The Missing Link April 23, 1876

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Tuesday, April 23, 1876
The Helena Independent
Tuesday, April 23, 1876
Helena, Montana Territory
The Missing Link
Turner Helm,
Interview of a California Hunter with a Gorilla-Like Wild Man.
A correspondent of the San Diego (Cal.) Union writes as follows concerning a “wild man” recently seen in the mountains in that county. About ten days ago Turner Helm and I rode in the mountains about ten miles east of Warner’s ranch on a prospecting tour. Looking for the extension of a quartz lode which had been found by some parties some time before. When we were separated about a half a mile apart-the wind blowing very hard at the time-Mr. Helm, who was walking along looking down at the ground, suddenly
Heard Somebody Whistle
Looking up he saw “something” sitting on a large boulder about fifteen or twenty paces from him. He supposed it to be some kind of and animal and immediately came down on him with his needle gun. The object immediately rose to its feet and proved to be a man. This man appeared to be covered all over with coarse black hair, seemingly two or three inches long, like the hair of a bear: his beard and the hair of his head were long and thick; he was a man of medium size, and rather fine features-not at all like those of an Indian but more like an American or Spaniard. They stood gazing at each other for a few moments when Mr. Helm spoke to
The Irregular Creature
first in English, and then in Spanish, and then in Italian the man remained silent. He then advanced toward Mr. Helm who not knowing what his intentions might be, again came down on him with the gun to keep him at a distance. The man at once stopped as though he knew there was danger. Mr. Helms called to when
The Wild Man
went over the hill and was soon out of sight and made good his escape. We had frequently before seen this man’s tracks in the part of the mountains, but had supposed them to be tracks of an Indian. Mr. Helm is a man of unquestioned veracity.