The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-20
MANY YEARS In A CAVE.
CAREER OF A PENNSYLVANIA HER
NIT,
Story of n Strange Life-Rescucd
From Starvation Only TO Return
TO the Old Haunts.


miles up in the mountains back of Bris-
Goes hotel, near Dingmans, Pike county,
lives hermit, long known as the "Leh-
man Hermit" Austin Sheldon, the sub
ject of this sketch, and nc doubt man
that has furnished more news articles for
the press than any ten men in Pennsyl-
vania, came to Milford about forty-iive
years ago Where he came from was a
mystery to all, as he was a.most quiet
and reserved man. seldom or never min
Cling with the residents of that quaint old
town, and never on any occasion speak
ing of himself. He soon purchased a
small farm in the vicinity of Blooming
Grove and worked the same alone, living
a most retired life and having no inter
course with the outside world. He
rarely came to Milford and when occa-
sion demanded his presence at this place
he transacted his business and immedia-
tely left for his little farm. He was
never visited by relatives or friends, and
held no intercourse with passers-by.
That he was an educated man, any one
coming in contact with him could tell,
as he used the best of language whenever
compelled to speak.
He soon tired of this farm life, and dis
posing of his property took up his resi-
dence in rude cave on the side of the
mountains. Here he lived on what he
could get by fishing and hunting. The
mountains in these parts are wild and
rocky and have long been the haunts of
huntsmen. Many mountain streams also
abound, and Sheldon has been seen by
hunters in the pursuit of game. One
dreary winter he was found by party of
hunters in his miserable abode nearly
starved and suffering from a low fever.
He was conveyed down the mountain
side, where he received the kindly atten-
tons of the Dingman's people.
Brought back to life, he soon took up
his abode among the hills in the old cave
where he had passed so many dreary
years. He never could be induced to
speak of his family or friends, even by
those who had restored him to life, and
when the sub ject was preached in any
manner, that moment was a signal for his
departure. But few years ago, com
paratively, his friends got traces of him,
and, after arriving at his miserable hovel,
they used every inducement and every
argument to get him to again return to
his native home, take up his residence
among them and again be welcomed back
to the life that was better suited to him.
He fatty refused to do anything of the
sort and the relatives had to return to
their Eastern home without him, after
amply providing for his wants. When
in this village the relatives disclosed a
few facts that cleared up, in measure,
the strange mans life. The relatives
stated that sheldon was an educated
man, of Connecticut When pressed as
to what part of Connecticut he belonged,
they said that they preferred not to men
ton the town. In speaking of him they
told the following story of his early life:
Sheldon, when a young man, had
married most beautiful young girl, and
before the honeymoon was fairly past the
young man, who idolized his young wife,
was suddenly bereft of reason by her sad
death. He was from home one day a
few weeks after the marriage when
terrific thunder shower came up. Great
streams of lightning darted across the
heavens and the thunder and lightning
were terrible. The young wife, alone in
her home, was Frustrated with fear and
shortly after her reason became de-
loving attention from husband and
friends could do availed nothing, and
the poor wife died a raving maniac
few weeks after in mad house.
From this time forth Sheldon was O
changed man. He never spoke to any
one and was barely civil to his family.
He disposed of his business and prop
erty in Connecticut, and, with team of
horses and an old wagon, sought home
in the wilderness. He found the retreat
he so eagerly sought in the Pike county
hills, where he. has lived and made his
second home for forty-fve years. Hav-
ing no one to communicate with, his
mind now becoming unsettled, he took
to studying the Bible. So expert has he
become that he can recite whole chap
tiers of the Sacred Book without the dis
placement of a word. Selections quoted
from the Bible will be located instantly,
as soon as spoken. His whole talk was
on religion and religious topics and he
would talk on no other sub ect.
Last autumn the old gentleman had
another bad sickness, and alone and in
his miserable hovel, without even the
necessaries of life, he must have starved
had he not been found by a party of
sportsmen and again conveyed to Ding
mans, where the good people received
him, and communicated with his sister
in Connecticut town. The lady was
prompt in coming on, and nursed him
with sisters devotion. He was very
feeble and emaciated after the fever left
him, and the sister, with no little per
suasion, backed by gentle force, sue
ceeded IN getting the poor fellow to
accompany her to her Eastern home.
Here he again met with the kindest care
and attention, and although he was now
past seventy-tive years of age, the change
in air, surroundings and diet worked
marvels for him, and he was new man
once more. No sooner had he regained
his health than the longing for the old
life back in the mountains, in the dreary
cave, seized upon him. He was CON
stantly annoying his relatives to bring
him back, so that he might end his days
in the adopted home among the hills.
Every one he came in contact with had