The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-11
A Mysterious Life and an Unexplain-
ed Death,

the strange youth historically known as
Caspar lIOuser, made his first appearance
in Nurnbcrg. 1t was just midday when
his strange gait and still stranger way
of taking, something after themanner
OF child, attracted the attention of a
shoemaker named Weickman. Caspar
had letter addressed tothe captain
OF the Fourth Squadron. Weickman
undertook to show him the way to
tie Captains house. He did what he
could to open a conversation with the
youth, but all to no purpose. The strange
boy could utter but a few words, and even
to these he attached no meaning whatever.
He was little better than a parrot, articu-
lating what he could not himself under
stand. The Captain was not at home. and
Caspar was taken TO a stable to await his
return Arrived there, be threw himself
upon the straw and fell into a profound
Sleep. When the Captain came home. the
people of the house walked the boy up,
who presented his letter to the person to
whom it was addressed. The letter was
dated From The Bavarian boundary
Place unknown, 1928" In German, any
thing but classical, it recited that the boy
was sent to him-the Captain; that he
lit bttll tOI'iltit'i W bIlC w Iittl, al pom
day-laborer, on the 18th day OF October,
1872; that he-the writer-had ten child
rem of his own, and enough to do to sup
port them; that the child's mother had de-
sired him to educate it; that he had
brought him up in a Christian manner, and
that since 1872 he had not allowed him to
stray one step from the house that no one
knew where the boy had come from and
., ,I Il /,
the house he had lived in was, nor the
place in which it was situated thathe had
been taught to read and write, and that if
lie had parents to educate aim, he would
be very clever lad. The writer added
that he had taken the boy as far as Neu-
mark only, and had lett him, saying that,
when he became a soldier, he, the labor
cr. would find him out. Accompanying
this letter was note i'll Roman letters,
which rccited that the boy was already
baptized and that his name was Caspar;
that he was seventeen years OF age, born
on the 30th of April, 1872 and that the
writer was Il poor girl and unable to sup
dort him any longer.
Captain Wessening questioned Caspar
about his origin and antecedents, but
failed to elicit any Information, OF scarcely
a CLEAN Of intelligence, from him. A few
words and phrases repeated over and over
again, like Il machine, were the only evil
dcnces the lad gave that he could talk OF
think at all. Despairing OF discovering
ANYTHING from him, the captain turned the
boy over to the police authorities OF Nurn-
berg. The laiIOr, a very benevolent and
hind-hearted man, took him III charge,
and kept him seven weeks, ali the time
exercising the stricteSt observation over
his actions At the end OF the seven weeks
it became apparent that Caspar was most
extraordinary phenomenon His physical
and mental constitutions, the Tailor and
Others who had watched him saw, were
very different from those OF boys OF his
ane With the stature OF a boy of II, he
had the appearance OF a child Of &. His
mind was entirely undeYelCped lie would
taste nothing but bread and water. When
compelled to take other food, his stomach
rebelled against it, His senses were ex-
ceedingly sensitive While a few could
see in him nothing more than q stupid
peasant-Iad, intelligent observers acknowl-
edged themselves in the presence of an
abnormal instance of human development.
After Caspar was able to make himself
understood, he gave it as his recollection
that, from about his 4th year to the time
of his appearance in Nurnber9, he had
lived in Il small. dark room in a sitting
posture. He was provided every day with
bread and water, washed occasionally, and
furnished with clean linen. A pair Of wood
en- horses to play with, and a pair OF reins,
were the only objects of amusement he
had known during his captivity, and rid
ding them had been his sole entertain
ment and employment. A short time be
fore his advent in Nurnberg. a man used
to came into his prison to teach him few
words, and to guide his hand until he had
learned to write the words ''Caspar Haul
ser" After this the strange man took
him on his back and, in the darkness OF
the night, carried him to tie neighbour
hood of Nurnburg, when he gave him
the letter referred to above.
When it was finally known that nothing
could be discovered concerning the boy,
the city of Nurnburg decided to adopt
him, and to have him educated at its own
expense. A guardian was appointed for
him. and the well-known Prot. Daumer,
who took the lad to his own home, was
charged with his training. This was on
the 18th OF July, 1928. On the 18th Of
October, 1929, an attempt was made on
Caspars life. Nothing could be learned
concerning the appearance Or person of
the would-be-murderer, save what Caspar
related himself, viz: that he wore a mask,
and made an attempt to kill him in the
house This effort to get rid OF Casper
has, like nearly everything else connected
with his history, remained mystery to
the present time; but there is no doubt
that it was in some way connected with
his previous life. The strange history of
the founding had gone abroad, it is sup
posed. much to the discomfort of some
one who supposed that when he placed
him in charge of the illiterate day -labor-
er, he would never be heard from again.
The illness of his preceptor. Prof. Dau-
mer, necessitated change in Caspar's
domicil; and he was placed in the family