The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-31
THE HERMIT

hall found that he nau iOSG thc pe..i
ings Of the cave, and they gave up the
search.
THE HERMIT
was seen at long intervals after this.
but avoided contact with his fellow
man. He was never known to do any
one an injury, and no one had the
hardihood to try to provoke him, and
as it was deemed dangerous to try to
find his haunts be was permitted to do
as he pleased.
About 1875, or ten years ago, when
the drought created almost a famine
in the district near the mountain, this
strange being would frequently pass
along the paths-there were very few
roads-ncar the f,mine-stricken homes,
and leave q leg of deer, a few squir:.
rels, turkey or some wild game, and
depart without uttering q word.
Later, a man named McClintock
received an accidental gunshot wound
one day, which threatened to prove
fatal. Just MS his friends were upon
the point of sending twenty miles for a
doctor, although none Of them believed
the wounded man could live until the
messenger got back, the strange man
came up to the house with long gun
on his Shoulder. He overhead some
of the conversation-sufficient appa-
rently to know the cause of the
trouble. He motioned the man to
dismount, walked into the house, and
turning down the bedclothes, examined
the wounded man. The almost stupe-
fed onlookers looked with astonish-
.ment rs he with case and apparent
knowledge of what was needed, exam
ined and
PROBED THE WOUND.
In a moment he had extracted the
ball, and in a short time had the
bleeding stopped and the wound
dressed as neat and deftly as could
have been done by a practiced sur
geon. He came twice more and at
tended NIcClintock's wound, after
which the wounded man being safe,
he returned no more.
At intervals during the succeeding
wears this strange being was seen. He
appeared unlocked for on several
occasions when good physician or
surgeon was needed. and in every
instance as deity and scientifically
dressed wounds or cuts, and seemed to
take delight in the work, while the
half supersticious natives looked on.
THE srRNGE MANS DEATH.
About year ago, however, the life
of this strange being was brought to n
close by an accident and the mystery
was partially explained.
One day as party Of hunters were
ascending one Of the numerous trout
streams capturing the fnny beauties
by the dozen, they came across the
body of a man lying on the bank Of
the stream, where he had fallen in
fit and struck his head on q stone,
rendering him unconscious. Upon
picking him up, and after laying him
in the shade, one of the men applied
the mouth of his canteen to the lips of
the wounded man. In q moment
after the muscles began to quiver and
the color came to his lips. (Among
the rescuers was a citizen guide, and
recognizing the hermit he explained
to the others.) With long sigh he
opened his eyes, and glanced wildly
and wonderfully about, asked:
"Where am 1 ?"
Upon being told, he inquired as to
how he came there. Nobody could
tell him, and he seemed to have no
recollection of his surroundings. He
requested them to tell him all they
knew about him, which was done by
the guide, an old citizen to whom the
past history Of the hermit was we'll
known as the people knew it. After
being told that he had been hermit
in the mountains for twenty years, he
turned with groan and said: