Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-04-02
A Strange Experience.
THE TWENTY YEARS wANDERINGs OF
NAN WITH An INJURED BRAIN-THE Ap-
VENTURES or CAPT. LowSEY SMITH. OF
EAST MACHIAs.

Capt. Lowney Smith. in company with his
brother, ID. A. Smith, arrived at his home
in East Machias, last week, after an absence
Of twenty years, twelve of which had been
spent a. hermit in cave in Kentucky.
From an interview with the two brothers,
tie Kennebee Journal publishes history Of
the strange wanderings of Lowney Smith,
from which the following is condensed:
Fifty years ago these two men were boys
together in Piciou, Nova Scotia. As they
grew TO manhood. 10 greater or iess de-
gree. they followed the sea and Losney
Smith amassed quite competence for that
section Of the country BY the time he was
thirty-five years old He also became in.
,eres,ed in numbering operations, and TO
considerable extent employed his time and
capital. As q sea farng man he had had
command of vessels sailing TO foreign ports
and was a man of commanding presence and
shrcwd business tact.
From his lumber operations in Nova
Scotia, he became convinced that a rich har-
vest awaited the man, who, upon large
scale entered upon this business in the
West. lie accordingly. twenty wears ago,
took leave of has wife and children, and
started for Minnesota. 10 engage with
Others in the lumber business. For a time
word came regularly to his family and
friends and everything prospered finely at
home and IN the lumber camp al the West.
Then all news of Capt. Lowney Smith
ceased. nothing could be heard from him,
and his friends mourned him as dead. The
reason Of his sudden disappearance will
probably never be exactly known. bu, from
u antf
many points u perfect. is gathered that some
sort Of quarrel or mailny arose in the
camp. and during II he received a terrible
beating aud was lef, for dead. and days aud
weeks Of torture followed. After lying for
long time IN dea,h-like s,upor. he gradu-
ally came to life. but not 90 reason.
He vas narsed to strength bs tribe Of
Sioux IadlAns. bat his reason vas injured
bey oud their skill He remained with this
tribe several years, and two or three wears
longer with the ChIppewas. being sometimes
treated well hu; more often ilI lie wan
derrd awas. after while and brongh, up in
a town called Waco. 10 keusnckr-
Here be dug hoi. 70 the earth some six
feet long by four vide. where he managed
70 live or exist for twe.se wears. suhs's'lng
on berries. fruit and ish, Finally wear
since the inhabitants Of he ei,y m tue vtcia-
itY 81 hi. cave became acquainted with the
poor man, and the story reached the daily
papers.
From oae description niece ,houSb; she
recognized the pscualr.isrs 81 her long lost
uncle. laqmry dcepeuc4 her impressions.
AMI finally Capt nta's brother wen; -
Identify him II ,4.,thIs he recognized
him at one aad prc.cn'ei uadl.p4;ah!e
prsaf. o! ITS ah'it;y 20 prase tbs hermit 70
be h,s .oas lost brother. ihr Captains
condition wss horr.bio beyoGd description.
hHt Us degrees he has toll ~ .'nr, 50
far as ht. memory admits. TIP l., The time
Of the mu'.ry III The camp a,s memory
Is clear and also ~ regard ~ lbc l4ss year
~ Two az his l.ts N hru,u& ~, hYt the iu-
teSycr.ns time be can give no connected
history ~ BEFORE th.> Capt Sms,h Ia. 81.
rIs,. a. h.. home n Hast Nachlas an,!
aZA.n 18Th tcgzii,rs 4ad friend. s7o haze
regarded ban dead far near, quarter 4
~cn'ar,. LSierl slfSeaus are to ,,.u.ne
b. r,sr uai 4 possible t.e i3..c ai lbs sad
history 5 10 BE- made pam.