The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-27
INVESTIGATING A FREAK.
TISET TO THE WILD MAN or CJIN-
TON TOWNSHIP, ONTARIO
He IL stark Naked, But Not stark Mad-He
Hops About L,ko Frog aud Lives IN
A Log shack WIth His Aged Father

A Log shack with His Aged Father
OTTAWA May 26-A number OF reporters
went out on Tuesday last to investigate the
case OF tho man Zimmerman. who was sald TO
be running about naked and destitute on the
maintain six miles southeast OF Grmsby.
The trim revealed one OF the most astounding
GASES OF human dopravity ever seen In
CbristIan country The idea of a human be-
,np living for over thlrty-six years in log
sbnck. stark naked, hopping about like frog
or kangaroo. and stealing out in the twilight
like wild beast to get the air is something
that we'll might make the people smile with
incredulity: but an investigation OF the case
proved that the facts as already briefly pub
lished were not exaggerated. Tho reporters
found the man and mad talk with MIN after
considerable difficulty.
n was known that such a case existed some
where, vaguely designated as back over the
mountain" but only u few persons had ever
heard OF it, and fewer still had ever been in
the locality The rain was coming down in
torrents rs Grimsby's mile or two OF hand
some summer residences were left behind.
and going up tho mountain four miles east OF
there tue horses slid about on the Shiny red
clay that gives the road its name, and 1t was
only with great difficulty that the top
was reached Though tho rain was very
unpleasant it was regarded as specially
propitious time to find the man in.
Half q mile back from the concession. on u
SIDE road the shack was sighted. II stood in a
serted looking oG hut in Very diiapidated
condition. Bushes grew rnnkly around the
the low root was sa3ged In and full OF holes
hurried advance was mado on the place lest
quenty it was discovered that there was no
occasion Tor apprehension on that score; Ihe
front door T9s boarded np %9d hs 6ssk d9qF
cautiously and dragged i back on is is hinges
until # sagGed over enough to allow the news
;. II the exterior Of the shack was dilapidated.
It at least gave q favorable first impression as
which was the living apartment and kitchen.
the rain was pouring through a hundred
tattoo on the table. and setting the floor swash.
as the ,saormen say. The wind came in one
would Keep animals in such place. The only
furniture hesides the articles mentioned wore
Re e eh Gar wa @G lover than tho rese With So
OF food as though had been nSsd as
apartment there was a rustling movement
porters put on professional air and an
nounced that he was doctor, and had come
the crazy man who was reputed to live there.
The old man who said that he WAS the father
inclined at lirst to permit b i'm TO be seen; but
after a long pow-wow old Cerberus sat down
in dry SPOT and n%iqtng t. an inner apart
hlngeless door was lifted aside, and with
q rather creepy feeling the visitors step
ped into a gloomy. low-ceed room into which
The light struggled through the thick foliage
that filed the window. Over in the corner was
on it, The reporters pulled them partly aside.
and there was man face, staring with blink
pale gaunt. but rather handsome face not
understanding az the re- dirt and unkemnt hair and
N the COuntenuQco had bean raDuslyo
idi2y5c; .,. ,,,
''0h, yes am" responded the head.
After the interchange OF few remarks the
years ago. when hs was born. and he was, no
a tineiy shaped head and his chest s was IS we'll we'll
deyelopsd. but his arms were thin and long
on to skin, and bone, and crooked up under
him like the hind legs Of an animal His body
BODY Nv we're badly burned and caiIous With
. orouchinG up against the stove In winter. His
sS 81 s@ IN hs e. Sa SaY %d
Ito get out and strike gait. Down he
b. e. Rsha s sna oSps ss th
Then he bounced on 70 tho bed again. Il was
Image that ever threw a shadow In the course
OF a talk during which the strange creature
showed that he was possessed Of . fair share
OF intelligence and seemed to be quite clear on
In such an excessively simple costume
II can't stand up he said I've lost the
hsm awe Gould
stand up. ! can read. but my eyes have been
side but haven't beer, away from ne house
Fl these days. Ny mother tried 10 make me do
It. but wouldn't. never tasted whiskey.
Thinking. perhaps. it was some form OF re-
lGo1s mania me: he vas 1esti0Pned about IT, and
bile and believed In GO /. and thought that
he belonged TO the, Presbyterian denomina-
59n mo e n rar Hs ha
give no reason, for the way he Is living Beside
OF place in the den. 1t Is said he can play Il. |
but as there WAS no rosin on the bow the visit
ors didn't have q chance to hear him play. He
seemed proud OF the instrument and kept Il
rolled up IN newspaner There was no turni;
sGuaid as the outer room. except that the
T Taler ana no, come through the rn9f 80 badly.
m e ns WSs BURN
over the fire in winter to keep warm.
- The old man was quite laxative whom the
ne Mmmerman and he was so years OF ago.
His so sons J.. namsis William y: zimnermPSn,
POI, ne said. Then he began to, cut his
they were 50 small they would not 20 on,
Then he went about In his shirt until that all
got torn OH Tut the collar, and when that
went he WAS Lett as you see him We've had n
hard time here. and tho place Is bad but
what can do2 ! formerly had ten agrees OF
land. but decided II to my son. James H. Iim-
norman, and he was to keen me In necessaries
bui he does not i"it. | nave three other sons
don't want 10 90 to the home In St Catharines
We get along well enough here, and like the
place because have lived here 80 many years"
Tho blOW-gOinR country authorities have
yi,ted tho place recently. and /, is likely some
thing will be done soon to care for the two mon.
bur ii Is a shame that such II state Of things
should have existed 30 long in Il civilized COM
munity.