The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-05-27
A Strange Character.


the following history Of species Of
vagabond that seems peculiar to that
lefty;
Early IN the morning, rainy or
pleasant, Sun lays not excepted. we
behold strange looking, oil cloth
llad Old man, pattcring along like a
badger, near the outer edge of the
sidewalk, with his eyes fixed iutently
on The gutter. His gait Is quick aud
bus ness like, and his air tue very cs
enc, OF diligence aud independence.
On his head is an oil cloth cap Of
many summers, aud over his back
aud shoulders is thrown a scedy and
we'll patched oil cloth coat. With
this water proof habit, which he new
er changes, he may be seen vonturing
forth in tempest. Who is that
strange creature2 The bystauders
will tell you that he is the San Fran,
cisco "Gutter snipe, who, beside the
garbage-gathoring Celestials aud the
uueou,h Digger Indian, is the only
one the city can boast Of, What he
has been is shrouded in remote mys-
terry 81 IL is thought by some that he
is a cunning, misorly old mouomaniac,
who boards away his gold. Others
suppose that no was once million
aire and that he lost everything 10
wild speculation at Frazier river,
while still others assert that he was
reduced to poverty through the
treachery Of friend, aud that he
now abstaius from mans society aud
his monopolics in fulllmcnt of
vow. What is the real truth concern
ing his past history and the causes
which led him into his present strange
course of life will probably forever
rcm1iu unknown. Attempt to follow
him, aud after going the rounds of
many blocks and crooked alleys, you
will bring up at the place of starting,
but little wiser for your curiosity
Apparently void of reason, this strange
creature exhibits an instructive trait,
strong in some of tho lower animals,
by universally returning to the start
iug point
lnhi transit along the cutters he
seeks only for his food, which con-
sists of only such waste culinary prep.
arations as he can collect from the
general rubbish. If he sees a piooo
of apple or n rusty cracker floating
scwerward, he pounccs upon the prize
as a halcyon would dive for herring.
He holds no converse with his fell
low.man, aud the nearest approach
to sociability apparent to him is
certain prediction which he has for
watching the movements aud flight of
house flies. He takes his chances in
his daily food fishing journey and has
no regular thing to depend on, If he
is successfu in.fnding n morsel, all is
welt; If not it seemingly makes no
eSiEfger'ev, f~- Ne i'~ '~Perlnrhahla.na .nana.
nimity is never disturbed. He will
not eat regular meal or touch food
that is offered him; aud nothing but
food will be taken out of the gutter.
This strange aud unique creature
has shufiled along our pavomcnts day
after day for nine years; his real name
Is unknown If question is asked
him he gives the spe'ker hasty,
half vacant, half inquisitivo look, but
pauses not an instant. Place your
self immediately in his path dozen
times, aud like a persistent bug he
will turn out aud continue his perigri-
nations. Not even is his place of
abode known. Those who have at
tempted to trace him to his lodgings
generally lose sight of him in the
sand hills near the mission. When
he made his first appearance here he
was more civilized, aud inhabited a
brush l.ut in what was then wild
spot on Taylor, between California
aud Sacramento streets. Now he is
thought to burrow in the sand, or to
sleep in the cemeteries that border the
western portion Of the city.