Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-31
LIKE A KANGAROO.
An Old Man Living as Beast on
Lonely Mountain.
A WILD,SAD SPECIMEN OF MANKIND
One of The Most Astounding Cases of Human
Depravity Yet Discovered.
NO REASON FOR HIS WAY OF LIVING

NV A6ApVN pVh ulD WAL We AA'A|'N
OTTAWA, May 30.-A number of re-
porters went out to investigate the case OF
the man Zimmerman, who was said to be
running about naked and destitute on the
mountain six miles southeast of Grimsby.
The trip revealed one of the most astounding
cases of human depravity ever seen in
Christian country. The idea of a human
being living for over Sc years in log shack,
starknaked, hopping about like frog or
kangaroo, and stealing out in the twilight
like wild beast to get the air, is something
that well 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. The reporters
found the man and had talk with him
after considerable difficulty.
Half mile back from a concession, on a
side road, the shack was sighted. 1t stood
in clearing, with woods all around, and
was deserted-looking log hut in very
dilapidated condition. Bushes grew rankly
about the sides, choking up the doors and
windows, and the low roof was sagged In
and full of holes. A hurried advance was
made on the place lest the man should take
to the woods. but subsequently it was dis
covered that there was no occasion for ap-
prehension on that score. The front door
was boarded up and the back door was
barred inside, but an old man opened it
cautiously and dragged it back on its
hinges until it sagged over enough to allow
the newspaper man to get inside.
NOT FIT FOR CATTLE.
Ifthe exterior of the shack was dilapitated,
it at least gave a favorable first impression
as compared with the inside. In the first
room, which was the living apartment and
kitchen, the rain was pouring through
hundred chinks, extinguishing the fire,
dripping with a tattoo on the table, and set
ting the floor awash, as the sailormen say.
The wind came in one side and went out the
other. No humane man would keep animals
in such place. The only furniture besides
the articles mentioned were three chairs and
a sort of cupboard. One of the chairs was
lower than the rest, with followed seat
and in the bottom were some remnants OF
food, as though it had been used as table
or trough. The old man was alone in the
room, but in an inner apartment there was
a rustling movement like an animal shift
ing about. One of the reporters put on
professional air, and announced that he
was a doctor, and had come up to
examine the condition of the place and
the crazy man who was reputed to live
there, The old man, who said that he was
the father of the person inquired for, seemed
rather disinclined at first to permit him to
be seen, but after long pow-wow, old Cor
berus sat down in dry spot, and pointing
to an inner apartment, SAID lndlferently:
"He's In there" A hingeless door was
lifted aside, and with rather creepy feel
ing the visitors stepped into a gloomy, low
ceiled room, into which the light struggled
through the thick foliage that filled the
window. Over in the corner was a broken
bedstead, with mound of dirty rags on it.
The reporters pulled them partly aside, and
there was a mans face, staring with blink
ing, shining eyes out of the dusk. 1t was
pale, gaunt but rather handsome face, not
withstanding the dirt and unkempt hair and
beard, and the fact was far more startling
than if the countenance had been repulsive
or idiotic.
PLEASED WITH THE SITUATION.
''You can't be very comfortable here?" re-
marked one of the reporters.
"Oh, yes am, " responded the head.
After the interchange OF few remarks the
wild man sat up and threw the covering off
him. He was as naked as the day, 56 years
ago, when he was born, and he was no more
ashamed of it than he was then. He had
1nely SNAPPED heao' ana ms ehest was well
oevei1Peo, S ouS MS s,a arms were 1nln ana long
anu his nands eiawlLke. ms legs were
snrunken 70 skin anu 1o1e, ana crooked up
qnuer MN ilke 'ne nlno legs OF an animal.
MS Douy was not marry, out the 6reast
burned and callous with crouching up
against the stove in winter. His eyes, too,
had suffered in the same way. With the aid
OF some diplomacy ne was induced to get
out ana strike gait. Down he hopped OF
the ped a9q Jumped across the hoor on his
hanos ana ieet looking IKE cross between
a kangaroo ana very seedy bulldog. Then
ne bounced onto tne ped again; 1t was the
most deoased and revolving libel on Gods
image that ever threw a shadow. In the
course OF talk, during which the strange
creature sat on the ped hugglng his bony
knees, ne showed that ne was possessed OF