Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-04-02


A wild man" roamed the forests
j and hills of the Big Hole country
for nearly a half century. Again
and again he sent the bleed racing
! through the veins Of fishermen
and hunters and also caused chiEis
TO creep down the spines of the
/ wives and children of eariy-day
settlers In the Wise river district.
Fishermen preparing for cast were
startled almost out of their boots by
the sudden appearance of q greyish
figure rising from the river bank like
a water gnome coming I'D out Of the
stream-a figure with burning eyes and
long grey locks and beard which float
ed in the wind, like q bundle of
streamerS, as the owner vanished into
the forest like ghost.
The wild man" was met by many.
Since he made no movement to at
tack, no one sought to do him harm,
but hunters could not, for many years.
rid their minds Of the idea that a time
would come when the wild man"
would turn upon them and seek to rend
them limb from limb for invading his
dominion.
Descriptions Of the wild man" that
were current in Butte Of 10 years ago
varied greatly. To some eyes he was
a tall, thin man with brown beard
and 'mane" that hung down his
back, hairy body and a breech clout,
a creature who, propelled himself
through the woods by taking hold of
tree branches and swinging himself
along like an ape. To others he APP
peared as a tall, thin shadow who
moved without apparent effort, but at
great speed, over the rocky slopes of
the foothills. Others asserted that he
seemed TO live IN the. river and that,
when disturbed by fishermen, he rose
from the water with dripping locks
and bounded away like gazelIe. All
were agreed that the wild man" was
always alone. Some said they had
found a Wicklup, which was, they de-
clared, a rude dwelling of sticks and
rocks IN which he lived. Others as
serted that he had disappeared into |
caves while still others declared that |
ne took shelter in the trees when pur- |
sued by the mountain Iion-hunting |
Airedale dogs that sometimes pursued |
him through the forests.
Judge John A. Lindsay. former Sec
-etary to Marcus DAILY and long
ime fishing season resident OF the
Wise river district, who knew the wild
nan as well as anyone except a man
famed Knabe, could know him, throws
ONE light on the widely advertised
haracter. Judge Lindsay, who is a
racticing attorney in Butte, states
hat the wrath of the woods finally
ecame so tame that he, under the in
piration Of the only man he trusted,
ne, said kanbe, once permitted himself
, be exhibited in Butte drug store
Tindow
But he was obviously Ill at ease, it
stated, and as soon as his engage
lent terminated, broke for his cave in
ne hills where he later died.
In brief description of the mystery
I the mountains" the hermit of the
Ills" Judge Lindsay says:
The So-called Wild man of Wise
lver,' whose name was George Pettin-
III, lived about 10 miles south of the
onfluence of the Wise and Big Hole
lvers. He located in the part Of the
Ountry shortly after the Civil war and
eSiued there until his death about 80
ears ago, at which time he was APP
rox1mately rs years Of age.
During the summer Pettingill lived
wickiup and in winter dWelt in
ave. He wished to be alone and to be
III alone and when he saw anyone
pproaching would take to the tall
mber Pettingill's occasional and only
ompanion was q Mr.. Knabe, q native
Germany, chemist by profession,
no was engaged in mining in the
lcinlty OF the wild mans place of
eSidence.
'Pettingiu never wore shoes. His ap-
arel usually consisted Of a pair Of
verallS and an overcoat. His method
washing his long locks was to lie
own in Wise river and let his hair
Iutter' in the water. A few years be-
IRE his death, PettingilI was exhibited
J the wild man of Wise river in
ute drug store. He was used to adj
srtise hair grower. The alleged wild
AN was harmless. 1t is said that in
Itcome of love affair and shot his
Impetitor."