Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-10-23
ARTIST LIVED TWO
MONTHS IN WILDS
Starting Naked, Knowles Re-
turned Fully Clad.
USED SKINS AS HIS RAIMENT
Had Lost Thirty Pounds, but is Well.
Lonesomeness of the Forest One of
the Worst Features and Nearly Drove
Him Mad-Had No Food and Lived
on Animals He Killed and Berries.

Him Mad-Had No Food and Lived
on Animals He Killed and Berries.
Boston.-Joseph Knowles, the Boston
artist. after Il two months fight for eX
istence in the forests of Maine. is back
in civilization.
Clad in rudely dressed skins of black
bear and deer and carrying in pack
on his back Il fire machine and other
tools he had fashioned TO aid him in
living in primitive way, Knowles
looked like cave man. Thus ended
test of hardihood and endurance, of
skill in conquering Il hostile environ
ment
On Aug. / Knowles plunged into the
forests near Spencer lake, i'll Somerset
county. Me He was naked. He had
no weapons. no tools or implements of
any kind no food, He promised to
come out of the woods fully clad and
in good health and physical! condition,
He has kept his promise in every de
tail.
He lost thirty pounds of weight in
the two months. dropping from POI
pounds to i'll. His appearance clearly
told the tale eff the hardships he has
undergone. From head to heel he was
scratched and bruised by the briarS
and underbrush in which he lived for
sixty days. He is tanned almost black
Over his neck and arms was Il black
bear skin. cleverly fastened with thongs
of deerskin. His trousers were of deer
skin made Indian fashion. with the
hair inside His feet were incaSed in
moccasinS Of buckSkin. SeWed with
sinew. He wore no hat. no sleeves, no
underwear.
On his back was Il knapsack of WOW
en- bark It was filled With trophies
from the forest. Sung over his arm
We're his bows and arrows. Sheathed
in buckskin Il crude knife of horn
hung from his belt.
"My food largely consisted of fish.
deer meat. bear meat, spruce part
ridges and berrieS.' said Knowles |
found blueberries in the burnt lands.
/ am feeling in fine condition | do
not believe every man can do what |
have done. but | feel confident that
man with good health. Il knowledge
of the woods and reSourcefulnesS can
accomplish the same thing, ! believe
any one of the game wardens could
do it. have satisfied curiosity.
"The hardest thing Of all was the
awful lonesomenesS because of which
I came near coming out twice. The
NJ
eral times | have heard voices afar off
and that made it only the harder.
The eating question is nothing;
neither is the dress have not suf-
fered any to speak of from the cold,
1t was that awful loncsomencS$.
For the last ten days l did little.
Up to that time | constantly aspired
to accomplish something. but my am
bition left me- During the last ten
days | believe | gained ten pounds be-
cause of this
"On my trip up to Canada simply
used the moss on the north side of the
trees to guide me. | started on this
march to Canada the day after | way
ed the torch on the shore of King and
Bartlett lake, When | GOT out | was
not sure whether it was Saturday or
Sunday 1t was Il pretty rough coun
try. but my trip was largely down hill
all the way.
Il came through the deepest forest
because did not dare to strike the
roads. for fear Of being seen before
time Then from up in the mountains
/ heard a wonderful thing | heard the