The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-05
THE MAN OF MANY CATS.
A APITIFULLY STRANGE ROMANCE STUN
BLED iron BY HUNTING PARTY.

A l1IIE i4L1 SHAME hOMANCE 81 I "
BLED UPOS ny A HUNTING PARTY.
\ party Of hunters while in the search
of game lately in the Santa Cruz hills
came upon a rude hut in a small clear
inE about six miles from Patchen, and
nearly the same distance from the Santa
Cruz stage road. Impelled by curiosity
they approached the structure and hnd-
ing the door open went in. Imagine
their surprise and wonder at discovering
the sole inmate of the room There was
but onel what must have been origin
ally intended for 4 man. The creature
was but partially clothed, the DOdy from
the waist upward and from the knees
downward being entirely naked. His
hair is long and matted. and his face
brOnZed from exposure and scanned and
SCARED from conflicts with wild beasts
Of his own race, presented an appearance
that startled the heholders. Their con-
sternation was not lessened when they
beheld his eyes, which. protuding from
their sockets, glaTed like those of a
wild man. His arms, breast, and legs
were covered with long, coarse hair.
For a moment they gazed and they were
about to depart with CELEBRITY, when the
1nan beckOned for them to remain, at
the same time mutteTing in some unin-
L
without trepidatiOn, took seats on q
huge LOG. the ONLY furniture in the room.
Casting their eyes about they were still
more ast9nished at what before had ap-
peared to be a black mass of something
around and about the presumed owner
of this habitatiOn. They saw at least
fftv cats. all black and of all sizes !;
some as large and as fierce as wild
cat. Some Of the larger started for the
visitors with spines erect. when the man
gave a peculiar whistle and all Imme-
aIiately clustered around him again.
Wondering what was to come next, the
hunters maintained, for some time,
perfect silence. Then one spoke up
and asked the man how far it was to
Patcheu. but no answer came. Other
questions were asked, but the man on
~ looked at them with a puzzled stare.
AL at once he leaped to his feet, gave
veil that nearly curdled the listeners
and bounded out Of doors. The cats
followed and the hunters saw them
scamueriuE away over the clearing and
into the brush and out of sight. After
remaining COR some time IN the room
the hunters. noticing "a small box in
one corner. took il up, opened it and
found therein several sheets of writing
uaucr. old and faded. and with writing
fort they managed to read it. and were
rewarded with the following strange
narrative which explained what they
desired to know concerning the strange
occupant of the hut
ISLE OF JAMAICA, 1871.
Nv name is r r Venta My father is
native Of spain, and my mother, an Englisl
woman. died many years ago l fear that
am going crazy. that before another weel
- T. n.
that the world may at some time know M
strange history, have determined to writ,
down while my senses are acute and IN.
mind clear. / have been for five years stew
ard ON the plantation Of Mr.. Morris Tw
years ago / mar. led q creole. Felice Gallegos
a beautiful woman and one whom believ
could have made me happy. We lived il
peace until our child was born. An Amer
can then came TO the plantation and me
Felice They were often together | suS
pected nothing until obtained complete an
overwhelming proof of her intidelIty. Sh
came home one night after meeting with he
lover, and then / told her what had discOY
cred / cannot remember what | saiC.
only know that when | concluded this she
devil caught her child from the bed and fun
it on the floor. Then she spraug at me wit
uplifted dagger and my face will show wha
resulted. / was uuprepared for such an a
tack but managed to seize Felice and wres
the dagger from her hands. Half mad fror
tile blow she had given me, i caught her b
breast; she ,luk without gruan to the foo
Then j must have been mad, for a week a
tsrward j found myself miles away, in til
forest j feel that / must leave must 9
somewhere, anywhere, and hide myself. VI
brain troubles me and as / am afraid that
shall soon GO mad, I will write this and kee
10 with me. The time may cCWe when ma
give 1t 20 the world.
The wording ended here. The Drt
sumption was that Nenta came to Cal
fornia and wandering to the lonely cleaI
ing in the santa Cruz hills erected til
hut and lived there alone The hun
ers remained until dusk. hoping to NEE
the strange occupant again. but he di
not come. The next day they can
again, hut the man was still absen
He probably has never returned to tn
spot. One of the hunters. James Bow
man OF san Nateo county, who gave I
the above particulars and who cUpiC
the letter of confession, intends to max
another visit soon.