Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-25
A WILD MAN.
Captured in tho Mountain Forests of
Kentucky.
ENTIRELY COVERED WITH HAIR
LIKE AN ANIMAL.

ENTIRELY COVERED WITH HAIR
LIKE AN ANIMAL.
Those who came to California in
the early days will remember the
wild man of the Sierras, who, for a
time became terror to the mining
camps, and many of our readers will
remember the story of killing a wild
man on Camas Prairie, in Idaho, re-
Gently. And now comes news from
Kentucky, of an object which rivals
anything of the kind ever brought to
public notice. This wild man was
captured in Paducah county, Ken
tucky. His hair reaches nearly to
his waist and falls over his shoul-
ders, completely covering his back;
his beard is long and thick, while his
eyebrows are much heavier than
those of an ordinary human being.
There is nothing imbecile in the wild
mans manners or actions. He can
not talk and seldom makes any sound
whatever except low howl like a
leopard. His actions are as much
like those of the hyena as it is possi-
BILE for anything in human form to
be.
His body was covered with coarse
brown hair as thick as the hair on a
horses hide. The palms of his hands
looked like the paws of bear, and
his finger nails, which were over an
inch long, resembled the claws of an
eagle.
He was first seen in Paducah
county thirteen years ago, and was
known as Mum, the Hermit" be-
cause whenever any one accosted
him all he would say was, NUNS
the word" He lived in an old pine
hut in the woods for about five years,
and was seldom seen by anyone.
Finally he abandoned the hut and
took up his abode in a cave under a
ledge known as ''Lizard Rock" A
little over six years ago two or three
citizens of Paducah county, while out
hunting, saw him running into his
cave: without stitch of clothing on
him. He was seen several times af-
ter that wearing no clothing. Three
years ago it was discovered that q
thick coat of hair had grown ali over
his body.
He was not afraid of any bird or
beast Of prey, but ran terrified away
from any human being who ap-
preached him. It took two days to
accustom the man-beast to his cap
tors presence. The tinkle of small
dinner-bell they used had great in.
fuence over him. He watched the
bell intently, but would not touch it.
Some time ago a farmer missed a
calf and two sheep, which had strayed
off. They were tracked to '.Mum's"
Cave; here all trace of them was lost,
and it is supposed he devoured them.
In his cave, which he had occupied
for the last seven or eight years, his
captors found the skeletons of small
and the skins of over fifty
snakes. Some of the skins belonged
to the most venomous species of the
reptiles. The floor of the cave was
alive with red and green lizards, and
hundreds of toads hoped about.
After carefully securing him the
men who effected his capture took
him on a railroad train bound for the
city. Whenever train passed on the
opposite track he crouched down in
the corner of the seat terror-stricken.
After the train had passed he would
put his hand to his ear and listen with
a look of animal cunning stealing out
of his restless eyes, like panther
about to pounce on its prey.
Every time the engineer blew his
whistle the wild man would grab the
back of the seat with both hands and
hold on until the whistle ceased blow
ing.
When the conductor took out his
glistening nickle plated punch to can
eel the tickets the wild man watched
the punch intently until he heard it
snap. Then he got down in the cor
neri iof the seat, fairly shivered with
fear and set up low howl, supposing.
evidently, that the conductor was
about to wing him.
There was story to the effect that
the wild man had originally come
from North Carolina, and that during
the war he had been sharp-shooter
on Bald Mountain, and that shortly
after the war he had murdered q
whole family Of settlers in the noun
tain and fed.
His captors appear like shrewd fell
lows and expect to make a fortune
out of their prize. Their great ankle
ty and fear is that the authorities will
interfere with them, and claim that
the man is simply lunatic and place
him in some institution. They had
the snake skins in a box in the bag
gage car, together with some other
curiosities found in the cave. The
wild man will not touch anything but
fruit and meat, which he eats raven
ously, and much the same as a wild
beast. Cigar smoke bothered him q
good deal and he kept driving it away
from him with his clawy hands.