River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-12
He DIED SAYING "CUSS."
a WandeTer from the Frcnticr--What
was Found ON his Breast.
LFrom the Detroit Free press. !


From the Detroit Free Press.l
lie sat on the steps of the City Hall
head in his hands, and one could not hell
but notice him. lie wore coat of vol
SKINS, bearskin cap, buekskin breeches
ana his grizzly hair hung down on his
shoulders in u tangled mass. He had
drltted East from the wild frontier, and
he had fallen sick. No one knew for a
long time what allied him, us lac would not
reply to inquiries; but, finally, when a
policeman shook his arm and repeated the
inquiry, the man slowly lifted his head
and replied
I'm played y
His face was pale and haggard, aud ii
was plain that he was going TO have an at.
tack of fever. He was sent to the hos.
pltal for treatment, he making no inqui-
rlss and answering no questions
Tbs vas a month ago. He had his per.
soral effects in a sort of sack. These
we've breech'loading rife, a Ratchet, a
knife and several other articles. and when
he lad been laid on bed in ono Of the
waids, he insisted that the bag be placed
undar his head. They offered him mcdi.
cine but he turned away his face, and no
argument could induce him TO swallow
any,
but you are sick man." said the
doctor, as he held the medicine up.
"CuSs sickness, replied the old man.
And you may die.
"Cuss Death"
lie grew worse as the days went by,
and was sometimes out of his head, and
talking strange talk of indian fights and
buffalo hunts, but not once did he speak
OF family, friends OF of himself He would
not let them undress him. comb his hair,
or show him any attentions beyond leay.
ing his food or the stand. A raging fever
was burning up his system, and when the
doctor found that the old man would not
take his medicine, they knew that death
was only matter Of days.
lie must have had an iron constitution
and heart like warrior, for he held
death at arms length until the ether
day. When it was seen that he could
last but few hours longer, the nurse
asked him if a clergyman should be
cal ed.
"Cuss clergymen replied the Old
man, those being the first words he had
spoken for three days.
However, two hours after his mind
wandered, and he sat up in bed and called
out
II tell We, the Lord isn't going to be
hard on Teller who has fit Injlns ~
lie was quiet again until an heur before
his death. when the nurse made one more
effort, and asked:
"Will YOU give me your name!"
"Cussmy name!" replied the old man.
Haven't you any friends ~
''Cuss friends !"
do You wish us to send your things to
any one =
!. ''Cuss any onen'
do you realize" continued the nurse,
that you are very near the grave o.
"Cuss the gravel" was the monoto-
nous reply.
No further questions were asked, and
during the next hour the strange old man
dropped quietly asleep in death, uttering
no word and making no sign. When they
came to remove the clothing and prepare
the body for the grave, what do you sur.
pose they found. carefully wrapped in
oilskin and lying on his bressti A daguer.
reotype picture of little girl 1t was
taken years and years ago, and when the
chiideTas five or six years old. The face
of the little one was fair to look upon,
and the case which held it had been
SCARED by bullets. There was a dozen
scars on the old mans body to prove that
he had lived wild life, but there was not
a line among his effects to reveal his
name, or the name Of the child whose
picture he had worn on his breast for
years. Who was she His own darling,
perhaps. lie would not have treasured
the picture so carefully unless there was
love in his heart.
No one would have believed that the
wolfskin coat covered heart which
could feel love or tenderness; but it did.
lie might have been returning home after
years OF weary wandering, or he might
have left the frontier for Christian bu-
rial, and hoping that no unsympathetic
eve would fall upon the picture.
Some said keep it, to make il identify
the old man, but others laid it back on
the battle-scarred breast which had pre-
served it so long, and it was there yester.
day when they buried him.