The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-05-11
WILD IN rnE WOODS.
Discovery OF an Insane Man Who Lives
In q Tree in Trinity Bottom.
His Insanity Caused by the Financial
Question, of which Ne Talks.

n Young man VINO nhu been HsbtpR
In the Trinity river during the past
week, each afternoon, met HERALD
reporter Friday morning and related
story which was at the time regarded
by THE HERALD's young man as
hoax, but upon investigation proved
to be not only true, bu; highly roman
tic and startling. He said that he had
gone up the stream early one morning
and after setting out his lines at ia
vorite place, walked out into the woods
to look for berries. His attention was
attracted to an unusually large tree by
seeing the form of man disappear
iriihR the tree. The fisherman was
somewhat frightened at this unusual
occurrence, aud hastily retrested to
where his fishing lines were set,
and thence to his home.
The next morning, without having
said word to anyone, he concluded to
return to the tree and make an exam
ination Of 1t. He wsa met at an open
ing in the base Of the trunk by the
head OF man peeping out aud holding
In his hand II large carving knife. The
discovery was made that the tree was
hollow and inhabited 10y the man, as
an oyster can sitting on few embers
close by httested that he was preparing
10 cook q meal. Without word being
spoken by either party. the youth has,
lilly left and again came to the city.
tie told the story to one or two friends,
one OF " HON communicated the intel
ligence to an attache OF THE HERALD.
A reporter was supplied with sure.
sho. pistol aud sent in search of the
man. The account brought back by
the reporter was entirely % the reverse
of what WAS anticipated. An insane
old man was found who has rem ark
able history, aud whose tale was told
the reporter after AN acquaintance was
formed.
Being piloted to the tree, The HER
AIDS young man boldly walked up 70
the entrance and raped with a large
stick, but no response being heard, q
large piece Of bark was removed,
which answered as "a door. Carefully
looking inside the tree no one was dis
covered. The pilot was motioned to
/ follow, but declined TO do 30, and re-
/ turned to the river bank, aud left The
reporter to make such discoveries rs
! followed, alone.
Entering the tree by a close squeeze
! through the aperature, an alligator
skin was found. Raising It up, All Ole
cotton quilt and g book entitled eth,
| Landlords Death" was perceived. Tn,
/ book was OF date l7s2, and bore tn,
imprint Of Lloyd Brothers, London. .
IL was dog-eared and very greasy. A
name was Inscribed on the inside o
the first cover, which was iliegible
but appeared 90 read George Kirt
land, Portland, Oregon" Nothin,
else was found within the tree
aud the reporter, alter CAREFUL,
replacing the book made his exit viii
some difficulty, and sat on log clos.
| by cogitating in his mind what or W h,
the person could be who led such
life.
/ Presently he saw man with BIZ
eyes fixed on the gfouEd, his hand
behind him, and incoherently mutter
Ing something. approach. He knew
from the mans queer action that Ia,
was the enc SPOKEN of by the fisher
man, aud concluded to remain wher,
he was sitting.
On the man getting within abou
ten feet OF the reporter he gave
startled grunt and drew from his pant
waist long knife. Both stood eyein,
each other n few seconds whom tn
reporter broke the silence by saying
mo harm intended. l want to tall
with you.n zee Mary, see Mary,
said the man in n quivering voice
The reporter at once saw that the maj
was insane and asked him to put ava,
his knife, which was done. III
walked up with an idiotc smile an,
extending his hand. 1t was taken b,
the reporter and the two sat down oil
the log.
"What is your name and where o.
you live9' asked the reporter.
"Thirty millions retired eurreuc,
would not hurt the slope, but wha
suffering 1t would bring on cousin Ton
In raising the boy" answered the maj
rs he ran his fingers through his hair
you have studded the financia
question 1t seems my good fellow p
said the reporter.
''Gold Is curse, and would rattle
remain here In Mexico, where / cal
charm the beautiful lizards, occasion
ally see Mary aud hear the birds sing
than to take tie box from ye landIor,
and hide 10 under the moat, where tn,
shining coins are kept for the mex
time we working men return to pariis
ment the wealthy Potter said the oil,
man, evidently quoting the Gland
lords Death"
After talking with the poor old fell
low for sometime, IL was learned thA
he was harmlessly insane. He came t.
Texas four weeks ago and lived with g
woman in small cabin near the ga,
works two days. The woman's name
could not be learned, but MARY
IL supposed to be the one,
as he used that name
frequently. After remaining In Dial
Iss two days he went to the woods &c
''chsrm the lizards thinking be had
gone 10 Mexico.
The man is about fifty>hve years old,
has large grey eyes, hair sprinkled
with gray, stopped when he stands.
He had ON q hickory shirt and wooden
pants OF coarse texture, black felt hat
and brogan shoes. He has been living
in this tree since he left Dsllas, and
says that he Is going to remain there
Every day about eleven o'clock he
meets the woman tn the bottom near
gas the works, but will come no nearer.
His case Is pitifni one, and our hu.
name citizsns should look after him
and properly take care OF him. A
search among the houses shout the gas
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