Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-05-10
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1878.

way approached the vessel and sat
upon rock in plain view, as if wait
ing for tho arrival of the boats crow,
He was clothed, and apparently in good
outward repair, considering the cir
cumstances, and was recognized by the
captain and somo of tho crew who
knew him as Mr.. Davis. They hailed
him, but no returned no answer. No
particular attention was paid to this,
however, and the boat was pulled rap
idly to land What was tho astonish-
mcnt Of the crew, when the boat near.
cd the shore, to see Mr.. Davis leave his
seat and run rapidly toward the in
terror of the island They landed and
pursued him, but failed 10 overtake
him before he became lost to sight
among the rocks. A tolerably thor
ough search of the rocks resulted in no
further indications OF his presence, and
the chase was reluctantly given up,
Among the more credulous Of the sal
lors ii was OF course believed to be
Davis wrath; but the practical cap,
tain and crew, who had known the
man well, insisted on his bodily pres
cncc, and SO reported it on the arrival
in London. The story was received
somewhat incredulously, however, and
finally dropped from mind.
The following season, nevertheless,
the lookout Of another vessel made the
same discovery, and another landing
eBsued, with the same results. Davis
disappeared suddenly, but entirely.
He still wore the clothing he had on
when wrecked, though in sadly tat
tered condition. After that he was
seen again in nude state.
In the fourth year after his ship
wreck a party landed from compa-
ny's vessel and endcavored to catch
him. They pursued him closely and
used every means to close his avenues
of escape But Davis ran with almost
incredible speed, leaping high rocks
with apparent case, and at length es-
capped from sight altogether. On this
occasion he was covered lightly with
q coat of hair. In the seventh year
the unfortunate man was seen, be-
lieve, for the last time, having then u
heavy suit of hair over his entire body,
and beard of great length. He was
at that time some fiity-six years Of age.
The attempts made to capture him,
and the circumstances of his condition,
were but little noised abroad by the
officers of the company on account of
his afflicted family but no one, finally,
expressed the least doubt OF his identi.
ty, or that he had become crazed un-
der the terrible conditions OF the ship
wreck. The story reached the writer
through daughter of Mr.. Davis, and
was corroboratcd by officers of the
company cognizant OF the circum-
stances so he relies implicitly upon its
veracity.
Here again was an insanity brought
about by the loss Of human associa-
ton, augmented, perhaps, in this in
stance, by the lack of matter to at
tract the mind, Davis certainly was
supplied with food--probably from the
shell-fsh and seals cast up by the sea
and shelter Of sufficient warmth to
protect him from the inclement weather,
so that il must have been influences OK
traneous from dread of death, from
lack of mere animal necessaries, which
produced the insanity. The extreme
fear OF man manifested by him was
probably caused by that general feel
ing OF terror which seizes lost persons
and renders them fearful of every ami
mate object, or II may have been the
result OF revusion Of feeling upon a
subject which occupied every power Of
thought when sane--that Is, the in
tense desire to see u human face. Da-
Wis being man of strong mind, and Of
active, energetic habits, would be liza
bic to more violent feelings Of terror,
despair, and desire for companionship,
than o person OF less mental acumen
and OF more apathetic temperament.
Ills mind would eat itself out far more
rapidly than would that of a compar-
atively ignorant person. The higher
the intellectual standard Of the lost in
dividual, up to certain point, and the
more gregarious his habits Of life have
been, the sooner and moro severely
will the lost feeling attack his sanity
in the majority of instances recall
an instance OF this fact in the case Of q
passing acquaintance, n Mr.. James
Mackenzie.
This gentleman. was clerk in charge
Of a trading post at Georgetown, Min
hesota, who started in the winter sea
son, along with three Others, to visit
Fort Garry. The means of convey
ancc consisted Of mules and a wagon
instead Of the ordinary winter travel
ing apparatus OF the country--snow
shoes and dog slcdges. Mr.. Mackcn.
zie was q frst-rate traveller, and accus-
toned from boyhood to such work.
lie knew the country well, and, Tor a
man Of his strong constitution, the SC
verify of the winters cold had too lew
terrors for him. At place called Pine
River Crossing, he volunteered, as the
party with which he Travelled had run
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