The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-02-11
4 Menal Wreck.

Il Mcn0t Wfeck'
A LUNATIC wANDERs ON ROCKY COAST
CALLING FOR HIS DEAD wIrE-sTRANGE
DISCOVERY MApE ny A BoorHBAY
FISHERMAN.
Squirrel Island 10 q popular summer re-
sort In Boothbay Harbor, In sight OF Be-
auln Light at the mouth of the Kennebec,
and two hours sail from this city by the
vay Of Back River. In June, July and Au-
gust there Is gay colony on the island,
numbering at times 600 or 700 people
Prominent citizens of Augusta, Gardiner,
Lewiston and other Maine cities have COT
tsaes there. But this island Is dismal
place In winter: when the red roofs are
covered with snow, the wind bowls
through the pine trees and there Is nobody
charge Of the property by the cottage
owners-and he has q lonesome time of II.
A few days ago on one OF the coolest
mornings of the winter, a fisherman sail
ing out OF Boothbay Harbor saw man
standing on the rocky shore of this island,
shouting at the top Of his voice. His
cries could be barely heard above the
booming Of the surf, which beats against
the ledge with great fury. The fisherman
thought the "King OF the Island" as the
man In charge OF 1t Is called, must be in
distress and signalling for assistance; so
he put his smack about and put for the ISL
and. WheC he was In halling distance he
shouted to the man on the rock, but re-
ceived no reply. He WAS handsome
youu- fellow and stood gazing out to sea,
paying no attention to the approach of the
fisnerman's boat, and occasionally uttering
a loud cry that seemed fan OF anguish and
amazed the bronzed old salt who heard It,
This WAS the young mans call to the ocean,
Josie Josiei"
The old fisherman thought the young
man was crazy, and after listening a few
minutes, made for the Cuck.es and soon
was hauling bake over the side Of his boat.
The secret of the young mans strange
communing with the breakers is now
known. His is most pitful story. He
is graduate of Williams College, and BE-
came journalist in New York. Suisse
queItly he concluded to be lawyer, and
was admitted as student in the office OF
one OF the leading legal firms 10 New YORK
city. He has a fortune, inherited from an
uuNiC3 VIM diCu WOiSu 9&tOOO,OOOs AAS w
came engaged to a young lady 10 h city not
far from Bath. She WAS beautiful, q must.
clan and an artist. He and his affianced
spent all last summer together at Squirrel
Island. In October she was suddenly
Frustrated, and died after An illness of six
days. She died, at noon. At ten O'Clock
of the same day they were married, at her
earnest request. She said but few words
after the wedding ring was put GU her fin
ger, and In two hours the bridegroom was
a widower.
Since that day the young man has been
failing, bodily and mentally. His grief has
been something terrible. He went to New
York, but had to return, and spent the
most of bis time at his wife's grave. Fl.
nally, he chartered q steamer at Bath, took
box of fuel and supply of provisions,
and went to Squirrel Island. He remained
three days on the island, and 1t was he
whom the fisherman saw standing on the
rock where the spray splashed over him,
and crying "Josie!" as If he expected an
answering voice to issue from the waves.
His friends fear he will lose his mind.
His condition is critical