Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-24
THE LIFE OF A RECLUSE.
Death Of n New Worker who Had Good
Friends In Richmond.

frteuos IN Hitnm0n0.
The New York Herald of Sunday
says: Por nearly ten years past the
people living at the upper end Of Broad
way, Williamsburg, have had their Gu
riosity excited by an old man who lived
alone in apartments in the house No.
1918. The old man was tall and digni-
fled in appearance--in fact, had a sol
dierly air; had long, white hair, and
was apparently seventy years of age.
He was always poorly dressed. lie
made no friends or acquaintance in the
neighborhood the people called him
hermit and wondered how he managed
to subsist.
HIS ROUTINE or LIFE.
1t has been the old mans custom in
all the years he has lived in the house
TO go to neighboring store about
o'clock every morning, purchase all the
morning newspapers and some provi-
sions, and then return to his apart
ments, where he remained until the
next day. Nobody in the neighborhood
ever saw the even tenor Of this custom
interrupted or changed. They knew
the hermit's name was William Wilber-
force Mann, because the postman, who
brought him many letters, had told
them so. On Friday Mr.. Mann did not
leave his house in the morning as usual.
This circumstance excited the alarm of
Mr.. John X. Wilmar, who occupies the
second floor of the house, and he broke
in the door of the hermit,s room to find
him lying dead on the floor, as stated in
the Herald Of yesterday.
A LITERARY RECLUsE.
Yesterday the coroner went to the
house and viewed the body. Through
the rooms were scattered old and costly
books to the number of several hun
dred, and also books Of later date, all
of which, it is estimated. are worth
several thousad dollars. In the rooms,
too, were found letters from a great
many distinguished men. One Of them
is a letter from Senator Lamar. in which
the Senator inquiries after Mr.. Mann's
health and sends him the regards of
his family. Another letter was writ
ten by Charles O'Conor on the political
issues of 1873. The fact that at one
time Mr.. Mann desired to dispose of
file of his newspapers is shown in letter
written by Wade Hampton when Govern
or Of South Carolina. in which he says
he will bring the matter to the atten-
ton OF the State Legislature. In the
collection there are also letters from
Mark Twain and a number Of other lit
erary men. A letter from Louis Ginter,
a tobacco merchant. of Richmond, in
closes a check for $50, and expresses
the wish that Mr.. Mann will write to
him frequently.
1t was learned yesterday that few
years ago stranger from Virginia visi-
ted Mr.. Mann. Before his departure
he called on the owner Of the premises
and giving him his address asked the
landlord to communicate with him If
anything happened Mr.. Mann. He said
that before the war Mr.. Mann lived in
the South, where he wrote several books.
He also said he contributed to the news
papers and had valuable library.
Mrs. John II. Slack, OF No. l55
Ninth avenue. said to Herdid report
er last night: My husband is the
N.,-lr .f A Hon (,tnfar #
Richmond. Va. Atpresent, however.
he is travelling on business, and will
not be home until tomorrow. ! have
received to-day three kilograms from
Messrs. Allen & Ginter in regard to the
disposition of the body and effects Of
the Brooklyn recluse, William Mann,
who believe was some twenty-five
years ago in the employ of the Rich
mond firm. member Of which, Mr..
John Pope, will be in New York to-
morrow. Neither ! nor my husband
know anything in regard to Mr.. Mann's
personal history
So saws the HeraH.
WHAT Is KNOWN OF HIN HERE N
RICHMOND.
Mr.. Mann was many years ago resi-
dent of Augusta. Ga, and was prOml-
nent lawyer and member of the bar of
that place. At that time he was man
of wealth and great literary taste. In
lS47 he went to Paris, and while there
was for number Of years the CORE
spondent Of the National btetligencer.
of Washington. Jomnal Of Commerce, Of
New York, and other American news
papers. He returned to this country
in 1862 and settled in New York. and
purchased valuable property and lived
upon his yearly income; but. untor-
tunatcly for him. he invested III
gold and stock speculation, and became
bankrupt. retaining only his library,
which contained many valuable and
rare books and papers. The greater
portion of his library was collected by
him while i'll Europe. and for the last
eight or ten years he has been living
only among his books, but was never
in want. as his friends here in Rich
mond contributed amply to his wants,
which were few. His remains will be
placed in vault at Greenwood. Brook
lyn. where they will remain until they
are either removed to Richmond or to
Augusta. Ga. Deceased was between
seventy and eighty years of age. He
was well known to a number of gentle
men in this city and Petersburg, and
was warm personal friend of the late
John X. Thompson, and was also a
contributor to the Southern Literary
Messenger when Mr.. Thompson was
| editor
Among his warm friends were Mr..
Lewis Ginter. Captain Gordon McCabe,
of Petersburg, and the late Captain j..
Hampdcn Chamberlayne, and not one
Of these had dollar he was not willing
! 81. Iocnaca1 IIa ro =