The Wild Man Seen Again

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Wednesday, August 27, 1873
Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tulare (Cal) Times
Squaw Valley, California, Fresno County
August 3
The Wild Man Seen Again
Downing, William Arnold, John G. Knox Deputy County Clerk
The wild man who has been seen so often in the mountains east of here for the last three years, and who has incorrectly been stated to be a species of gorilla, was seen again recently near Squaw Valley. He was engaged in picking thimbleberries, and was perfectly naked. He is covered all over with long black hair, and had long gray whiskers. He is a white man, large and powerful, and at least six feet high; his finger nails have grown out several inches in length. Downing was within twenty feet of him when he raised up from picking berries. He stood perfectly still and looked at Downing for some time, and then turned and started to run. Downing was sitting down picking berries himself, when this wild creature raised up out of the low bushes near him. He had not seen him before. Downing was out hunting, and was well armed. He is a gentleman of undoubted veracity. Many others of our citizens have at different times caught sight of this monster. William Arnold, and old and well known citizen, saw him some time ago sitting on the top of a large rock, engaged in the highly romantic, and to him no doubt delightful, occupation of scratching himself. He is the constant terror of the Indians in the mountains eastward, who all have either seen him or know of his existence. They tell the most marvelous stories of his performances. They think he is either the devil or some dead white man, as he has been seen so often by the most credible witnesses. A short time ago Mr. John G. Knox, our efficient Deputy County Clerk, while driving rapidly in a buggy above the Ash Spring Hill, overtook a man running as though frightened almost to death. On inquiring the cause, the man told him he had just encountered a terrible wild man or the devil, and that it was “enough to frighten anybody. “Mr. Knox took the man into his buggy, and on telling the story at the next home, the gentleman said he himself had seen the same creature. Many persons resident in that vicinity have seen him at various times. We suggest that an effort be made to capture him. His range is pretty well known, and his capture could no doubt be effected without a very great effort.