The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-05-05

Wy ihN hENhibp Ibhhb "h"' v" "
hoax, but upon investigation proved
TO be not only true, but highly roman
tic and startling, He said that he had
gone up the aiream early one morning
and after setting out his lines ut IA
vorlle place, walked out into the woods
TO look for berries. His attention was
attracted to an unusually large tres by
seeing the form ola man disappear
Within tho tree. The fisherman was
somewhat frightened at this unusual
occurrence, and hastily retreated 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 nm exam
lnali0n OF ID, He was met ut an open
ing In tho base OF the trunk by the
head OF n man peeplng out and holding
In his hand large carving knife. The
discovery was made that tn . tree was
hollow and inhabited by the man, M
an oyster can sitting on II few embers
close by attested that he was preparing
TO cook a meal. Without word being
spoken by either party, the youth has,
lily left and again came to the city,
He told the story to one or two friends,
one OF whom communicated the intel.
llgonce to an attache Of THE HERALD.
A reporter was supplied with sure.
sho. pistol and sent In search OF the
man. The account brought back by
the reporter was entirely 10 the reverse
of what was anticipated. An insane
old man was found who has remark
able history, aud whose tale was told
the reporter after an acquaintance was
formed.
Being piloted to tho tree, The HER.
AIDS young man boldly walked up to
the entrance and raped with n large
stick, but no response being heard,
large piece of bark was removed,
which answered as n 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, and left the
reporter to make such discoveries as
followed, alone.
Entering the tree by close squeeze
through the aperture, an alligator
skin was found. Raising 1t up, an old
cotton quilt and book entitled "The
Landlords Death" was perceived. The
book was of date 1882, and bore the
imprint OF "Lloyd Brothers, London"
IL was dog cared and very greasy. A
name was inscribed on the inside of
the first cover, which was illegible,
but appeared to read "George Kirt.
land, Portland, Oregon" Nothing
else was found within the tree,
and the reporter, alter carefully
replacing the book made his exit with
some difficulty, and sat on log close
by cogitating In his mind what or who
the person could be who led such
life.
Presently he saw a man with his
eyes fixed on the ground, his hands
behind him, and inooherently mutter-
ing something, approach. He knew
from the mans queer action that he
WAS the one spoken OF by the fisher
man, and concluded to remain where
he was sitting.
On the man getting within about
ten feet of the reporter he gave q
startled grunt and drew from his pants
waist long knife. Both stood cycling
each other few seconds when the
reporter broke the silence by saying,
"No harm intended. want to talk
with you" ~ ee Mary, see Mary"
said the man in quivering voice.
The reporter at once saw that the man
was insane and asked him to put away
his knife, which was DONE He
walked up with an idiotic smile and
extending his hand. 1t was taken by
the reporter and the two sat down on
the log.
"What is your name and where do
you live" asked the reporter
"Thirty millions retired currency
would not hurt the Slope, but what
suffering it would bring on cousin Tom
In raising the boy," answered the man
as he ran his fingers through his hair
"You have studded the financial
question it seems my good fellow?"
said the reporter.
"G0ld Is a curse, and would rather l
remain here in Mexico, where / can
charm the beautiful lizards, occasions
lily see Mary and hear the birds sing,
than to take the box from ye landlord
and hide it under the moat, where the
Inning coins are kept for the next 4
ime we working men return to parlia. o
nent the wealthy Potter" said the old .
nan, evidently quoting the 'Land. a
ord's DEATH"
After talking with the poor old fell i
ow for sometime, it was learned that
10 was harmlessly insane. He came to ),
'exas four weeks ago and lived with ~
Woman in small cabin near the gas .
'orks two days. The woman's name
ould not be learned, but MARY"
supposed to be the one,
he used that name
frequently. After remaining In Dial. cl
IL two days he went to the woods to Gu
charm the lizards, thinking he had en-
,ne to Mexico. at,