The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-05-09
A Cure for O. Heart Ache.

OQmG ten Gays doo lHcIe uioo III
cisco one of the most singular residents OF
the Pacific slope. His name was William
Hewer. He was an Englshman by birth and
surgeon bv profession. The golden city
has long been known as kind of Mecca
for eccentric people, but Of all the oddities
who have ever found their way hither, or.
Hewer was perhaps the most remarkable
He was Timon, and Shylock, and Kotzebus
Stranger rolled into one. For fourteen years
no living soul had been allowed to yepter the e
room he occupied I 2In.it heapphrsntly lived
a life Of abject poverty; and in it were found
after his death, cash aid :seearities- tae ex,
tent of thousands, besides a rich store o.
precious gems.
This strange man was born at Exeter. En-
gland, in 1888. He studied medicine and
got his degree from the Royal College oi
Surgery of Edingurg, in 1910. Soon alter,
he obtained a commission in an arhlery reg
iment. He was a man. Of, fine powers, deli
cate Imagination, warm sympathies, and keen
sensitiveness endowed him with susceptible
ty both to pleasure and pain, common to the
possessor of such qualities, and which makes
the issue of their lives so critically doubtful.
Hewer fell in love with a beautiful girl who
at first returned his passion, but who seems
to have been as capricious as she was fair
A few years of happiness followed, aud then
came bitter sorrow. Mrs. Hewer went of
with "fricnd" of her husbands, an officer
in the same regiment, and the husband was
never thereafter the same man. He became
a misanthrope, and wanderer on the face
of the earth Withdrawing from society, ne
lived for the most part in gloomy sccluslon,
enlivcned at times by outbreaks of furious
rcvelry. Only one thing alone besides drink
appeared 10 hare charms for him; and that
was to ship as surgeon en- vessels. bound on,
long passages, 1t was in this way that be
came to San Francisco. He arrived there
in the Agincourt just after the time of Capt
Sutton's memorable discovery, and when the
whole Western world was aglow with rage
for gold.
The current passion Of the hour took pos
session of Hcwcr, and thenceforth never LETT
him. The vacant place in his heart was ev-
er after filled by an almost insane aTarice.-
He began to lend money for usury on dla-
monds, watches and other valuables, and he
boarded up his treasures with the jealous
cunning of magpic. Virtually he became
a pawn broker, although he diedained the
apellation. and would haughtiiy resent its be-
ing applied When stray Erglishmcn ct ed
ucation turned up in San Francisco, the re-
cluse would sometimes emerge from his den,
and embark with them in frantic orgies that
neither are nor shame ever restrained. When
thus excited ts -7Fculd9 occasionally exhibit
huge diamonds and pearls, Ierba River gold
Of the finest quality, and strange old fashion
cd iewclry In these accumulatlons he took
the greatest pride, and although it was noto-
rios that lie possessed them, strangely
enough he was never robbed. Probably he
took unusual caution to guard his property,
and, in truth, quite magazine OF arms was
found in his room az the last.
The scene in that room: when Hcwer's
body was discovered would make a terrible
and impressive picture for a painter. The
old mans body, clothed in quaint, pafti COL
cred RAGS, was found bent backward over an
cid chair, the dead eyes open and staring up
ward, the white hair sweeping the ground
lie had been gloating over box oftrlnkets,
and there was burnt out lamp by his side,
ali around was strange medly of filth and
fncry. Broken spittooas ana ricna bits OF
carpet; dried herrings and diamonds; pieces
of old brass and iron, and silver plate embla-
goned with armorial bearings; strings OF on
ions and of pearls; beer bottles and Etruscan
vases. pawn tickets, commissions, uniforms
and foul platters, we're all mingled in wild
confusion. Besides all taesc there was one
oil picturc--that of young and lovely wo.
man-shc. no doubt, who was the original
cause of all this wreck and waste-the sign
and token ola perverted nature, crushed
heart and broken life.