New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-25
From the New-O rleans PicayuEe.
Prairie and Mountain Life.
THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN.

themselves away from clVuiAotio4i 0i05 ~
rocks of the west. ..oa |
nsrt;cularlv among the trapper tribe as the prince
IF oneer ones. He calls himself William >.
Williams. NJ T., and he is most resolutely oe
,erm;ned upon having the title Initials {, VI. T.
al,cays afixed to his name He Is the Oldest
man IN the mountains, having resolved to i've
and die there. and more droll anecdotes are toid
about him than would fill PAIR of volumes OF
modern size. NJ T. is meant to signify Master
Trapper. and the old man has just selzed upon
the whim Of insisting that this Distinguishing
mark shall on all occasions and under all clrcum.
stances be attached to his name. tie chanced
at one time to fall into mortal quarrel with
Blackfoot Indian, and upon achieving advantage,
he at once seized upon the red fellows scaP-lock
"Bill Wllliams." I" shouted the Indian, whose
whole knowledge IN English consisted IN the CD
pacity of pronouncmg tins singular ola "hlte
mans name.
civilian S. Williams, NJ. T., if you please,
said the old man of the mountains as ne coolly
darted the point Of his knife around the scalp
lock and tore 1t OFT
This extraordinary individual is now about
Efty.fve or sixty years of age, and ne has Alved
more than half his life IN the mountains lie
declares that he never was any where else, but 1t
remembered llldt ue was OilCC q AAC1iioo''
preacher in the States and it is known that he
is an educated man, with a critical knowledge
of Greek and Latin. By his own words, he was
"rolled out of thunder storm IN the MOUNTAINS
for he found himself there and don't remember
any thing else. He is quite certain he IS not
human, and has a strong persuasion that ne was
''translated from the Great Bear, or some other
luminous celestial animal, for some most par
tlcuar and especial purpose that Is meant 10 pe
made known to him hereafter"
He was never known to wear d hat, but once
IN the winter, finding his head cold, ne shot
wolf scalped the animal, and drew the warm
skin to his own head For ali such eccentric
things this old man is remarkable, but, perhaps,
the sncularity of his character may be shown oy
relating an odd meeting that ne once had win
young fellow fresh from the States Williams
was camping alone when the young man acc-
dentally encountered him.
"Hum 20 said the old man in sooquy, "here
comes another enormous fool of young rascal
to crowd US here in the mountains We shant
have an inch of elbow room left Cook, old
cake cook :" said he addressing 8 lump OF
dough that he was turning over on the Goals OF
his solitary fire with his naked toes, that pro-
truded through his venerable mocaslns, Cook,
old cake! here comes a white fool, and he's hun
cry Of course Now, you miserable young block
h head, do YOU know me F" said the old man to
&A the stranger.
@ 81 guess l do,'' said the boy, for he was a
90 wandering sprig of Yankee land.
"You guess" replied tie old eccentric, you're
pretty sample of scalpblock to come here
guessing! Had you nobody to keep you at home,
that you must come srolling cut here among
bears and Blackiee? How do you know me :"
g reckon l guess"
81 of VI,
had better get rid of your guessing and your
reckoning, if you want to live among the rocks.
Take up that chunk Of burnt dough there, and
stuff it down your revepous maw!'.
"Thank you-I'm not hungry"
Don't come here to tell lies, sir ; we are hon
est men in the mountains, and you mustn't come
here to contaminate us with your civilization.
You are hungry, and you know 1t, and You must
eat that cake; I've got another. Do ysu take
me for an antcdiluvan, not to share my dinner
with you7"
"Aint you the man they call Bill Williams :"
sald the hungry lad, as he greedily devoured the
cake.
+" What do they call me ;" roarcd Bill, with
the growl of wounded bear.
William Williams, think answered the
young aspirant IN the trapping trade, with a half
frightened tone Of subdued respect.
William s. Williams, ". T., young buzzards s
meat! replied the master trapper, drawing him.
self up with the air of julius Cesar. : Look
here, boy, do you see that butte There's u
hole in it, and that's where put my boncs.'
g Bones said the boy, greatly bewildered at
the words of the old man.
"Yes-aooh :" continued Bill, lifting his rife
and initiating shot, 6 there's where | bury my
dead that's my bone house! -
Why, you don't"
Don't tell me | DON'T" interrupted the old
man, or I'll don't you, knock me dead if | don't :
how would you like to sleep there tonight
Eat away, and don't be gaping at natural Chris
tlan like born fool | always stow my white
bones decently. Eat away, you stupid young
bockhead' and stop staring. dare say you call
yourself gentleman -.
"lees!" stammered the youngster
Happy of your acquaintance If YOU have
done eating, just remember that yoa have dined
with William S. Williams, NJ T''
The odd encounter happened almost word for
word here set down, and it vii! give the reader
fair idea OF one of the drollest beings that ever
breathed. Surly, abrupt and eccentric the old
fellow Is yet noted for benevolcnce and stern hon.
esty. He once took off his coat of deer.skin,
when 1t was almost the last remnant OF apparel
IN his possesSlon and threw 1t over the shoulders
OF poor, shivering squaw. He sleeps curled up
by the camp. fire, with his head in the ashes, en-
bracing an old rifle, that has beccn mended and
mended again with buffalo tug" until scarcely
particle OF the original stock is left. He works
hard, makes money, and gives every thing away
to others who may happen to be in distress. He
once threatened to shoot an old friend who sent
him letter with an offer OF assistance Old
William S. Williams, NJ. T., will acsept Of
charity from no man breathing. Such a charac.
ter is now pillowing his grey hairs among The