New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-29
A Modern Hermit.
NINETEENTH CENTURY ROMANCE.


hbont three miles from the maritime township
n Seaton Carew, in the county Of Durham, Eng
4s1di there is large tract of level ground called
Sae Snook,a which at high tide is covered with
water by the overlooking of the river Tees. Near
70 the coastgaard station which is situated on the
sheltered side of large ssudhank, hermit has
5ar some time taken up his locale, squatter fashion.
lie Is man over fifty years of age, at1red In q
perfect network of stitches.
He gives his name as John Marley, and says he
is the narsed heir the Kirheatham estates, near
aedears in the county OF YORK.. inc haoltaton OF
this parsonage is of a somewhat ampnlolous ma
ture, consisting of the bodyof cab vehicle which
IS secured to the bottom OF large slpefannuated
boat Here he resides, having the cab fitted up
with a stove. shelves, seat and table, existing
chiefly on mussels, cookies and herbs, which he
gathers the shore.
Ae is not fastidi0us in his diet, and at times
makes hearty repast on the earcasses of dead
saimais or fish which wash up on the beach. Since
his residence on the Shook he has had many visit
ors from Seaton, and the Hartepools, whose
curiosity led them to pay the hermit q visit, but a
strange trait of his character is that he refuses to
receive any money, and scarcely will accept any
present unless it be tobacco, for which he appears
So have a strong Partially.
D It appears from his own statement that this
strange character, when an infant was intrusted to
the care of Mrs. Jane Thompson, then residing at
Sunderland, but who died few years ago, by
gentleman to her unknown, but who paid her
handsomely for looking after her trust. She
brought him up until he reached the age of six
years when, during an illumination in Sunderland,
on the occasion OF the celebration OF the corona.
ton Of George w, the little hero was forcibly
taken away from her custody by two
E1en in disguise, and a day or two after
the child was found with his throat cut on
the Sunderland sands, but its wounds were at
tended to by doctor and its life was saved the
mark of the cut being still perceptible, Our hero
remained with Mrs, Thompson until he was ten
years of age, when he suddenly disappeared hay
ing again been stolen by "ruffiainly hrelingsn
and for three or four years after this he has little
recollection of his whereabouts, but has d slight
remembrance of being confined in some dark
room, from whence he was taken and placed on
board ship, which landed him in Canada.
EaHere he remained until the year 1888, when he
shipped from London as a seaman in collier for
Middleshorough, and the vessel was lost at the
mouth of the river Tees, aud the crew escaped
merely with their lives, all Marey's clothing and
money having gone down with the vessel. The
loss had such an effect on his mind that he de-
termined for the remainder of his life to live in Sc
cIusions and from that time to the present he has
been leading the life of hermit on the banks of
the Tees. The structure in which he now resides
he has had about five years, having had similar
one previous, which was wrecked during heavy
food. ...a,,-, .-a..4.t.,.-r.-.
About four years ago the late Superintendent
Dixon was instructed by some gentleman of the
name Of Evans, of London to endeayor to ascer
tain the whereabouts of that strange Individual az
ne was heir TO some extensive estate. Mr.. Dixon
succeeded, shortly before his DEATH in finding out
the hermit but he refused to leave the life he was
leading to look after his estate year after this
mis- od nurse was on her death-bed and having
heard information Of her young prodigy, sent
far hiEa, and he complied with her de- |
HFe to see him and it was on going to /
Sunderland that he found out that he was the +
auFsed heir of the Kirkleatham estates, and that
he was put ont Of the way shortly after he was
born, and ehrisened, according to instructions BY
zis nurse, by thename Of John Marley. The her
NIT s satisfied to his rghtfu claim to his estate,
znd hss seen documentary evidence in hs posses
ION which tends to confirm the assertion of his
'iafm prior to its last disposal. He says he will
lot move in the matter SO long as the present
lossessor is alive, but that should he survive her
ie will sbustantate his right.