Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-06
NO. 2ss.
Miseellaneuns.
THE LAST OF A HERMIT.

HermitS are commonly held to be crea-
lures of romance rather than reality, yet
there are such beings even in this prosaic
age. A recluse died in Saline county.
Kansas, week or two ago, who for twen-
ty long years, had lived absolutely alone.
He dwelt in large cave some ten miles
from the town of Petra, and nothing was
known Of his early career until after his
death. That career then proved to have
been very touching and mournful.
The hermit's name was Franklin Elliott.
During the years of his solitary existence
in the cave he was an object Of constant
speculation and curiosity. Once or twice
only in the year he came into the town.
He would then barter game or pelts for
powder, shot. and salt-seldom anything
else-speaking as few words as might be,
aud then fastening away. Sometimes he
would be seen in the woods carryinga a
long rifle and quantities of game. If he
saw people approaching he would try to
avoid them by turning aside into the for
he would stock moodily straight on.
and coldly, and at once depart. He had
in spite of his squalid attire, long elfn
locks, and singular mode of life, inspired
as much respect as curiosity" The cave
in which he lived was commodious, hav-
ing been enlarged, evidently by himself,
from small hole to an apartment twen-
ty-five feet square and ten or twelve feet
high. When examined after his death it
was quite void of furniture. Pieces of
stone and inches in the rocky walls ap-
parently served as chairs, tables, and
shelves. A rifle and fowling-piece were
found, long, broad bowe-knife, fishing
tackle, cooking utensils, and number Of
books. Among the latter were copies of
Shakespeare, Sterne, Addison, Schiller.
Southey, and Spencer. In one corner was
a heap of blankets and skins, and on these
lay the solitary occupant of the retreat
dead.
Two gentlemen had been hunting near
by and were overtaken by storm. Seek
ing refuge at the cave, they knocked at
its heavy iron door. No response being
made to their repeated summons, they
pressed cautiously to the inside, and saw
what we have described. They also found
a small tin box, such as is used by law
yers, and in this were papers that made
clear the unhappy mans history. He had
been well born, educated and affluent. 1t
would appear that he must have been
early in life elected to the legislature of his
native State, Kentucky. Before this he
had become passionately attached to
young girl. A likeness of her, showing
that she must have possessed remarkable
beauty, qualified by rather sensuous and
cruel expression, was also found in the box.
Sets of letters in different hands made the
whole drama clear. "Olive," for such
was her name as written on the portrait and
in the letters, had led Elliott at first to
think his love for her returned. In other
words she amused herself with him after
the fashion of her sex without having any
real feeling. While the game was going
on some one crossed her path for whom
she conceived veritable passion. She
corresponded with this fresh admirer, but
lacked moral courage to tell the other one
the truth. Either for this reason or out of
contemplate vanity she kept up her affairs
with both. Elliott discovered all, as let
ters in the tin box. written by "Olive," to
both himself and his rival, proved; such
letters, bearing the same date, were found
side by side, and stained with blood in the
same package.
In the same package was a yellow print
ed slip cut from an old newspaper. 1t gave
an account of frightful duel fought be-
five PAGES. Elliott shot his antagonist
through the head. The cause of the duel.
as described by the slip, was dispute at
cards 1t describes the slain man, Bailey,
as handsome, brave, and with lack OF prin-
cipe." What happened atterward as re-
CARDS "Olive" is unknown. Neither law
nor public opinion was severe on dueling in
Kentucky quarter of IA century ago, so
that there was no particular reason for
Elliott to fly. He went abroad, however,
and seems to have remained in Europe
two or three years. Whether moved to
return and to seek a solitary life by the
stings OF conscience or by the misery of a
broken heart can only be eonjectured. 1t
is only known that he did return, and that
he abandoned friends and society forever,
and lived like the melancholy Jacques, in
an abandoned cave" until death merci-
fully closed his eyes. The compassionate
will be glad to be told that tender hands
reverently disposed of the poor outcast's
remains, gave them decent burial, and
marked the spot with a memorial stone.
Upon it is inscribed, Franklin Elliott. A
Stranger November z 1871"