The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-02-25
THE I,ERRORS OF THE LOST.

n certain boatswain upon n small Island,
after solitary residence there of twelve
years duration. This unhappy person is
described as being covered over his entire
body with thick suit of hair, giving him
the aspect of an ape. He is also devoid of
speech, save certain unintelligible sounds.
and his intellect is blank. Evidently his
reason and memory of language have both
been lost for II series of years. The actions
of this poor creature are those of an animal,
and his habits are filthy and brutal in the
extreme. He resists the efforts made to
cupture him, and makes repeated but futile
endeavors to escape.
On the island IS also discovered the dwell
ing originally occupied by the boats vain
during the period of his first advent, but
now evidently long since fallen into desue-
tude. 1t contains some cooking utensils,
ammunition and firearms, n Bible, and
some seeds, so that the castaway had
within his reach the means of appcasnr
hunger, comfortable shelter, and fair
amount OF food for the mind. Despite all
this he had lost his reason, fled his dwell
L.
Having most OF the essentials which con-
tribute to comfortable existence in COM
muniticS, the man had doubtless become
insane from lack of ompanionsbip. At
first, probably the life was novel, and en-
gagged his intellectual faculties by the
drafts which it made upon them. Further
on, lie lOnecd for sight Of a human face,
for human sympathy and cympanionship.
This desire grew upon him, becoming at
length tue one absorbing thought, which
mastered and excluded al others. Then
the desire for physical cXortion waued; the
mind, dead to all else but lis intense longing
for fellowship, corrodcd and fed upon
itself; reason wandered, tottered, and fell,
and the man became mere animal. Hav-
ing been of Il somewhat fieI ce and intracta-
bic temperament before insanity, he be-
come n wild and ncrvously- y-cEergetic ami
NAL. Then came 4 season Of exposure to
the elements, and a life led by the lower
animals, during which nature wrought her
mysterious changes in him, and set her
peculiar marks npon his person. He ac
quired suit Of thick hair in lieu of clothes,
aud lis facial development intensified into
that Of an ape. All this happened because
the boatswain lacked companionship. lie
was lost to the world.
After his capture the lost insane man
gradually recovered his sanity. BY degrees
the tones OF his former language returned
to him, and he resumed its use upon occa-
sion. But the major portion of the twelve
years passed upon the island we're, and al
Ways would be, q b!auk to him. lie had
no more memory OF them than if they had
never existed.
But. unfortunately, VI. Jules Verne deals
in fiction and we must accept his statements
cuDa Crane sails. Now, let the writer relate
a vc.itabln history
In the year 1884 Mr.. Davis, an officer
OF the Hudson Bay company, left York
factory. on Hudson bay, in the annual YES
sci visiting that port, distincd for England.
lie took with him his two eldest daughters
for the purpose of having them educated
in England. leaving his wife aud remaining
children at an interior fort in the company
territory. Mr.. Davis vas highly educa-
ted Englishman, of starch physique and un.
shaken intellect. No question of his SAINT J
had ever been raised, or that lie was not
the peer of any in his rank in life. The
vessel enjoyed a prosperous voyage and
reached London in safety. Mr.. Davis
placed his daughters in a suitable school,
then passed some time in visiting among
his relatives in that vicinity. At length he
received notice from the compauy's office
in Fanchurch street, that vessel would
sail for York factory on a certain date, ir
which he would be assigned state room
It was intended to send two vessels that sea
son with the annual outfit, one to precedt
the other by a week or more.
Mir. Davis sailed in the first ship, which
encountered heavy weather almost from
the time of starting. The seams of The
vessel were opened by the violence of th'
clements, so that almost continual pumping
was necessary. AS the American coas
was neared, the condition of the vessel be
came more precarious, until, one storm,
5 morning, she went down near a rock.
island of considerable extent. Nearly al
/ the vessels crew aud passengers who coult
/ swim effected an escape to land. Thu
/ number at that time was not supposed t.
include Mr. Davis, although he was know
to be an expert swimmer. He did not
! however, appear upon the island and wa
naturally supposed to be drowned. Th'
I miserable survivors remained upon th'
| rocky coast about a week, when the SECOND
vessel passing took of what remained o
! them alive. This ship reached York facto
ry in safety and reported Mr.. Davis a
| drowned with numerous others. Nort
was sent to that effect to his family ant
relatives and his accounts adjusted will
the company. lie was gentleman o
! some wealth and his family were left ii
| comfortable circumstances. The vesselre
mained at York for month, taking on he