The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-20

acted as if he suspected a trap. Next
DAY he was twelve miles away and IN
the course OF week he had Travelled
sixty miles When he moved we rnOveS
after him. We attempted no trick and
made no demonstration to alarm or
anger him.
Our persistent pursuit had the effect
OF putting him in a passion however
Tor on the sixth day of the chase, as we
were en- route to a village near which
ne mad gone into hiding he entered the
place shouting in fury and Drained five
people with his club. He had stripped
off most of his clothing and was naked
1fom the waist up. After killing the
people ne fired several huts and ran
away and hid in a ravine
II was now plainly evident that we
must change our tactics. If the man
was enraged, he might attack us at
any moment and if he did so, we should
have to fire on him in self-defense.
The ravine IN which he was hiding
was about mile long, and at the lower
eAd IL opened INTO path much used
by the natives. If the wild man was
not hunted out or alarmed he would
probably come down the ravine and en-
Ter this path.
After looking the ground over it was
decided to dig a pitfal and set some
traps along the path, and soon after
noon force of native was set at work
They dug a pit twenty feet long by
fourteen deep, and when reay it was
q
tiger. A few yards to north and South
of the pit we arranged nOoses, which led
over the limbs of trees, and by sun
down we felt sure of our man if he
came that way. Two soldiers and three
natives were hidden near the pit to act
as sentinels and give the alarm, and all
was quiet in the camp and village at
the usual hour.
At , O'Clock in the morning we were
turned out by an alarm from the SEN
tinels, and our whole force at once
hastened to the pit. The wild man had
come down the ravine and fallen into
the pit. Notwithstanding its depth, he
was out again in a moment, and, but
for the trap on the north side. we
should have lost him. He ran into that.
was caught by the leg and suspended
in the air. and when we arrived he was
screaming and shouting and cursing in
q way to make ones hair stand UP.
He was defenceless. but for long
time no one dared to go near him. He
made the most tremendous efforts 10
( escape. and but for our throwing noos-
! ed ropes over his head and drawing
them tight he would soon have regain
ed his liberty. When we finally had
him fast and secure. he had tired him
self out, and was a pitiable object to
behold He had been heard to use
few English words. but no one had
heard him make sentences before. His
speech came back to him as we stood
around him, and he used many of the
commands given a soldier at drill.
We remained in camp four days af-
ter capturing the wild man. hoping to
subdue him and make him presentable
at headquarters. but he was worse than
a wild beast. Not a stitch of clothing
could be kept on him, and he had to be
bound hand and foot all the time. He
preferred raw meat to cooked, and
when fed he would growl and roar as
if the sight OF meat put him in
frenzy.
The surgeon with us could make
nothing of his case and we finally got
cart and started for home to turn
/ the poor fellow over to the proper auth
/ critics. On the second day of the jour
ney the cart broke down, and as it did
so the wild man burst his bonds and
escaped into the jungle We put in ten
DAYS hunting for him, but got no trace,
and finally abandoned all pursuit
! six months later he was seen once or
twice in the foothills to the north, but
no pursuit was organized, and, if not
4 dead. he is today wandering about the
forests and jungles like wild beast
How he could have escaped death
during the two years I write of is
singular thing, as the country was IN
tested with poisonous serpents and saw
age beasts. but when he was our cap
tive he had not scar on his body and
was evidently in the best OF health
Copyright, 1908, by c. B Lewis
April is one of the best months in the
year to visit California. Colonist rates
to California points via the Santa t'e
March to June IS, 1908.
city Ticket once. Union Pacific
J Railroad. 525 Kansas avenue