The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-29
A SOUTHERN HERMIT.
THE ROMANTIC STORY OF A NORTH
CAROLINA RECLUSE.
'h''" on His Wedding Dny--IIis Murderous
hc,"nS@ Upon the Man who Won His
ri,f

, (NcwCcrne Letter to tho PHILADELPHIA Times)
In 1915, just scvcnty-one years ago,
John Armstrong was born near Whining.
ton, North Carolina. He was the only
; son of Il well-totlo farmer and received
an ordinary common school education
At twenty years of age he became enam
orcd Of q young woman named Carrie
Scott, daughter of farmer who cam,
from Virginia and who purchased til,
land adjoining the farm of Armstrong;
father. Johns love seemed to be re
ciprocatcd and he lived on in blissfu
anticipation of happy future.
For two years he was assiduous in Iii
attention, and the wedding day wa.
finally decided upon. There was nc
happier man i'll the State Of North Caro-
lima than John Armstrong. The event
full day arrived. John arose early,
arraycd himself in his wedding suit, and,
i'll company with few invited guests,
set out for the home Of his expected
bride. On the way he was met by q
colorcd servant, who, in few words, told
him that Miss Carrie had been married
ut seven o'clock that morning TO North
Crn gentleman by the name of Samuel
Opdykc and had started on Il Wedding
journey North i'll carriage.
For II moment Armstrong was Da1n-
lyHcd with establishment, but presently
recovering his self possession, he looked
about him upon his wondering group of
sympathetic spectators. Then, without
uttcrinS word, he put spurs to his
horse, and, leaving his guests still in the
road, soon disappeared in the distance
Tic was never seen again in the ncigh-
borhood, and although every effort was
made to discover his whereabouts they
invariably proved futile, and finally the
community settled down to the belief
that he had committed suicide.
A MUKDEROUS REVENGE.
Years passed away and the circum-
stance was forgotten. His father and
mother had died, and, although John
was the Legitimate heir to the estate, an
uncle took charge Of the farm until he
should be found. One day during the
war IL Federal officer, to escape capture
by Il scouting party of Confederate caval-
rN, took refuge in swamp. In wander
ing about he became bcwildercd and
penetrated still deeper into the gloomy
rCcCSscS of the great forest. He sudden
~ rllno face to face with man armed
with IN ordinary shotgun.
"llullo, stranger, who be you?"
~ soldier who has lost his way" re-
pied the officer, seeing that conceal
lncnt OF his position was impossible.
"Not one o us, [ guess?" qucrcd the
man.
"No, I'm an officer i'll the Federal
army"
"Wall, stranger, I'm no killer, though
! IN mighty strong a9in thar Yankees
" hat might yer name bc?"
''Samucl Opdylc."
The mnn started back and cooked his
gun. "Opdykc-Opdyke-thc scoundrcl
who married Carrie Scott and DESTROYED
my happiness"
81 did marry Carrie Scott-marricd
her because | loved her. But who are
you, that you should get so excited over
| the matturr'
,"Mr-mc-why, Pm John Armstrong;
WHO coultrd that ar gal, and she vowed
she loved me better than ANYTHING else
III the world But she deceived me; her
heart WAS hollow; she was false to me
! and have my revenge" And he raised
his gun and pulled the trigger. Captain
Samuel Opdykc fell dead Mt his feet
In relating this the old man--for he
! himself told the StOry-bccame terribly
aSitatcd and rubbed his hands in appaT-
cnt ticndiSh cXultatiom. "Ahm said he.
'that were moment Of sweet revenge" 4"
LIvIHG THE LIFE OF A HERMIT.
For nearly ifty years he has lived
alone in the North Carolina forests. He
! determined, when the servant on that
! fatal morning brought him the STARTLING
and bitter intelligence that his would-bc
| bride had violated her promise, to for
ever turn his back on humanity. The
cabin in which he lives he buiIt himself.
! 1t IS III the & gloOmicSt and rcmOtest soli-
| tudG OF the forest, and were it not for
the little garden he cultivatcs, thus evil
dcnclnB the existence Of civilization,
would be II dismal abode indeed. He
! cndCaYOrs TO avoid the society Of men as
much as possible and is exceedingly an
noycd that his hiding place has become
| known. lie was accidentally discovered
! by party OF hunters. He is still vigor-
Gus for his age and although his hair and
| long flowing beard are white as snow.
he walks erect and with an elastic, bu0y-
talk he is cheerful and entertaining in
his conversation, but Studiously avoids
any reference to the female Sex. He
AYERS that he has not seen or spoken to
woman for the past thirty years, and
has never seen II railroad car or steam
boat. He knows comparatively little Of
the incidents Of every day life going on
i'll the outside world He is a constant
reader OF religious and scientific works
and an ardent student of natural history,
He has magnificent collection of spcci-
mems i'll the chronological world, en-
brncing bugs, beetles and butterflies.
He can tell correctly the name and habits
OF every insect native to the neighbor-
hood' tie is also an expert with the
Pcn-knifc. Since his abode has become
known the boys bring him tobacco,
kncE-knocks, etc, in exchange foi
which he gives them crosses, hearts,
whistles, etc, which he makes from beei
bones. These he carves with an ordina.
ry knife and file, though tho work is
slow and tedious. Ho is contemplating
I