Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-18
John Smith, Cannibai.

THE MASSACHUSETTS HERDsMAN WHO FATS
REPTILES AND WOULD LIKE HUMAN
FLESH.
OTIs, Mass, June l4.-This quiet. out-of-
the-way Berkshire town has not been so stirred
since the brutal murder of Mrs. Hazard a few
years ago. as by the discovery of a live can
nibal within its borders. A large number of
strangers have visited the place already to
see what sort of being this might be- The
Times correspondent searched out the strange
creatures abode yesterday, in company with
a Deputy Sheriff and two other gentlemen
and no small task it proved to be, for the
place is several miles upthe 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
highest mountains in this region, from which
fine view of the country for 20 miles around
can be had Smith lives on a small farm,
owned by a cattle-raiser, who gives him his
rent free for acting as his herdsman. But
Mrs. Smith, who is a strong, healthy French
woman, really does all the work of the place,
while her husband roams about at his will,
fishing, hunting, and worshipng his idols.
The woman ploughs, plants, and does all 9TH
er kinds Of outdoor work, hut as for house
keeping. there seems to be little of it. The
couple have been married eight wears b, I
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 ter
ror into the hearts of his visitors. He is APP
parcntly about 30 years old, with gray
bushy beard, of medium size. and an eve
which wanders about from object to object in
a way to indicate that his mind dwells on no
one thing long he was quite communica-
tive, and when his cannbalistic propcnsitics
were referred to he laughed a coarse. brutal
laugh, sufficient TO convince anybody that his
tastes are most degraded 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 IL went to sea. He was ship
wrecked on the South Sea Islands, where can
ibalism was practced 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 en-
tered into all the savage rites. and acquired
an appetite for human flesh. which he ac-
knowledges still possesses him. He denies
the story that he once ate man in New Jer-
sey, but says he offered to work six months
for Chester Merrifeld, of Blandford in ex-
change for one Of his daughters Ga buxom
Miss whom he wished 10 feast on, and he
speaks of the proposition as very liberal
one. There is no doubt that the man has
relish for raw flesh, 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 whiskey from bottle, and he bit off the
neck, and chewed it up, certainly proof that
he has an iron jaw.
During the war Smith was in the marine
service, being attached to the frigate st.
Louis, which crused about in the Medter-
ranean 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
particular attention was called to his habits
until lately. His religion is mixture of
idolatry, Mohammedanism and other strange
rites, acquired. no doubt, during his travels.
He worships huge idol which he has built
part way up the mountain and calls 'Boud-
ish." 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.-Ner York
Times.