The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-10-10
A Singular Character.

mere are lew feSlupntS OF Mobile
who have not seen the Sicilian, Andrea,
hobbling through onr streets upon his
patched cru,ch, and walking staff, or
lying on some door step basking in the
sun, always wrapped in the rags Of pow
erty--a picture of filth and pauperism
without parallel in this or any other
city. Many reports are given OF his
early history, Of the cause BY. which he
lost his leg,and of his cccentrictics; but
from these conflicting statements it is
difficult to arrive at the truth; and no
inducemcnt can be offered him to speak
Of his past career opportunities in
llhis direction are most certain to he met
by fit of passion calculated to deter the
most persevcring from pressing the sub
jrct too closely. But report states that
in his boyhood he. was one of Lsi,le's
crew, and lost his leg during an action
between the Gulf. Pirate and English
man.of war.
This statement is without any .snb-
stantlal authority, but there seems q. .de
,mnoh more truth IN following. Which
has Just been related to us, by gentle.
man who has seen him almost daily for
the last fifteen years. About eighteen
years ago Andrea resided in New Or
leans, and while one day assisting to
put some heavy timber in vessel under.
going repairs, one of them fell upon and
crushed his leg. Amputation became
necessary, and was performed at the
Marine Hospital III that city, and a few
years afterwards he came to Mobile,
whore he soon became an institution.
He has relatives here in good crcum
stances, who have made many efforts to
reform. his vagrant habits, and once pre-
vailed upon him with such success as to
establish him in fruit stand, fitted up
for his benefit, in which he continued
but few days, when he broke up his
stands and boxes, pitched his fruit into
the dock. and without giving word Of
explanation resumed his mcoutE habits.
He has been repeatedly provided with
good clothes, which seem to disgust him
more they approach gentility, and a few
days will find them torn up, patched and
repatched, until all semblance Of shape
has been destroyed in them, and Andrea
rejoices in his rags again. Strangers,
thinking him an object Of charity, some-
times offer him money, which he almost
invariably throws back at them in a fit
of rage and passion.
When driven by hunger lie will
sometimes ask for piecc Of bread, which
is never refused him, but more frequent.
ly enters saloon or bakery in whatever
part of fthe city he may be, and helps
himself to any article Of food desirable
to him. and coolly emcrges into the street
again, without saying "by your leave" {"
or "thank yo,l." At the market he has
been known 10 take mp fish, sometimes
devouring it raw, but when his appetite
gives him leisure; he goes through q
process of cooking it peculiar to him
self.
! Without scaling, cleaning, or giving
it any civilized preparation whatever,
he will place it on the coals Of some Of
the furnaces on Front street, ond per-
hitting it to broii but few seconds,
draws the tempting morsel forth, and
lnSHuIy ueVOllTS III. ldktbR htS posi'
tion n5the sun, the vermin with which
his rags are populated soon warm into
life and activity, when Andrea's occupa
ton begins by an. onslaught on the grey
backs. Flo will 60 under one Of the
docks when the process Of ablution be-
, comes a necessity with him, wash his
clothes, and after hanging them out ID
dry, takes his crutcheo and swim to The
opposite side Of the river, remaining
there until his apparelis sufficiently dry
to be worn, when he returns and resumes
his peregrinations through the city
travelling day and night, sleeping in she
sun or in the rain, wherever and whhn
ever fatigue oyerlakes him.
Andrea is never dshonest---take'
nothing without being seen, and neye,
accepts anything that is not absolutely
necessary to Tie support aof life. Hi!
constitution is Of iron; he has nsyel
been sick, or, rather, has mover beer
! missed from the atreet, unless (itis'sald
/ on the full Of the moon, wheu he become,
morose, and apparently out of his mind
| LefIsto himself he is har mless enough
but when set upon by mischievous boys
is easily worked into dangerous pas
: sion 49, lMobtle Gaze h,