File:Wild Man (of the Woods, Colorado) - 1919-02-11 - Bemidji Daily Pioneer (Bemidji, MN), p. 4.jpg

Summary

The Bemidji daily pioneer. (Bemidji, Minn.), 11 Feb. 1919. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063381/1919-02-11/ed-1/seq-4/>

Text

WILD MAN ROAMS COLORADO WOODS

Defies Whole Power of United States to Come and Get Him.

NEVER HEARD OF WAR

For Forty Years This Shaggy, Filthy Specimen of Humanity Has Lived Life of Recluse Because of Love Affair.

Denver, Colo. — A real, dyed-in-the- wool wild man, who hadn't heard of the war and has lived on the highest mountain peak near Pagosa Springs for 40 years, has been discovered. He is no back-to-nature freak or summer resort hermit, but a genuine shaggy, filthy specimen of humanity whose first action when discovered by a Unit- ed States marshal was to tell that in- dividual to go to a warmer climate. He followed it up by hurling a defy full in the face of these United States to come and get him for running horses on government land without permis- sion, declaring he was just itching for a fight. As the wild man, whose name is William Hardick and whose age is given as seventy-five, is being sued in the federal courts on a civil action, it is doubtful if he can be arrested.

Knew Nothing of War.

When the marshal gently reminded him that one Willie Hohenzollern had once remarked he would stand no nonsense from the United States, and pointed out that sald Willie is now a fugitive in Holland, the wild man ad- mitted that he had never heard of either Willie or Holland. The marshal sarcastically inquired if he knew there had been war on with Ger- many. The wild man responded he wasn't sure whether Germany was a tooth wash or a disease, but that any- way he had never heard of the war.

"Happy man," murmured the mar- shal enviously, although he carried out his stern duty of serving the wild one with a subpoena to appear in the United States district court as de- fendant in an action to recover a grazing fee of a trifling amount.

Hardick was tracked to his cave in the mountains by the marshal, assist- ed by "Denver" Latham, a rancher who, lives eleven miles from the re- cluse and was the only one who had ever seen him.

In Wild Animal Den.

There was no pathway to-his refuge, which was formerly the den of wild animals, nor a mat with a "welcome" sign to greet the invaders. Hardick met them with the business end of a heavy rifle pointed in their direction and asked what they wanted. The arm of the law assured him their mis- sion was peaceable, but the wild one recognized Latham and lowered his gun. His matted hair and beard would have given a barber heart failure, while the color of his skin showed that he and water had not been on friendly terms for many a moon.

Questioned by Latham, the caveman said he managed to get ammunition for his rifle "some way" and that he never lacked for food except one win- ter five years ago when he descended to Latham's ranch and begged a hand- out.

Yes, it's said a love affair drove Hardick wild, and solitude, whiskers and the mountains accomplished the rest.

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