Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-08
HERsnT THRoUGH Love.
The singular story of Massachusetts
Man.

MILTON, MASS, Oct 5.-William Mer-
riam. the wealthy recluse, who died in
Poxbury district, Boston, was buried
here this afternoon. He was followed to
tha crave by number Of relatives who
expecl TO fiud themselves remembered in
his will. Within few hundred yards of
Revision station, and but a short distance
from that relic of revolutionary times,
a.be Curtis House" Merriam lived as
completely isolated as If he were in the
heart ofa wilderness. The cause of his
hermitage was a love affair. Abiiah Mer-
nam Williams father, moved to Boston
IN 1926 BE left considerable property TO
his five children. The plot upon which
he hermits hut stood was a portion OF
mis- beQuest. The hut is surrounded by
board fence ten feet high, built in South
ern style, with the chimney on the out
SIDE. One little window admitted all the
light save what came in through numer-
GUS little apertures around the floor.
Here NJ erriam lived for quarter of a
century, never going outside the fence
save occasionally late at night for an hour.
Allhs supplies were showed through a
rap door IN the gate by marketmen and
others, and the money was passed out in
return. Merriam ordered all his goods by
mall the letter carrier on that route call |
ing at his gate once day. He had some
money invested in various enterpris
doing all his business with banks and coF&fs
porations by mail. No one was ever perl.s
miIted within the fence, and it is supGIl
posed Merriam had not seen tfi "
face of woman for years, HI nj
cnly companions were fifty or mef "a
fne leghorn hens, who seemed to have u
ceiyed every possible attention and bd sc
provided with every luxury dear tel =.
FOWL Of culture. Their escape from ie q
enclosure was guarded by long ITS "a
nailed upon the top Of the high fence m u
side the enclosure is a carefullyhpt q
vegetable garden, including some NICE 0S
ably large mangels grown for the potry. NJ
Grapes also flourish there, and everlnch O.
Of ground seems to have been utzed. u
Merriam did ell his own cooking, wing IN
and mending. He is known to hal been d
an early riser and very tempere, the l
only indications Of dissipation hng a II
pieceo tobacco and pipe toun&ithin u
the hut. y
Last winter he was not seen fot week, Ii
and when the door of his hut wi finally re
broken in he was discovered / such a a.
weak condition that he couldhot rise X
from his bed. 1t was bitterly ID at the "
time, and wonder was expressed that he Il
did not freeze to death. Noiisbment
was given him, and he finally Ilied. A el
few days ago mis- market man lotlfed a II
policeman that Merriam hadnot been 81
out for several days to gethis meat I
at the gate. When an offer broke j.
In Merriam was very indignant L
at the sight of a visitor, but tally arose A
and opened the door. He wa trembling A
like an aspen leaf with weakess, but In q
sisted upon at once feeding Is hens. A II
short While afterwards he VS. visited by a
several Others and found in bd. He was
much excited ct the sight of lore visitors "
and, waving his arms Wild, shouted in Il
shrlll, cracked voice: ''Pllbe all right;
I'm all right" He was rmOved to the
house Of a relative here, here he died
Yesterday. 1t is not knO1n how much
property he left. :,