Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-14
'AMONTANA WILD MAN
HE LIVES IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH
WILD BEASTS FOR COMPANY.
Uses Good English I'd Is Well Posted on
All Questionable Runs Down q Deer
When He L. Hungry-Of Course There
Is Mystery About Him.

In the almost unknown wilds OF the
Wise River mountains, in the southeast
ern part Of Montana, about 40 miles from
Butte, is the roaming place OF the most
interesting and mysterious character OF
the state, If not of the whole northwest.
The man has been a mystery to the people
of that section for more than quarter or
a century, and about tho only positive
thing they have been able to learn about
him in that time was that his name Is
George Pettingill.
Recently hunting party made trip
into the Wise River mountains and camp
cd 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
glimpse Of the strange individual. Walk
Of scr eral miles in tho direction indicated
by the guide brought the party to short,
narrow pulch 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 heother half
was formed of Bonded fir trees. The In
side was about by 10 feet in size and dld
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. A
smoothly worn piece Of wood served as
pillow. It's middle was worn hollow,
showing that it had served its purpose for
,nany years. Not shred Of clothing or
covering of any kind was in the hut. After
completing an inspection of the strange
place tho intruders resumed their way to-
ward the mountains, but had not left the
hut moro 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 few steps forward the gun
crept up toward the mans shoulder. The
two men stood startled and amazed, and
he as immovable as statue He is fully
6 feet inches tall and slightly stopped,
with massive chest, shoulders and arms
and with not an ounce of supcrfluous flesh
and weighing about 200 pounds. The
only peco of clothing he wore was rag
ged old army overcoat and pair of old
brooches that extended few inches be-
low his knees. His body was thickly COW
cred with short hair, and his beard and
the hair of his head, which were of an iron
gray, hung in heavy matted curls about
eight inches below his waist. Each curl
was as thick as q mans wrist and contain
ed more hair than the head of the average
woman. His feet were bare, and his legs,
like his body, were covered with a coat of
hair He appeared to be about 60 years
of age.
"Are you the wild mani" finally ven
tured Mr. McKinstry.
Tho strange figure smiled, surprisingly
pleasant, and replied, II believe that is
what they call me-
"Do You live thcre?" was the next ques-
ton, indicating the barren hut.
Eyes, that il my home, or rather my
headquarters, but | do not spend much of
nv time there for l am busy rustling
most of tho time"
The mans language was perfect Eng
l,sh and gavo evidence of an educated
man. ITo took seat upon the knoll, and
his visitors, having become rcussured, 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 q question on that
point was rather bluntly put he said:
Every man has his secrets that the
world is bound to respect" and the sub
iect was dropptl.
Concerning his life in tho mountains he
talked freely He believed that nature
intended man to live as he did and point
cd to the fact that he wore little or nc
clothing even in tho most rigid winters,
md vet in the 30 wears which he had lived
in the mountains he has not known
davis sickness He snhsists almost en-
tirelv unon raw mont mostly game. which
be kilIs himself Tbonoh he carries n gun.
he uscs n only in self defense and never
10 kiII gamc HE metbod is IN get on the
troiI Of n door moose oil, or hear and RIM
II down 10 has honn known tn follow a
door In tbot wav for n ver, or ten DAYS.
ood boing t;roIoss himself the deer soono
ar 1oter fo,Is an o,sv victim To his knife,
T. is oIso sta+ad 49, 51rinc sncb n chase
~, $50 go 80 oat h,'t sticLs 70 tbe
tn,;i nr ,n+;, ha ororto 49, tbo opim,l and
e.. u II,,,.. NV. Nv ;.t' tt'a oarc,ss
"i'or aiming ~ nv iei e0 ~.
ui,',i ~ - Ioii','ineu ~. ,' =. 30.