became very distant, even with MEM
bers of the family, and as he grew be-
yond their power to restrain, he re-
fused to wear the clothing that was
put upon him, and ii they ever did sue
ceed in getting him dressed, he would
tear away from them and return in an
hour or so naked. His clothing would
be found in the woods or on the hill
torn to shreds The family finally
abandoned even the thought of trying
to keep his body covered, and for the
last forty-fve or fifty years he has
been running exposed to the scorching
sun in summer and winter blasts until
his body is dark brown color, and
covered with thick coating of long,
taggy, black hair.
The house in which the Harriers
live is small one-storied frame house,
and stands among thick cluster of
blackberry bushes in stony section,
about one hundred yards from the
road. To the main part of the house
there has been attached small shan
ty, the door to which opens into the
kitchen of the main building; this is
the winter quarters of the wild man.
He always goes to his winter home re-
luctantly, and when occasion presents
itself, breaks out and joins the COM
panions of his summer house, although
this is very seldom, as a heavy bolt,
secures the door upon the outside.
1t cannot be said of this man, al
though he knows nothing, that be
does not enjoy life. In his dungeon he
has pleasant countenance, which
shines out through his long straggly
beard of half century; when at his
liberty in the summer he capers about
from place to place digging roots, and
he and the animals of the farm form
one common society. AS we said be-
fore, the family live very secluded,
and old men in the immediate neigh
borhood say that, although they have
been watching for this strange being
for many years, they have failed to see
him. He is very mischevious, and al
ways has his eye open for passing
strangers. Sportsmen who have been
in the Harrier neighborhood and by
sudden turn in their pathway would
come upon the man, would become
to such a degree that some
have been known to faint away No |
sooner had he become aware of the |
presence of strangers than he would
start and run away with the greatest |
velocity. He always takes advantage |
Of chance to get away from strang-
er, but when brought face to face with
them he is very offensive.
For the sixty years the family have
resided in this county William has
never been known to once leave the |
immediate neighborhood.
Before the death of old Mrs Harrier |
there was said to have been living in
this city Mrs. jenkins, who was a
granddaughter of the old lady, and at
the same time being a grandmother
herself