Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-04-04
TIL e S EN- TINEL.
A Pennsylvania Hermit.

correspondent OF the New York Times
writing from Pottsville, Pa, says:
There died. near the village of Rirgtowu
Schuylkill county, near the northern bound
AIRY, not long since, man named Harper. the
greater part Of whose life was passed in volun-
tary hermitage among the rocks and noun
tains of Schuylkill and Columbia counties =
ne hrst appeared about forty years ago in
West Penn township, Schuylkll county.
where, in Il wild and unfrequented spot in he
mountains, he built rude hut and shut him
self out from all communication with the ont
side world. Although having the appearance
of man far advanced in life il has since been
ascertained that he was not yet forty wears of
age. Who or what he was no one knew He
very rarely left his lonely retreat. and then
only to obtain certain necessares of life How
he lived or what he did were matters of which
the inhabitants of The town were entirely ig-
norant. Old residents remember his coming
to those parts and say that he truly "dwelt
with solitude and walked the rocks and forests
like vol" Young men grew TO old age
and died, and still Harper remained in his
rude hut. AT last the hermit not having been
seen for some time by any of The villagers. il
began to he Whispered about that he was dead
His hut was visited, but, although it was
empty, and evidently had been for some time.
nothing was found to indicate that the hermit
had died.
A short time afterward there appeared in
the village of Ringtown queer old man, with
long, snowy locks and beard, bent form and
wrlnkied visage. He was bareheaded, clad in
ragged garments and walked with long
smooth staff. Purchasing IA few groceries in
the village, he disappeared Some months
aiterward he again came TO She village, made
similar purchases and went away This time
the curiosity of the villagers being excited to
know moro nf Tho einunlor In;ncr l,a ,,.,s r.
lowed. He took rough and narrow path
which ran some miles over the mountain, aud
led to deep rocky gorge, near the boundary
of Schuvlkill and Columbia counties Ia this
gorge was dark and damp cavern, into which
the old man entered, and where it was found
he dwelt. This was the hermit OF Penn town
ship. He had, it was thought left his former
retreat TO find more perfect solitude and isola-
ton.
The severity of the present winter, and the
great depth of the snow, short time since
compelled the old man TO leave his mountain
fastness as he was on the verge Of starvation.
He wandered over into Columbia county,
where he fonnd an asylum in the house of a
kind farmer, where he died few days after
he was given shelter. On his deathbed he
gave account of his lie and the causes
which led him 10 put himself beyond the pale
of a society Of which he had once been bright
follows
His name was James Harper. When he
died he was within few weeks of reaching
the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Be
tween forty and fifty years ago he was the
senior partner of Harper & Bro, hardware
merchants, Market street Philadelphia. His
brother was some years his junior, and their
firm stood among the leading ones Of the city =.
They lived in fine stylei Chestnut street, and
moi of HON lpi pir " sis
ter superintendent their household affairs.
About the year 1888 James Harper wert TO
Europe, leaving The business in charge of his
brother, in whom he placed the utmost conf
dence. He spent two years travelling in the
old country, during which time he married
an accomplished, beautiful and wealthy Young
English lady, member of one OF the leading
families. For some months previous TO his
departure from London to return home Mr.,
Harper had not heard from his brother-his
letters, which had been regular and cheering,
suddenly ccasing. Apprehensiye Of something
wrong, the senior partner determined 10 fore
go further saunerings in Enrope. and shortly
after his marriage embarked for Philadel pha
accompanied By his bride When The voyage
was about half over. and he dependency that
had sezrd Mr. Harper when he left London
had been Inewhat GIspelied. the smallpox
broke out among some emi9rant lamlieS in
the Storage The plague spread 10 the cabin
passengers, and among the victims was the
yeung wife Of Mr. Harper, who died in the
greatest agony, and whose body was cast into
the sea-. This was the first thrust into the
heart of the returning merchant, and prepared
him far athers tina; awaited him. After lying
in quarantine some time after reaching p)ri
the passengers Of the plague-stricken ship were
permitted TO land
few hours atterward Mr.. Harper learned
that he was ruined man His brother, short
~ after his senior, went to Europe, fell into
dssolute habits, and in short time had driven
the firm into bankruptcy, aud in u fit of des-
perttion blew out his brains in gambling hel
The sister died in few weeks of grief, and
the property of the firm all sold by the
sheriff. Mr.. Harper found himself without a
dollar or single relative, and barely friend,
where he had left prosperous business, IA
happy home, and hundreds of fatteriug ac-
qGaintances Overwhelmed with misfortune
broken hearted and deserted ne determined
TO put himself forever away from all contact
with the world and live alone with his bitter
nees He KEEP; his vow sacred'y until he
knew that death was stealing upon him, when
he felt that he would like to close his eyes
upon the world surrounded, if possible, by
beings who would minister to his last
wants and give him christian burial.
What must have been the weight Of The sor-
row that sat upon this unfortunate mans soul
to induce him to forsake the world and its
auifold blessings and live in bitter solitude,
alone with his misery, during an ordinary
lifetime His case certainly has no known
parallel in the history of our race.