Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-10-15
Correspondence of the N. Y. Eve. Post.
TIE HERMIT OF .Vz.4EAR.7.
NIAGARA, August l2, lS4l

NlAGAhAs august l. :, AOfA"
have been much interested in the sto-
ry which is told of the person who made
himself recluse, tina. he might live upon
Iris Island, and constantly enjoy the beau>
ties of the surrounding scenery. Ii is to
be found in all the guiee-books but as ma
ny of your readers, know, have not read
it, they may perhaps be entertained by a
repetition Of it.
1t seems that in June of 1929, we'll
dressed stranger entered the village of
Niagara, on foot. He was apparently a
young man and had with him flute, Il
portfolio, and book, which constituted the
whole of his baggage. At first he took his
lodgings at small inn on the American
side of the river, but afterwards removed
to small cottage about fifty rods below
the great fall. He became gradually very
| secluded in his habits, and in the end with
drew almost entirely from the intercourse
of men. He conversed enough, however,
with those who approached him, to show
that he was .lan of accomplished mind !;
he used several of the modern languages
with fuency and grace he was learned in
the profounder principles of science and
art; he sketched and painted with accura>
cy and taste; and performed with an unu-
sual degree of skill on various musical in>
s,ruments. Having travelled, also, over
the greater part of Europe and the East,
he was lover Of the sublime and beauli-
full in natural scenery.
There were times when he would hold
| no communication with men except BY
means of slate; he would 90 with his
beard unshaven for several months toge,h-
er, his head without covering. and his,bo-
| dy clothed in coarse wooden blanket, he
would seek the deepest solitude of the de,
sert; and often at midnight he might be
seen bathing in small eddy just above the
great cataract or hanging by his hands
and feet from piece of timber which pro-
jected over the torrent. In the wildes, and
most tempestuous days he would pass with
quick movement over the most DANCES
rons places of the neighborhood.
On the 10th of June, 1881, he was OBJ
served by ferryman who plies below the
falls bathing in favorite resort. 1t was
the last time he was seen. His clo'he S
were found where he had laid them, near
the water, and few days after his body
was taken from the river, below Fort Nj
agara. When an examination was made
into his hut, his dog who had so often
borne him company in his secluded ram
bles, was found faithfully guarding the
door, the cat was mewing quietly in his
bed, flutes, violins. guitars and music books
were distributed carelessly about the room;
but not a note or scrap of paper was dis
| covered to give information of his history,
or his name.
II has since been ascertained that he
called himself Francis Abbott, of England,
and that he sprung from very respecla>
bic Quaker family, residing in the neigh
borhood of Plymouth. The reasons for
his extraordinary separation from society
and his friends have never transp!red.
Whether he had become disguised with the
ways of civilized man, whether he was
touched in the intellect. or had suffered a
grevious disappointment in love, which is
the Interpretation given to his conduct by
all the young gentlemen and ladies who
visit this place,-will remain, no doubt,
forever unknown. II certainly gives TO-
mantle turn to the incident in the lattar
supposition, and, am, therefore, natural
ly disposed to adopt it.