Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1904 — Wild Man From the Wild Woods. [ARTICLE]

Wild Man From the Wild Woods.

Friday afternoon Constable Christie Vick went up to Fair Oaks, and in the woods near there, with the help of Gus Grant, who happened to be in that vicinity captured what comes as near being the original “Wild Man From Borneo,” as anyone ever seen in this region. The man’s name is given as Benjamin Brannon. He has been living in the woods, about a mile east of Fair Oaks, all winter He lived with no other shelter than simply a large piece of canvass, like a cover swiped off a hay stack, stretched over some poles. The only furniture inthis tent was a bed, and all the bed was, was a long hollow place scraped in the ground, and in this he passed the nights and much of the days. He had not even a blanket to cover himself. The only thing in the tent besides this long wallowing place, was a stove made out of two old lard cans in which be sometimes built a fire He professed to be a wood-chopper, but so far has only cut four cords of wood the whole winter. •

H a went into Fair Paks a few days ago, heavily armed, and made various threats and demonstrations which caused a general panic, and hence resulted his arrest Noone there was willing to take the risk of going out to help arrest the wild man.

His capture was effected largely by strategy. It seems that many days ago, a wandering Dago, recognizing through the deep covering of dirt on Brannon’s countenance that he was a kindred spirit, took up his abode with him for a few days and slept in his hole at night.

When Messrs Vick and Grant approached the tent • they found Brannon outside with an axe, chopping wood When the officers approached he gave his regu ar hail of “Hello you ” etc. They drew near and began to ask him about the Dago, whom they pretended to be the one they wanted to find. Taking the precaution to approach him so as to be be tween him and the tent, where his outfit of weap >ns was supposed to be. they continued to ask about the Dago, until they were c ose enough to suddenly seize him by each arm, and to clap the hand-cuffs on him. On being searched a loaded and cocked revolver was found in his coat pocket, ready to have reached in a second. Inside the tent he had a single shot Winchester rifle, and a huge butcher knife. He was. of course, unspeakably dirty, but of a rather happy and cheerful appearance, being in fact, a good study for Happy Hooligan of the comic papers He talks rationally much of the time though he is doubtless insane. Brannon has two sisters in Chicago, one of them a teacher and the other formerly one. They have supplied him with money regularly fora long time, but do not seem desirous of having him in their neighborhood, which probably is not to be wondered at. He also is said to have a brother-in law in Kentucky, his original home, who is a minister. He is said to be be very intelligent when in his more rational intervals, and is said to be well educated Ed Griggs, who accompanied the officers near enough to point out his lair, says when he gets to slinging a pen he writes the finest hand in Jasper county.

He was taken before Squire Irwin Saturday but bis examination was. postponed until two p. m this Tuesday, to give him time to communicate with bis friends He probably will be found insane and sent to an asylum.