Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06
Wild Man o. the Woods.

The Wild man of the woods had not
been heard of for near Y four months this
year, but as it is near the winter the ne
ces3ity for his temperance will be seen
to be apparent. He generally frequents
the Ozark mountains, and is occasionally
seen in Mississippi, bat this time he has
made a streak clear tt the Pacific coast,
and turns up in California, Tho Oakland
News shall tell US the latest news of
him:
Twenty young men OF Williams and
vicinity went to the mountains recently
for few weeks recreation. They pitched
their camp on the east side of snow noun
tam, where Paradise creek plunges do wn
the green walled mountain side. while
they lured the shy trout, the innocent
deer and fierce bear from their haunts in
the unbroken mountains Businesses The
BOYS enjoyed the a'lurements of the wilder
ness, and the wild game favored their
table with an abundance of the most
delicate viands during the evenings
when all were about the camp fire they at
various times paused in the telling of
mirthful tales thinking they heard an H.
truding footstep near the camp. At last,
however, In the middle of the night. when
all was still about the place and wrapped
in slumber, one of the young men was
awakened by unusual noise. and upon open
ing his eyes his vision rested for Il mo-
ment on the face of a strange man whose
beard and hair were unkempt, hatless and
in tattered clothing. AS soon as the strange
being found that he was observed he dis
appeared into the fastness of a Jungle.
There was no more sleep for the young
man. although he remained in his bed.
In about two hours the strange figure re-
turned, his long hair floating in the mid
night breeze, his chin almost resting upon
his sunken chest, his bony figures bent like
a cat paw when about to spring, and
from his eyes shone an unusual light.
BreathIess did the young man who had the
lay before bravely faced an enraged bear,
watch the approaching figure, whose coun-
tenance looked ghost-like In the light of
the moon. The strange man approached
the improvised table of the camp, where
meat and bread from the last meal re-
manned. and he ate ravenously, more like
a wild beast than human being. Present
j " the Young man sauted him with friend
! " greeting. Had an elect6ic shock passed
! through his system he could not have act
| ed more quickly. In an instant the
wild man. for such he really appeared.
| sprang ND the almost impossible mountain
! side as feet as a deer. Excited and hard
Iy knowing what he did, the young den
izen of the plains, who had conquered
many fair heart and broken scores of
fractions mules, sent rife ball in the
direction of the departing man. Hardly
had the smoke of the gun cleared away
when great powders came rolling down
: the PERCEPTIONS side of the mountain,
! evidently loosened by the Wild being
which had passed up.
! The boys from that on lost their appe-
/ tite for the juicy vension and delicate
trout. They only remained a day or SC
after, but during that time the strange
figure was often seen skulking near the
camp like wild animal, but invariably
upon being discovered he would quickly
disappear into the almost impanetrable
jungle.
The description of this wild man Of
the hills tallies exactly with that o.
Sim Yelling, who murdered Stafford near
Willow, three years ago. 1t Is presumed
that it is the murderer. who escaped and
went into the mountains, and that hi:
crime, ever eating at his mind, together
| with the loneliness and hardships of such
"a life, drove him insane.