Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-22
naiIv Nennebet Sournal.
THE WILD MANOR ST. LANDRY.
fFron the Planters Banner. !

From the Planters Banner.l
In company with Mr.. James Ii. Hous
ton, Of this place, we rode out to see the
Wild man OF st. Landry. And we saw
him. He is a living and Il breathing Gu
riosity.
wild SAM, as he is Familiarity called
by the neighbors. and from the traditions
of the neighbors, is believed to be be-
tween eighty and ninety years of age.
He formerly belonged to Baptist Bruno.
The oldest men in the neighborhood,
who have known ''Wild SAM for more
that fifty years, do not remember that he
ever slept in a cabin or house, or any such
place in this country. He always took to
the woods when his days work was done,
and came out of the woods in the morn
ing to perform the labors of the day.
He was a strong and willing laborer,
was an excellent ditcher, rail splitter. and
axeman. He had gentle disposition,
and his master was always pleased with
him. His former weight was about one
hundred and seventy-five pounds. He
now weighs not more than one hundred
and thirty He is about five and a halt
feet high. af
For many years 'sWild Sam has roved
about in the woods from five to eight
miles from Opelousas, sleeping in differ
ent places according to caprice and cir
cumstances. He was never married, and
never associated with people of any color
or sex. In spirit and in practice, as far
as possible, he has always been a hermit
Of the wilderness. At meal times, on the
plantation, he would always take his
plate of food and go off and eat 1t by
himself.
He likes to camp in the edge of the
woods near plantations, and when he can
do so he drives forks into the ground,
puts pole on them, and makes shed
roof of pieux to protect him from the
rain At other times he stretches himself
on the ground like wild beast, and
takes the weather as it comes. He never
minds mosquitoes or flies. He keeps a
fire, and rakes it up with an idea to repro
duce it when needed.
We found "Wild Sam" at Alexandra
Fournier's. Mr.. Fourier had construct
ed rough camp for this strange charac-
ter near his own dwelling house, undera
pecan tree by the side Of the fence.
As We approached the camp, which was
made OF split cypress, eight or nine feet
long, the bottom of each piece resting on
the ground, the tops meeting and forming
the comb of the camp about five feet high,
Mr.. Fourier took away some clapboards
from the front, and "Wid Sam" was in
full view aa 9a 10 aa
He was lying asleep on broad cypress
fence post ten inches wide and eight feet in
length, fiat on his back, and nothing under
his head. Each end Of the post rested on a
rough block, raising him a foot from the
ground. There were few other posts
and pieux in the camp, rough and rag
ged old overcoat, a broad brim hat which
had been thrown away as useless, about.
enough rags to constitute suit of worse
than begging clothes, an old banjo of his
own making, crazy old cane or two, an
old bag which perhaps contains imple-
ments for playing the conjurer's art, an
old tin pan, some Goals, ashes and brands
of unburned wood. Besides these and
the old wild man there was nothing what
ever in the camp.
AS Sam is now old and infirm. Mr..
Fourier and the colored people in the
neighborhood kindly feed him and give
him some old clothes, which he only
wears to cover his nakedness when he
: comes ont of his den If he were in the
woods he would not wear them at all, ex-
cept when the weather is frosty or severe
- His whiskers and head are white, and
his limbs and flesh look hard and wealth
er beaten. His face has wild but firm
and fearless appearance. He looks stu
pid, as though age is gradually wasting
his iron frame, and his eyes look dull, as
though he were gazing at his grave.
III This singular specimen of humanity
was never known to be sick. He was al
ways very fond of tobacco. but would
never drink whiskey. He never wears
shoes, and would never wear anything
but that he does not wish to offend people,
when he comes from the Woods, by ex-
posing his person. He carries in his
hands or ties about his Joins, q bunch of
black moss, in bulk about enough to fill
water bucket
Formerly, when in the woods, Wild
Sam lived principally on roots, berries,
and snchfood as he could find, much as a
hear lives :. Sometimes lie would 90 with
out food two days or more, and then come
into the place of those who knew him, for
food. He never stole anything. He has
always been kindly treated, but could new
er be induced to put his foot inside of
white mans house.
We have talked with about a half dozen
of Wild Sans neighbors, Creoles and
colored people, and they all agree perfect
iy in relation to his chai,nf.ftsr and history