Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-08-10

chippewa Falls, Wis, Correspond
enee)
Not since Black Bart, the highway
man, terrorized the northern peninsu-
la of Michigan and part OF Wisconsin,
has there been as much excitement In
this region as there was this week ow-
ing to the capture of the wild man in
the woods fifty miles from here. The
strange creature is now in the jail here
and IS utterly unable to give any ac-
count OF himself. He Is evidently i'm
sane and has the peculiar cunning SO
OFTEN shown by lunatics. He refuses to
utter any ineligible sound, II indeed
ne is able to after his long life OF soli-
tude IN the woods, and the authorities
are in quandary as to what DISPOSE
ton to make Of him.
For long time reports have been
coming to the Office of Constable Bur-
nett about wild man having been
seen here and there in the forests. The
stories came from places far remote,
but all tailed as to his general descrip-
ton, saying he was an aged man with
beard and hair flowing over his face
and shoulders and matted as though he
mad been in the woods away from civ
lllzation for long time. He was de-
scribed as very difficult Of approach.
as he made his way through the woods
by series Of springs like those Of
kangaroo, using both arms and legs in
his strange methods Of locomotion.
NOT much credence was placed in this
feature Of the stories, as 1t was sup
posed that those who saw the wild
man were SO scared or excited that to
their imaginations he appeared to be
springing through the air like an ami
NAL
80 many reports were heard OF the
crazy man that farmers. hereabouts as
well as other settlers. became decided
~ timorous about leaving the woman
and children unprotected in their
homes lest he should come into the
towns or settlements and attack some
body In his insane fury, and many re-
quests were made OF Constable Burnett
that he should organize posse and 20
forth to search for and capture the
wild man. To all these he was obliged
70 say that the whereabouts Of the man
were 50 much a mystery that II would
be foolish TO begin a general search of
the mighty forest extending for miles
in every direction. although the con-
stable was as anxious as any one that
the fellow should be captured.
The search l. Begun.
Finally. however, word was received
here that the wild man had been seen
In the woods at place about fifty
miles away and that be could easily be
captured. as he seemed to have no
weapons or implements of defense. and
Constable Burnett at once took a train
to the nearest railroad station to where
he was said to have been seen. There
he soon organized posse of fifty men
and the search began. The party di-
yided up into squads and began beat
ing the woods in every direction, hay-
ing arranged a signal to call all to-
gether IL the man should be found, and
when the search had gone on a few
hours the signal was sounded by the
squad headed by Constable Burnett.
When the others gathered they saw the
object Of their search sitting in the
fork of a tree short distance from
the ground and glazing wildly and
angrily at the men who surrounded
him. His only covering, aside from
his long hair, was an old gunny sack
twisted around his shoulders in the
ably dirty and repulsive looking. The
wild CLEAN in his eyes betrayed his in
sanity and it was decided to use eau
ton in capturing him. On his head
was dirty old coon skin cap, which
was not at first noticed. so matted and
tangled was his hair.
The circle around the tree was grad
ually narrowed down, leaving the wild
man no chance for escape unless he
were able to break through the ring
of determined men who advanced upon
him with ropes and clubs intent upon
taking him alive. When the space
separating the tree from the invaders
was not more than ten feet the wild
man suddenly sprang from the tree
with howl of rage and rushed di-
rectly upon his pursuers. Toward the
point he evidently selected for escape
all the men suddenly sprang and in