The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-02-12
AN OHIO HERMIT.
Yankee squatter Perfecting q Title % q
Quarter section.

Recently, when Adolph Sander, Phil. wentz, and
George Pope were on a hunting excursion in the
big forest in Paulding County, they came across
a hermit in the woods, about four miles from
Paulding Centre.
While out in pursuit of game, the boys saw a
very. primitivelookng camp, a short distance
from a small clearing, in which had been grown
patch of corn and tobacco. 1t comprised n
huge oak log in the rear, with two poles planted
about six feet in front, which were crOss-poles,
the ends of two of them resting on the log The
space inside, between the log and poles, was in
closed with wide strips of bark, and these were
fastened with bark thongs. doorway was left
in front of this tent, and huge fire burning he
fore it. pile of ashes nearly as high as a mans
head had accumulated near the fire. There was
sign of life about the place. as the hunters ap-
preached; but, ON looking inside, they saw Il
man lying on a sort of hammock, by means of an
army blanket swung between two poles. He did
not appear to be asleep, but he looked dreanily
at his visitors, as though it was matter of iDdif
ference whether he spoke OF not. After greet
ing from the hunters, however, the man got up
from his swinging couch and showed symptoms
of life. In answer to inquiries from Phil. Wentz
the man stated that his name was Sprigg; that
he was a native of Vermont, aged thirty five
years, and bachelor; that he came to Paulding
Centre about two years and half ago, having
made the journey from Vermont mostly on foot !;
that he entered one hundred and sixty acres of
government land, which he squatted on, Just
where they saw him; that he intened to remain
there 10 the end of five years, so to secure his
land, and then he didn't know what he'd do.
Sprigg is about five feet nine inches high has
dark hair, which extends to his waist, and his
beard, which obscured his face, hung in q bushy,
tangled mass down to his waistband. A streak
between his beard and hair, and a small space
under his eyes, were the only points where his
skin was partially visible, coat of dirt making
it impossible to tell exactly the shade of white
to which be was entitled. He stated that his
clothing had not been changed since be left Yer
mont. His hat was without shape and of no GER
tain color; bis shirt resembled the cloth which ia
found on the Egyptian mummies; his coat was
glazed with grease, and somewhat answered the
description Of that which Joseph is said to have
worn, in the matter of variety of colors; his vest
what was left of it-was saturated with tobac-
CO saliva, until it was as stiff piece of buck
skin which had been soaked in a mud-hole and
then dried; his pants, which appeared to have
suffered more violence than tine rest of his raj
ment, had been repaired by means of thin strips
Of bark, which had been made to do service as
thread. A psir of dilapipated army shoes-he
had no socks-completed his toggin.
Sprigg lives in the most primitive manner. He
seldom eats anything save parched corn, and
scraps of meat which he bois in an old pot the
only cooking utensil he has. His drink is obtain
hors have several times offered TO assist him in
building comfortable hut but, be will not &C.
cept the aid. He has three horses and sixteen
head of cattle, which subsit mainly on the twigs
OF trees, Sprigg cutting uoWn trees LOT the pnr-
pose. What makes this case stranger than il
would otherwise be, is the fact that Sprigg is
man of more than average intelligence, and aJ,-
pears to be pretty we'll educated. 1t is possible
that his mind is a little warped. He has not
corresponded with his relatives since he came
West, and they probably think be is dead. But
he holds fast to his log, bis bark shanty his dirty
clothes and his l60 acres of as good land and tim
Der ever crows few over; and he has faith in
the future. He says he has just year and a
half to sojourn in his dormant state.-Ddyton
Journal