Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Joseph Anthony, the so-called “Wild Man” of Lincoln Heights, was caught by police after he allegedly “terrorized women and children” in that neighborhood for 10 days.

His appearance apparently caused all of the hysteria.

He had some kind of skin disease, variously characterized as lupus, “skin tuberculosis” or cancer. It had caused Anthony’s nose to swell to the size of a dark-red baseball and “hang over his face like a shield.”

But was he really a wild man?

Apparently not. He was a native of Central America and worked in shipping for many years. His affliction was neither infectious nor contagious, and he appeared “to be all right mentally.”

The only thing truly “wild” was the reaction of people who encountered him in the woods.

Police took him to a detention area and were making plans to take him to the county infirmary in Spangle.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1935: Babe Ruth hit the 714th and final home run of his career, for the Boston Braves, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1942: U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell, frustrated over being driven out of Burma by Japanese troops during World War II, told reporters in Delhi, India: “I claim we got a hell of a beating.”