Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-07-26
Chicago News.

,.In sight of his birthplace, John Viii.
pn, a man whose history reads like a
romance, died few days ago, alone and
brotien, by the banks of the stream
long since immortalized by Bryant,
Lssler, Beach and others, the beautiful
Green river of Northern New York.
Only the rude stone chimney and
fireplace remain to mark the spot where
he was born, all further races of the
little log cabin having suceumbed to the
combined powers of storm and time
long years ago. His parents came to
this country from Scotland just before
the close of the last century. and settled
sbout two miles below the upper Green
river hollow. John Wilson, the fourth
ehild, was born there the evening of
the first day of the present century, and
sler an unusually eventful life during
which he had, owing to certain irregu-
hrIes been deserted by kith and kin, it
vss quite natural that he should wan
der back to lay down hisriife where he
bad taken it something over eighty-four
pears before.
As boy he was stubborn and impul-
i've, his father had left Scotland to es-
ape punishment for illicit distilling,
and some of this freebooter tendency
had been transmitted to the son. So
much so that at sixteen years of age he
was emo of the foremost of gang of
hone thieves, then quartered in that
portion Of the Berkshire hills, and the
teror Of the surrounding country.
Two years later he was welded to
NE buxom daughter ola Hillsdale far
mer, whom he abandoned for the sea
IN about eighteen months, just after
The had prcsente him with a pair of
twin sons.
When next heard of he was ship
wrecked off the coast of Africa. Here
helineered long enough to enlist the
saeeious Of the daug r of an inland
African chief. and Vii n he departed
ifom the dark cont rhl he. t,,e. was
dcs rted mother.
In 1880 he Joined the British navy,
only TO desert it when the right mo-
meat came. Being good selmen pro-
notion was rapid, and he sJon became
mate of tine,. stanch ship. But brute
nature soon asserted itscli again, and
kx months after the awarding OF this
MT hCnor he instigateda mutiny, muir
dered the captain and bulldozed the
aew into open piracy. His career of
rime ana plunder was short-lIved here,
Tor exactly six weeks after the olack
nae was first run up at his masthead
ne British, reeained possession of the
uah, capturing all on board but Will
son. the man they wanted most.
Then for ten years he abandoned the
~ Immediately after the episode last
gwen he wandered into the great South
vest arc married Mexican lady with
ARE attainments and vast wealth.
With her he lived in apparent content
nent for upward of seven years. Num-
eFous chill lren were born to them, and
be seemed intent upon better life.
Finally, in some unknown manner, this
woman obtained knowledge of the ear
y marriage with the forsaken farmers
laughter. Wilson was accused of this
and denied it. Convinced that his
denial was doubted, he gathered every
shlng available that could be turned in
9 omoney that night, and the next morn
ing he was gone.
!, de next turned up in California in
me early days of the gold fever, where |
ne accumulated considerable "dust"
nis conduct was such that IN year he |
= was Obliged to leave the Golden State |
of his personal safety. His money was |
soon squandered and he took to the |
sea again, and this time under an as
samed name. After this he was IT wing |
constantly. sometimes among the oriental
oeserts, sometimes among The "norland |
pnes He never lost an opportunity |
y make a dollar, even at the sacrifice Of
some ones life. The most unselfish act |
y ms whole life was the fiendish fero-
any with which he helped fight the
rnsuaes = during the great fire in Chicago.
ae was next Identified with the gold |
lines Of Colorado, which he was also
ooAged te leave because Of his lawle s.
After another turn at the sea he |
sensured into Colorado again and made |
oftune at Leadvi le. only to gamble it |
ay In Cuba. Returning from South
<u1ofca and the Antilles in March, the |