The Republican journal., 1870-09-01
A VERMONT HERMIT.

The Montpelier Argus, which is publish
inc some interesting sketches of the early
history of Vermont, relates the following
Some eighty years since there stood a lone
" cabin about one half mile south of what is
now Bristol Village, and the site Of which is
now marked by q stately chestnut tree, plant
ed by the hand Of a wretched outcast, and
| fugitive from justice, by the name of John
Bradt Secluded and unknown, for twelve
long years he was the sole occupant of that
ancient hut situated in the midst of a howl
ing wilderness, hundreds Of miles away from
home and friends. No human voice save his
own was wont to greet his ear but often the
monotony of his haunts was broken by the
hootin@ of the owl or the screechng of a
panther and the mountain cat, the chief IN
habtants of that wild region in early times
john Bradt, the subject Of this short sketch,
was man OF not large intellectual attain
mentS, but was very passionate and revenge
full He owned Il tract of land in the State
of New York. about one hundred miles West
OF Whitehall, and for some time had been in
dispute with 4 ncighbor, both claiming Il
strip of land that bounded their lines Bradt
had frequently threatened this neiohbor
One day, when he had been hunting he
found this ncighbor choppn@ timber on the
up his gun and Shot him on the spot. Com
! inc to his senses, and seeing his dead neigh
Dor lying upon the ground. he began TO
speculate upon the consequences of his awful
crime and Immediately set himself to max
inc preparations to escape a llst and mcrtcd
punishment Going directly to Whitehall,
he procured Il quantity of ammunition fish
| ing tackle, what light tools he could carry,
and some garden seeds. He then directed
his course towards the Green Mountains of
Vermont. After travelling North-casterly
some fifty or sixty miles, he found himself in
| in dense forest, 1T the foot of the elevation
| in Bristol now known as South Mountain,
where he pitched his tent in close proximity
to beautiful stream of water now called
New Haven river. After sojourn of y few
days, he found all kinds of game in abund-
.nce, and u plentiful supply of trout in the
stream that rolled al his feet. Here thought
lac, ON this lovely spot, | will build my cabin
and. having taken the precaution to take
with him a hatchet, he cut small poles, an(
peeled bark. with which he soon made him :
comfortable shanty. After a residence o
twelve years in his adopted homc never
once during the time having had any inter
course with a human being. he was discover
ed by n committee who We're surveying tho
town. At first bradt appeared somewhat
frightened on seeing the surveyors, but find
ing that they were friendly, and did not wisl
to harm him, he became quiet, and relate,
his history to them, substantially as above
written. When found by the committee
Bradt looked more like a wild animal than :
human being. He was dressed in Il very
ludicrous manner, having on deer skin pant,
and jacket, and a fox skin cap, with the tai
Impending. He was taken by the committc,
to one Bradley,a lawyera at New Haven Mills
who Immediately took steps TO get him par
doned by the Governor of the State Of New
York, which he succeeded in doing, an,
Bradt having the papers presented to him
expressed great joy thanking the men VIII,
disintercstedly engaged in his behalf to SAY,
him from a murderer's doom.