The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-22
FLED TO THE WIIDS
HE LIVES IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH
WILD BEASTS FOR COMPANY.

Uses Good English and Is Well PosteS on
All Questionable Runs Down . Deer
When Ee Is Hungry--Of Course There
Is Mystery About Him.
In the almost unknown wilds of the
Wise River mountains, Il the southeast
ern part of Montana, about 10 miles from
Butte, is the roaming place OF the most
interesting and mysterious character Of
the state, II not Of the whole northwest.
The man has been a mystery to the people
of that section for more than quarter OK
a century, and about the only positive
thing they have been able TO learn about
him in that time was that his name is
George Pettingiil.
Recently hunting party made a trip
into the Wise River mountains and camp
ed for several days at the junction of the
Wise and Big Hole rivers, not far from
the reported habitation OF the wild man"
There was natural curiosity to get a
glimpse of the strange individual. 4 walk
of several miles in the direction indicated
by the guide brought the party to short,
narrow gulch in the foothills, where was
found the rude hut described as the home
of the wild man. The owner of the place
was nowhere to be seen. There was no
door TO the entrance. The hut itself was
half dug into the hillside, and the other half
was formed of Bonded fir trees. The in
side was about by 10 feet in size and did
not contain single article Of furniture.
The sleeping place OF its occupant was
the bare floor on one side of the hut, where
the imprint of human form indicated
the spot where the man had passed his
nights for a score and half of years. y
smoothly worn piece of wood served as a
pillow. Its middle was worn hollow,
showing that it had served its purpose for
many years. Not q shred of clothing or
covering OF any kind was in the hut. After
completing an inspection of the strange
place the intruders resumed their way to-
ward the mountains, but had not left the
hut more than Is feet behind when they
suddenly came upon the object they were
looking for.
He stood like an apparition upon
knoll but few feet away and had evil
IDENTIFY been watching the trespassers for
some time An old army rifle was resting
across his arm. and when the correspond
ent made a few steps forward the gun
crept up toward the man S shoulder The
two men stood startled and amazed, and
he as inmovable as statue. He Is fully
6 feet inches tall and slightly stopped,
with massive chest, shoulders and arms
and with not an ounce OF superfuous flesh
and weighing about 200 pounds. The
only piece of clothing be wore was rag
ged cid army oyercoat and n pair of old
breeche5 that extended few inches be-
low his knees. His body was thickly COW
cred with sho-t hair, and his beard and
the hair of his head, which We're OF an iron
gray, hung in heavy matted curls about
eight inches below his waist. Each curl
was as thick as mans wrist and contain
ed more hair than the head of the average
woman. His feet were bare, and his legs
like his body, wero covered with a coat of
hair He appeared TO be about 60 years
of age
'Are you the wild man'" finally ven
tured Mr.. McKinstry.
The strange figure smiled, surprisingly
pleasant, and replied, Il believe that is
what they call me-
do you live there?" was the next ques-
ton, indicating the barren hut.
yes, that is my home, or rather my
headquarters, but do not spend much OF
my time there, for l am busy rustling
most of the time. ~
lish and gave evidence of an educated
man. He took seat upon the knoll, and
his visitors, having become treasured, sat
by his side and for an hour or more en-
gagged in conversation with the strange
creature. All efforts. however, to learn
anything of his history were skillfully
parted. Once when n question on that
point was rather bluntly put he said
hat
world is bound to respect, and the sub
ject was dropped.
Concerning his life in the mountains no
talked freely. He believed that nature
intended man to live as be did and point
ed to the fact that he wore little or no
clothing even in the most rigid winters,
and yet in the 30 years which he had lived
in the mountains he has not known a
days sickness. He subsists almost en-
tirely upon raw meat, mostly game, which
he kills himself. Though he carries gun.
he uses it only in self defense and never
to kill game. His method is to get on tho
trail of deer. moose, elk or bear and run
it down. He has been known TO follow a
deer in that way for week or ten days,
and being tireless himself the deer sooner
or later falls an easy victim TO his knife.
he never stops to eat, but sticks to the
trail until he oveTtakes the animal, and
after killing it lie remains with the carcass
until it is consumed. Stories of his en-
counters with bear and elk driven to hay
are numerous. BY the strength and meth
DDS of Samson he is always victorious in
the conflicts.
At intervals ST from three TO six weeks
~ TO. - fr.l afr Qr
a few head OF horses which he has run
ming on the range, but the only use he has
for horses, as he expresses 1t, is to remind
him Of the outside world and make him
feel that he is not entirely alone. About
twice year when game is scarce he makes
a trip to Dewcy's Flat, a small settlement
of ranches about ten miles distant from
his headquarters, for supplies. His sup
plies consist of beef and tallow, both Of
which be eats raw, and the latest maya
zines and periodicals lie raises what lit
tie money he requires by selling horse
occasionally. The most remarkable thing
about this man is that be is well read and
well informed on the public questions,
though he is usually about six months be-
hind the times
There are several stories told a. 70 the
reason why Pettingill came 20 Montana
and adopted the wild life he is leading,
and the most generally accepted is tina:
during the war he was captain in com
pany OF Missouri volunteer infantry; that
he had a quarrel with fellow officer and
was challenged 20 fight duel. He accept
Cd and killed his challenger and then de-
serted the army and escaped up along tie
Missouri river, making the whole distance
on foot and landing in Montana when this
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