The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-12-07

rude structure, twelve or fourteen
feet square, and gray with the mold of
time. Not change had been made in
it since it was first erected, save the
roof, which had been renewed a num-
Der of times, as occasion required. No
light could penetrate the interior eX-
cept such as went in at the opened
door or struggled through the crevices
between the irregulally-shaped rocks
that composed the walls. In this hut
Waggoner had lived for upward of
forty years. For many years after
he first settled in this strange spot,
he did not see single human being,
living upon the fish he caught
and the animals he trapped, and
utilizing the skins of the latter for
such covering as was necessary for the
| body. The first settlement made any
where near him was where the town
of Washington is now situated, forty
miles to the southwark. This place
he visited about forty years ago, but
quickly retired to his solitary cabin.
About that time another settlement
was made about ten miles below him.
He had been in the habit Of making
yearly visits to this point to barter
such hides and peltrieS as he might Sc
cure during the year for little neces-
saries in the way of food and cloth
ing. He had never heard from En-
gland since his departure from New
Orleans. He did not want to hear.
He did not have book. He had Oc-
casionally picked up an old newspaper
in his rambles through the country
The floor of his cabin was covered
with skins of wild animals. This was
his only furniture. He owned moth
ing but two rude cooking utensils, a
small supply of fishing tackle and an
Old-fashioned rifle, which he had
bought twenty-five years ago. His lg-
norance Of current and modern events
was singular, not to say amusing. He
could not give the name of the present
President. He knew there had been
a war of some sort in this country.
| but had no idea of how it had been set
tied. He had never heard Of the At
lantic cable, nor of the electric tcle-
graph. Railroads he had heard of,
but did not thMk such things existed.
He did not know whether he lived in a
State or Territory, nor did he care to
know.
Subsequent inquiry among the
settlers who lived nearest to the old
man showed that his story of his fifty
years isolation was. entirely truthful.
He was rarely seen by any of the few
people who lived around, and his de-
sire to be alone was so well known
that no one ever intruded upon him.
He was regarded as harmless, crazy
old man.
Few persons knew the location OF
his cabin, and none had ever entered
it. When he had not been seen for {
long time, some neighbor would go t.
his door to see that he did not suffer
for want of attention. He had never
been known to converse with any one
except whensh he went to barter. A few
years ago he grew sick, and was Wis
tied by neighbors, though he did not
speak to them, except in monoSyllables
and refused toilet any one enter his
cabin.
The country round about is sparsely
settled, the landsbeing poor, and offer
ing few inducements for settlement
Neighbors live four and five mile
apart, and the old hermit is four miles
removed from any other human habi
tation. He selected fit place for {
solitary life. He is undoubtedly tn,
most remarkable hermit in the United
States, and the history of his eccentric
life would furnish material for splen,
did rOmance.-St. Louis Globe Demo,
rat.