The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-06
William Russell, the Wild Man,
Captured at Des MONIES.
AN OFFICER SURPRISED HIM.
Fer Ef9hf Months He Lived I'm the
~ HE Castle and With Nothing to
Eat bat Carrofs-Cbased by Dogs.
Ing BIipd-BeIfeyed TO BE sane.

Deputy Sheriff A. G. I.ana has just re-
turned from Dies Moines, where he cap
tused William Russell. the wild man wao
fc- the past six months has been fright
ening the wives ard ehiioren in dsfertnt
parts Of ksns county. and for whom Of
hcers have been searching many says
He has been driven from one part OF the
county 10 another. hunted by deputy saer-
ins. chased by dogs. and pursued By
Farmers armed with guns. For eight
months ne has had practically nothing to
eat but carrots. cooked in a stew, and II
- probable that du-ing this time ne has
not had single bath Deputy Sheriff
Lane captured him last Fr.aay in a hole
aug in the ground. whore nc made his
home. Russell! Is slowly but surely grow
ing Blind. and he says that when me
white growth had covered both eyes he
Intended to Kill himself
Eight months ago Russell reached Sc
attic after long tramp from British Co.
lunibia. where he had gone two years
before to mine for gold. Ills quest had
not been successful. and all that he had
of hard work in the woods OF Washington
and Oregon was used up In the attempt TO
ind "A claim that paid He was SO long
getting back and had such hard luck that
when he reached Seatfi. MS clothes would
barely hold together He as 10 money
and no one would give him wcFk tie was
too proud 10 beg For fwehty yeats he
had been SLOWLY growing bIinC One eye
was already useless tic eau!o sac WIN
dffhculty out of the otner. tie thought
OF suicide, but could not bring himself
TO taking his own life. Then he decided
TO go back into the woods in which ne
had worked 80 long. lie did SO. but 20
die-not work. He followed the railroad
TO Black River Junction and then went
back into the hills.
Tho sheriff's Office first heard Of Russell
from farmers living near Black River
Junction. who reported that Wild man
was running around through the woods
frightening their wives and children. They
said that he carried gun and WAS likely
to shoot somebody. They described him
as having a face covered with hair and
only one eye. which shot out evil glances
At anyone who came near him. Deputy
Sheriff Lane went out TO hunt the man
and found the hole In which he had lived
but the wild man. the farmers called
him, had gone. Reports came in about
the man every month or from different
parts of the county. The descriptions
were always the same. bat in no case was
Il reported that the wild man had stolen
anything or injured any person.
Last Thursday "A letter was received
from the postmaster At Dies Moincs.
email settlement on the Sound between
this city and Tacoma. The letter said
that the wild man had been discovered
a few weeks before by some timbermen
In n dense woods some three miles back
from the town. Later he had been seen
a settlement
frightened several women and children
Tho children OF the district were afraid
20 go to school, and the farmers had gone
out after him with guns. but mad failed
90 fiEd him. The letter asked that dep
uty be SEM TO arrest him..
At daylight Friday morning Deputy
lane left Dies Moines for that part OF the
woods where the wild man was suppos II
TO be. Noticing smoke coming from he-
hind a biz log. Lane investigated and
found Russell. He was lying la a hole.
which he had scooped out under the log.
Over a smoidaring tlre he WAS cooking
carrots In an cid tin can. He was lying
OH the bare ground without a hat ana
with nothing on his feet. The coat ne
were hung IN shTeds from shoulders that
had once been broad ana strong. Ills
trousers were ragged and seemed 10 ~
his only covering. Ills long hair and
heavy beard almost covered his face
which was black from the accumulation
OF dirt On his neck the dirt was Caked
and had cracked In places like scales
His finger nails had not been cut Tor
months and were as sharp as knives.
Lane called out 80 the man. who jumped
up In startled sort Of way ana warmed
the deputy 70 keep away. HE made no
attempt tn draw "A weapon, and K after
ward developed that he had none. lane
told him that he could not so On living
as he had. and That he woud have 30
GENE IL Seattle, Russell aaid that he
had done no one any harm and thought
that be hsu a right 10 live as he pleased
lie talked nationally an all subjects ana
had no trouble satisfying the deputy as
TO his sanity. Lane finally persuaded him
Go come 20 the city. When the county
,ail was reached ne was taken into the
hospital ward and placed in the bath