Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-03-09
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From the San Francisco Bulletin Feb. II.
Most OF the people of this city have at
some time seen a little old man, dressed
very poorly, with an old rubber coat over
his other clothes, d sIouched lat Tapping
on his Shoulders, his face dirty and cover
ed with shaggy beard, end his hair long,
snar led and matted to his neck and brow.
He IS often seen on the street. He walks
close to the curb stone, and keeps his eyes
fixed on tae gutter. He observes no man.
| He seems to have acquired most. perfectly
the ability TO mind his own business, such
as it is, and he s,lbsists BY it. He never
asks aims, for he viii not speak.
He never solicits charity, for he spurpa
it when offered. Give him piece of
money and he will fling it away. TO him
money proved curse. He WAS destroyed
through its loss. Offer him bread or a
piece of meat and he will refuse to take it
from your hand. Fling itinto the mud at his
feet and he springs to catch it with the
avidity of a starving dog No decayed
fruit, no crust of bread, no cast. out veoete
bic remains in a gutter after this man sees
1t. He eats while walking, and, when his
appetite is satiated, he slows provisions Ia
his pockets till they are as well filed-as
were Hudlbras' hose. Then be disappears
from the public thoroughfafe, and trose
who gazed at him there do not know what
place he seeks or where he lives. AS he
has abandoned his race, name is nothing
to him. He would never answer to one.
but men call him THE Gutter Snipe."
This singular being is said to have been
born in France. He came to this country
I like other men, TO make fortune. Bv Ia
dustry and the practice of the accompany
ing virtues, he got together about So, COO
in gold. He intrusted the entire sum with
Adams & Co., in this city. They failed
His little fortune, great to his mind, vas
wrecked and the man was himself swept
down with the ruin of his wealth He
conceived the notion that he had been be-
trayed, and that he could never again trust
any member Of the human family. He re
solved never TO speak or laugh, work, play,
buy or sell, beg or give, or in any manner
recognize any of the relations BY which
men secure the benefit Of the social state.
He would live his allotted time, shelter
and ciothe himself as best he could. and
procure his food from the earth, of which
he was thenceforth only TO be an animated
lump. He betook himself at first to the
sandhills, and since that day has lived like
an exiled savage.
Coulter Snipe,' has a home, and he has
a companion, but it is beast-a cat It
has been with him several years, and if
Montaignes cat thought her master WAS a
luxurious fool, ''Snipe's" cat must believe
its master is a philosopher modern Do
genese-a man with fewer wants than
senses, and who would not ask an Alexap-
der for even q ray of sunshine. tSnipe"
lived for long time near the Presidio in
a thieket, in a dTy-goods box. Whele he
got the box, or how he got it out there, no
one ever knew. At last some maniaes,
who wanted gold and silver and copper,
commenced digging near the box for those
metals. He did not like If, and like dis
turbed wolf, sought another place.
On the sea-shore between Fort Points and
Point Lobos, at place where portions of
several wrecked ships may be seen, lives
now this wrecked man. He associates him
self with wrecks. That which is destroyed
or nearly decayed suits him best. ''Snipe"
has erected house, a cottage by the soa, a
cabin about 0x10 feet and feet high, COW
cred with rough boards which he collected
on the beach, and with old gunny sacks
which he picked up in the city. He has
built himself a mud fireplace, and ocean
gave him an old barrel, which, opened at
each end and stuck through the root, 8eaves
as chimney, and keeps the howell free from
smoke.
He claims" part of Gods domain. A
rude fence incloses a few yards which he
would call his own, if he should ever speak
about title About his hut he planted q
few potatoes, but the soil Is so barren they,
like his hopes, are blasted, and the sickly
vines lie prone upon the ground. He sleeps
on and beneath grimy sack blankets, and
keeps on hand . supply of dritt-wood,
which he finds on the beach.
When he is away and the weather is fair,
his cat sleeps and awaits his return, on the
roof. He receives no visitors, although
many people pass the ''castle" daily aud
gaze curiously on poor '.Snipe." Like
more refined epicures, he is fond of she'll
fish. and heaps of mussel shells in front of
the hut show what an important item that
animal is in mis- diet. Often at low tide he
is seen hunting along the shore for them,
and generally his labor is rewarded by the
capture of large numbers.
Il Is not thought that the man is insane,
but generally, that, like old Timon, he has
turned hater of his race, and will never for
get or forgive to the world, the wrongs he
has suffered from the hands of few indi-
viduals.
w.