The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-10-16
KNOWLES IN THE CIVIL.
|zED WORLD
Given a Cordial Reception at Wilton.
Pays Fines at Augusta without a
Murmur.

The reception accorded to Joseph
Knowles, the Boston artist by his
fellow -townsmen, relatives and friends
of Wilton, his native town, upon his
return, Oct I, from the wids of Maine
where for the past two months he has
been living the life of the primitive
man, must have been very gratifying
to him, and not a little flattering.
The long line of autos and carriages
and the crowds of people occupying
all available space on and near the
station platform as the afternoon train
from Pennington drew in, reminded
one of a presidential reception or
some similar event. Loud were the
cheers that greeted him as bronzed
and grizzled he stepped upon the
platform. The band at once began to
play strains of welcome as he was
conducted to the waiting auto, where
in sat his father and mother, pride
and happiness beaming from their
countenances Mr.. Knowles, hale and
hearty, and looking not whit starved,
stood with barred head to receive the
ovatons of his fellow citizens. Clad
in gray flannel shirt and trousers,
coatless, and with sleeves rolled up
as if he found citizens dress burden
some, Mr.. Knowles looked the embodi-
ment of health and muscular pow n.
In the evening a great crowd ga'h-
cred at the town hall to welcome
him and hear the story of his expo
riences in the Maine woods. He was
clad in a suit of fur made from bear
skin, the bear having been caught 10y
him in a trap of his own manufacture,
skinned, and the hide tanned without
aid of axe or knife. Mr.. Knowles ex
planned how he or anyone could build
fire from material found in the
woods with out matches; how ne dug
his pit and arranged his dead-faIl and
killed his bear with a horn beam butt
| for club; how he heated water in a
birch bark kettle. by the Use of red
hot stones, to steep the barh for tan
ming the skin of the bear which he
removed by the aid of sharp stones;
of his killing deer in close time and
then sending word out to the news
! paper and retreating across the
boundary, lest he be arrested before
his promised two-months' sojourn was
accomplished; of his meeting with the
little French girl, who could speak no
English, but from whom he learned
the distance to Megantic, where he
was to take the train back te ciYiliza-
ton, of his pleasant meeting with
game wardens and CONDUCTOR
these things were made very interest
ing, and his remarks were frequently
applauded. At the close, the crowd
was given the opportunity to see the
bows and arrows, deer horn knife an
other primitive tools of his own manu-
facture, and all present were p~iyi-
legged to receive hearty handshaIe
from the wild man of the woods.
Not the least important of Knowles
acts while in the city of Augusta was
the payment of the fines which were
charged against HIM for infringement
of the forest and fish and game laws.
total of S20j was paid by the Al
tist without a murmer, thus squa,ins
himself with the State for killing deer
and partridge out of season, kindling
fire in the woods without license
and other violations of the laws pro
tecting Names forest and the wild
denizens thereof