The Portland daily press., 1879-06-17
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE II.
John Smith, Cannibal.
The Massachusetts Herdsnan who Eats
Reptiles and would Like Human Flesh.

A correspondent of the New York Times,
writing from Otis, Mass, says: This quiet,
out-of-the-way Berkshire town has not been
SO stirred since the brutal murder OF Mrs. Haz-
zard few years ago. as by the discovery OF
live cannibal within its borders A large num-
Der of strangers have visited the place to see
what sort of being this may be. The Times
correspondent searched out the strange crea-
lures abode yesterday, in company with
Deputy Sheriff and two other gentlemen, and
no small task it proved to be, for the place is
several miles up the mountains, away from all
other human habitations, and can be reached
only by walking A more dreary, desolate
and uncomfortable spot cannot be imagined
than that where John Smith, the confessed
cannibal, and his wife live, in an old log hut
that barely furnishes shelter. The hut is in
hollow at the top of one of the highest noun
tains in this region, from which fine view of
the country for 20 miles around can be had
Smith lives on small farm owned by cattle
raiser, who gives him his rent free for acting
as his herdsman. But Mrs. Smith, who is a
strong, healthy Frenchwoman, really does all
the work of the place, while her husband roams
about at his will, fishing, hunting, and wor-
Shipping his idols The woman plows, plants,
and does all other kinds of outdoor work, but
as Tor housekeeping, there seems to be little of
it. The couple have been married eight years,
but have no children.
Smith himself was returning from the pond
east of the town at the time of the VISIT and
his appearance was not such as to strike terror
into the hearts of his visitors. He is apparent
ly about so years old, with gray bushy beard,
of medium size, and an eye which wanders
about from object to object in a way
to indicate that his mind dwells on no one
thing long. He was quite communicative, and
when his cannibalistic tastes were referred to,
he laughed a coarse, brutal laugh sufficient to
convince anybody that his tastes are most de-
graded and VILE He said he was born near
Rhinebeck, N. Y, but his parents died before
he was old enough to know them. Early in life
he ran away from home, and at Is went to sea.
He was shipwrecked on the South Sea Islands,
where cannibalsm was practised and their
worship was idolatry. Tobacco was found on
his person, and this rendered him unfit for the
cannibal palate. How long he remained on
the islands he does not know, but it was so
long that he not only became accustomed to,
but even entered into, all the savage rites,
and acquired an appetite for human flesh,
which he acknowledges still possesses him. He
denies the story that he once ate man in
New Jersey, but says he offered to work six
months for Chester Merrifeld, of Blandford,
in exchange for one of his daughters, Ia buxom
MISS, whom he wanted to feast on, and he
There is no doubt that the man has relish for
raw fish, toads and even snakes, for in the
presence of his visitors he chewed up live
toad which happened to hop in his path. One
of the party offered Smith drink of whisky
from bottle, and he bit off the bottle at the
neck, and chewed it up, certainly sufficient
proof that he had an iron jaw.
During the war Smith was in the marine
service, being attached to the frigate st,
Louis, which cruised about in the Mediterra-
mean in pursuit of the Alabama After the
war he wandered about in all parts of the
world, following the sea much of the time,-
He has lived in Otis for four years, but no par
ticular attention was called to his habits until
lately. His religion is mixture of idolatry
Mohammedanism and other strange rites, ac-
quired. no doubt duringshis travels He wor-
ships huge idol which he has built part way
up the mountain, and calls "Boudish.'' At 10
o'clock every Sunday morning he bows down
before this idol, prays to it, sings and dances,
the whole exercises taking about an hour
Three other gods similar to this but smaller,
Smith says, have been stolen from him by the
Christians.