Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-04-24

A ROMANCE OF THE HEART-THE DEATH
OF AN Iowa REcLUsE.-l From the Davenport
Iowa) Gaz.tte. An old settler, one whose
career is the strangest among the hundreds OF
old settlers, has just passed away. For many
years he has led so secluded lite that we
presume nearly all his acquaiutances hereabouts
lost thought of him, or If they have remem-
bered him at all, it has been with the supposl-
ton that he was lar away IRON here, and pos
Silly dead.
We allude to William knight. lie came to
this country from England, and settled In
Davenport nearly thirty years ago. lie was
an attorney, had practised law IN London tor
years, and was very able man. his iamiy
connections in the old country were al! highly
respectable people. He hung out his sign here
and in Rockingham; and soon built up quite
practice, such as it was. He was finely edu'
Gated man, possessed very retentiye memory,
was kindly in disposition, OF pleasing address,
and OF q social nature. SO it was no wonder
that he became popular amoug the people,
All at once, when he was looked upon as
Using man, when hi, prospects were brightest,
he dropped out OF society, and was soon as
though he were one dead. The secret OF
that retirement to lonely cabin 10 the woods
is known to but few. but now that he is dead
there can be no harm in publishing 1t.
When knight lett England it was without
the knowledge of his relatives and friends there
He arrived at New York, and Immediately
pushed for the far West, and Davenport was as
tar West as men cared to 90 in those days.
Hi, friends iu England supposed that be had
gone to America, and advertised descriptions OF
him, with offers OF good rewards for tidings OF
his whereabouts. For years their efforts were
iruitess; but at last they took another course,
which led to success. Knight possessed
heavy gold watch, OF very peculiar construction
Descriptions Of this watch were sent to the
watch dealers in the principal cities In America,
with instructions for close Investigation as 10
the owner, il it ever came into their hands
Well. Knights watch got out OF order. There
was nobody here who could repair It. Accord
insly he sent it to Philadelphia, and, as luck
wonId have it, to an establishment in which
description OF the watch was posted. The pro-
prietor wrote 10 the London parties that ne
had received the watch. Over to this country
ne soon N the ocean wind. would let them
knights friends, made their way to Daven,
port as rapidly as the measre facilities wouio
allow. They found the runaway. They held
conference afte- conference with him to Induce
his return 10 England They resorted to stIa-
teOv. and endeayored to secure his arrest tor
some offence that be might be sent back as
prisoner. All in vain. They bade him fare
well with sad hearts, and returned to their
native land. , -,
And Knight FROM this time forward until
his death, on Sunday last, he was ehangeo
man. He bought a small taIm near Rocking.
ham, heavily wooded tract, erected sort oi
shanty in the forest, and there, alone, with nc
companions but his pipe, books and papers, oe
Ha
EnOlan6 regularly, and loved to read OF
new and noted books and their authors. -
lie cooked his own food, washed his OWL
cIo,bss. cut his own wood, and was his own
servant generally. He rarely receive d callers.
Grant & Smith were his agents, tor he was 10
receipt of a little income, and either one OF the
firm was welcome, or a messenger from them
nobodv else WAS His cabin had rough In
terior-a bed in one corner, table In the MD
Ale of the floor, one or two chairs. and trunk
copst;tntinr its furniture. A fireplace thal
would admit cord wood gave him warmth, and
cnohlod him 10 cook his food. Sometimes he
would no seized with letter writing ht, and q
le,tpr 70 his lawyers every day Tor fortnight
vond be the result, an answer being expected
bv him as fully as though the matter OF cores
nondepce was of the utmost Importance. AND
thus he led the life OF hermit, save In RELATION
with his attorneys alone. -,
Two wears ago Knight was seized With gout'
and was so affected as to be scarcely aose te
move. NOV Quarters were provided for him at the
house of Bernard Herrick, on the Locust street
road, two miles west Of Brady street, where he
was well taken care of until Sunday, the 4tt
instant, when he died, having just passed tht
seyenty fourth anniversary OF his birthday,
Why he, who was so gifted BY nature ana s.
splendidly educated, chose to abandon M
luxurious home and wealthy friends, make nj;
way to the American wilds for residence, an'
then, when discovered b. his friends, resort Il
the lite of a hermit, and be content with it To-
twenty or more years, is explained only by al
inadvertant admission in one OF his letters t t
his legal friends, wherein he admits OF having
been 6opelessly cast down by disappointment
N love- sffTir. He wooed, won, and lost
Ovely English erl-0ss her because ss.1s she pre-
ierred "belted knigh! and a castle 10
Young barrister, who, being younger SON. hat
to make bis own way to fortune and to tame